Biography
Northern Irish songbird Janet Devlin has emerged as the bookies’ favourite to win this year’s UK talent competition The X Factor.
The 16-year-old school girl from Tyrone, who has just recently finished her GCSEs, has been likened to the past bare-footed contestant Diana Vickers for her dulcet tones and blonde curly locks.
Janet blew away The X Factor judges at her audition in Liverpool with her version of Your Song, made famous by Elton John and more recently Ellie Goulding.
The quirky teen captivated the attention of Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland in particular, as she told her: “I am completely entranced by your voice. It is so beautiful. You could have heard a pin drop in here, it was so silent.”
Janet received further praise from the other judges receiving congratulations from head judge Gary Barlow, whilst X Factor veteran Louis Walsh exclaimed: "I don't think you have any idea how good you are."
Janet’s soulful tones continued to impress, soaring her way through to Judges’ Houses in Miami. She performed Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful in front of the ‘Girls’ mentor Kelly Rowland and her guest judge Jennifer Hudson - who was made famous herself through the America singing competition American Idol.
Kelly praised her for her innocence and vulnerability and believed her to be a valuable asset to the competition, placing her firmly in her final four.
The songstress confesses her musical influences to be alternative artists Devendra Banhart and Verdena, claiming she hopes to bring some of her quirky musical preferences to the show.
This alternative-rock passion has led Janet to state that she is most looking forward to Rock Week on the live shows, which perhaps signals good things to come after her knockout performance of I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by the classic rockers Aerosmith.
The timid teen is said to be glad Kelly hasn’t overlooked her because of her shy and quiet temperament.
Yet despite of her softly-spoken ways, Janet has amassed an army of fans including Lilly Allen, Rio Ferdinand and One Direction band member Niall Horan. The previous X Factor contestant Niall is apparently smitten with the Northern Irish blonde, tweeting her: “sick at bootcamp! cute :)”
Janet is said to be overwhelmed with the praise and support she has received and even has her own twitter following called ‘The Devlinators’ – wow can we call her a real celebrity now?
Prior to her X Factor audition Janet posted videos of her singing in her bedroom on YouTube, and her channel has already received 1.6million views and has well over 20,000 subscribers!
We think it is safe to say another X Factor star has well and truly been born.