X Factor stars Luke Friend, Tamera Foster and Monica Michael look totally different years after appearing on the show

THEY shot to fame on The X Factor - but these stars are almost unrecognisable since disappearing from the spotlight.

Despite Simon Cowell's ITV show instantly making them famous faces, you'd be forgiven if you failed to notice they'd passed you in the street these days.

Stars including Luke Friend, Tamera Foster and Monica Michael look very different compared to how they did while performing for millions on TV.

Here we take a look at how they've transformed their images - and what they've been up to see leaving the talent show.

Kitty Brucknell, 2011

SHE was in the series won by Little Mix in 2011 and was famous for her wacky outfits.

Kitty - who finished in seventh place under mentor Louis Walsh - recently ditched blonde hair for a pink.

"I've been inspired by Japanese anime and that kind of look," she explained.

"I dyed my hair pink and purple and people have started liking my pictures and now I'm modelling and been working with some big brands in the states.

"Instagram didn't really take off until four years after I was on the show."

Kitty is now living out in Los Angeles making her living as a model.

Monica Michael, 2015

SHE was a finalist in the 2015 series, but shocked fans with her epic transformation after leaving the show.

After gastric band surgery, Michael showed off her dramatic weight loss after shedding five stone.

She told ITV's This Morning: “I was always battling with my weight, it’s always been a problem from primary school. It was a demon.

“In 2015 I was on tour with Blue and I could feel how unfit I was onstage, and how unhealthy.

“I remember going off stage and going into my dressing room crying.”

Diana Vickers, 2008

SHE last appeared on The X Factor 13 years ago.

Now she's said goodbye to the back-combed "bird nest" hairstyle in favour of a more sophisticated look.

Diana, now 29, was spotted out last week looking super stylish with her natural hair flowing down her back and wearing a long faux-leather trench coat, white polo neck jumper, tweed trousers and large sunglasses.

Diana, who competed against JLS and Alexandra Burke who won the series in 2008, teamed the look with red boots.

Having sung from the age of 11, she auditioned for The X Factor singing The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice and regularly performed barefoot during the live shows.

Tamera Foster, 2013

THE teen finished in fifth place on series 10 of the ITV singing contest
behind eventual winner Sam Bailey.

And after leaving the show she chose to overhaul her image, switching her dyed blonde, long hair for her more natural, black locks.

Luke Friend, 2013

Luke finished third on the X Factor in 2013.

He looks unrecognisable now after ditching his long locks in favour of an unusual hairstyle and moustache.

Lauren Platt, 2014

LAUREN finished 13th in the 2014 series of X Factor.

The blond beauty has since dyed her hair peroxide blonde and chopped it off into a bob.

Grace Davies, 2017

SHE moved Nicole Scherzinger to tears during her 2017 audition before making it all the way to the final.

She lost out to winners Rak-Su and hasn't been seen much since.

But Grace looks transformed in recent pics, showing she's grown out her hair and added blonde highlights.

Molly Scott, 2018

SHE got booted off The X Factor over technical issues in 2018.

Now Molly looks world's away from how she appeared on the show as a 16-year-old.

She's got rid of her blonde hair and opted for a more natural look.

Keeping some blonde to highlight her new brunette look, Molly has also grown her hair out - and she looks unrecognisable.

Sean and Conor Price, 2017

THEY were bombarded with marriage proposals from young fans when they starred on the show in 2017.

They were sent home in a shock double elimination, and these pictures show how much they've changed since.

Losing their baby faces as Conor and Sean reach 19 and 21, respectively, the brothers continue in their efforts to sing for a living.

They even released a single off their own backs after their X Factor journey came to an end.

Gifty Louise, 2016

OUTSPOKEN Gifty Louise has told about her bad experiences while on the X Factor.

So it's maybe no wonder she's decided to drastically change her image since being on the show in 2016.

Growing out her short afro hair, Gifty now has blonde braids for her. new and more sophisticated look.