PAIJE TURN
X Factor star unrecognisable 14 years after starring alongside One Direction on the show
During his time on the show, Paije made the bold move of criticizing X Factor boss Simon Cowell's dress sense
HE was the teenage soulman who won millions of hearts with his melodious voice on the X Factor.
Singer Paije Richardson made his debut on the ITV talent show in 2010, the same year that mega stars One Direction and Cher Lloyd were launched into the stratosphere.
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But now 14 years on, the singer looks almost unrecognisable from the cheeky chap who entertained the nation for several weeks in the autumn of 2010.
Noticeably slimmer, the singer now has longer hair and appears to be more fashion conscious, than during his X Factor moment.
The singer was mentored by singer Danni Minogue and always said that he admired the great ‘diva’s singers with powerful voices, including Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse and Celine Dion.
But despite his pitch perfect rendition of Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, Simon Cowell was always critical of Paije’s image, saying that he “Didn’t look like a pop star.”
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But biting back in his VT, Paije slammed the X Factor boss by saying: “Simon Cowell giving me fashion advice, I wouldn’t say that he’s the most stylish of men.”
X Factor mogul Simon explained that he didn’t feel that Pajie was quite connecting as an artist.
He said at one point: “There’s something for me that isn’t quite working, I’m more interested in what he wears.”
Then in week 7, Paije finally found himself in the bottom two, alongside the judge's favourite Cher Lloyd, who went on to enjoy a successful pop career.
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Richardsons’s rendition of The Beatles, Let it Be, failed to gel with the voters. Then in the sing off, performing Stop by Jamelia, he failed to curry favour with the judges, who opted to keep Cher in the competition.
The 19-year-old told host Dermot O’Leary: “Obviously I didn’t have the support of the public, I am grateful for them keeping me in this long.”
The show's judges who at the time were: Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Danni Minogue and Louis Walsh, all voted to save Paije home, while his mentor Dannii, loyally selected Cher to leave, but she was outnumbered.
Simon said: "Neither of you deserve to be in the bottom. I am going to go with the person who I have continually supported. I am going to send home Paije."
Louis added: "I have always believed in Paije. From day one I saw something special but Cher, in the sing off you were incredible."
Cher sung Shakespeare's Sister's song Stay which was emotionally effective and secured her place in the competition.
Since his stint on the X Factor, Paije, 34, has continued to work as a performer and as a recording artist.
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