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WE'VE FOUND HER, RYLAN!

‘Missing’ X Factor star Gamu is working in TopShop and is set to release new music after disappearing for six years

The singer became a star back in 2010 but has not really been seen since

potrait-gamuuuu

SHE had all but disappeared for six years – leading Xtra Factor presenter Rylan Clark to launch a nationwide campaign to find her on the show.

The weekly appeal sparked the hashtag #findgamu and over the last few weeks, hundreds of viewers helped to try and find the 'missing' singer with no luck.

But now the search is over… as The Sun Online has finally found former X Factor star Gamu Nhengu.

 Gamu appeared on The X Factor in 2010
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Gamu appeared on The X Factor in 2010
 These days she works in high street store TopShop
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These days she works in high street store TopShopCredit: Instagram

We can exclusively reveal that the 24-year-old is currently working as a stylist in TopShop and after time away from the music scene, she’s gearing up to make her comeback in a band.

Gamu appeared on the singing contest back in 2010 but lost her place to Katie Waissel – which many consider to be one of the biggest injustices of all time on the show.

At around the same time Gamu – who was 18 at the time - faced a public battle to stay in the country as she risked being deported back to Zimbabwe.

Since then - despite a brief comeback attempt in 2013 – she has gone very much under the radar… until now.

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Xtra Factor launched a campaign to find her

 The singer is a successful stylist - pictured here with her colleagues
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 The singer is a successful stylist - pictured here with her colleaguesCredit: Sun Online

In an exclusive image obtained by The Sun Online the singer can be seen surrounded by colleagues in the famous high street store.

These days she looks a far cry from the shy teen who first appeared on the reality show and she’s clearly developed a keen sense of style.

She also appears to have found a ‘voice’ and is keen to shed her former X Factor image.

 Jay McGuinness joined the campaign this weekend
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Jay McGuinness joined the campaign this weekendCredit: ITV

Returning to social media for the first time in years, she revealed: “To be completely honest I was trying very hard to pretend that the past 6 years had not happened. If you stopped me in the street and asked me if I was 'Gamu from X factor' I 99% probably would've said 'no' . And honestly if you do it now it might still be the same.

“I'm 24 now and I see myself as a baby when I entered into the music industry, something I was wholly unprepared for. I wish someone had pulled me to the side and forewarned me that it was 80% sleepless nights and 20% a bit of a giggle.

 The star is now ready to release some new music
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The star is now ready to release some new musicCredit: Facebook
 Gamu has developed a keen sense of style
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Gamu has developed a keen sense of styleCredit: Instagram

“I let other people speak for me, dress me and reroute me until ' me' had become nothing but a mere concept. I was young and incredibly naive. Too polite for my own good, never standing up for myself.

Never exposing lies that were spread. Instead I just hid away and tried to pretend it wasn't happening.”

 Gamu lost out to Katie Waissell on the singing contest
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Gamu lost out to Katie Waissell on the singing contestCredit: PA:Press Association

And now finally she’s ready to release new music and has formed a band called Sheltrs, alongside her pal called Jamie.

Giving a sneak peek at the new music, she revealed: “Sheltrs is a band made up of myself and Jamie.

We possibly don't quite know exactly what we're doing. But we do know what we love.
“Air Ballons is our first installation of a three song project that will be available for download in the next few weeks. Because I've realised that worrying about what we will become will not progress us further but will only succeed in holding us back.”


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