Top X Factor Acts to Defy the Public Vote

Even though everybody loves a winner, The X Factor is a strange competition in the sense that it’s often the losing acts that are remembered long after the winner has faded from popularity. Every season, the show will thrown out a number of losing acts who go on to become big winners in their own right, with a successful career, or at the very least some serious advertising deals!

So let’s see who the “winning losers” of X Factor history are:

JLS

Although they narrowly conceded the 2008 X Factor final to Alexandra Burke, the boys of JLS were not do with the limelight, not by a long shot.

Perhaps the most famous and successful “X Factor losers”, JLS went straight from the competition to almost instant chart success. With numerous UK number 1 singles, music industry awards and 2 hit albums with a third on the way, JLS have made themselves into titans of UK pop in a few short years.

Jedward

A pair of walking, talking, big blonde quiffs who are adored by some and loathed by others, John and Edward Grimes (aka Jedward) are an odd act even for X Factor!

With their relatively poor singing voices and bizarre fashion sense, nobody would have laid odds on them to win the X Factor… and they would be right! However, they survived 7 weeks of the competition which was long enough to win them hordes of fans who loved their energetic, overblown and often cringeworthy performances.

Jedward are now making a name for themselves in advertising circles that has already outlasted the fame of certain winners of previous X Factor seasons.

Cher Lloyd

Controversial, dynamic, fresh and unique are just some of the words thrown around when people describe 18-year-old Cher Lloyd. The most discussed contestant of last year’s competition, Cher really split public opinion with her own brand of alternative hip hop style and sass.

Love it or hate it, Cher is now placed to win major commercial and critical success with her newly released album Sticks n’ Stones. The album title is most likely a reference to the “haters” who dislike her style.

At 18, Cher Lloyd looks poised to break into the big time and potentially stay there for more than just a handful of hits.

Olly Murs

Outpacing the career of X Factor 2009 winner Joe McElderry, cheeky Essex boy Olly Murs looks set for a long and successful career as his heart-warming singles continue to generate him fans from all different demographics.

Just two months after having coming so close to X Factory victory, Olly was headed for the big time with a joint signed deal with Syco Music and Epic Records that launched him into a number 1 UK chart single later that year.

Olly has gone from strength to strength with two hit albums and more on the way. He’s now gone back to where it all started as a presenter for the follow up show The Xtra Factor.

Diana Vickers

When Diana Vickers crashed out of the 2008 season of the X Factor, not many people would have bet on hearing much from her again. However, with her own brand of indie rock/pop she has managed to make over half a million record sales worldwide.

Not only is Diana making a big splash in the music industry, her quirky, fashion sense is also projecting her to designer label fame too. In May this year Diana announced the debut of her very own fashion line, Dee V. This well-loved combination of fashion and music could well see miss Vickers become a household name in a few short years.

One Direction

While the combined appeal and singing power of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson wasn’t quite enough to carry them through to win last year’s competition, One Direction have already released a number 1 UK chart single What Makes You Beautiful.

With their newly released debut album Up All Night selling well and numerous appearances on celbrity talk shows, One Direction look like they’re here to stay.

Stacey Solomon

She couldn’t defeat Joe McElderry in the 2009 X Factor finals, but Stacey Solomon seems to be eclipsing her competition rival as she has become a successful model, reality TV star, best-selling author and TV presenter.

Joe McElderry might have been the king in 2009 but Stacey became the Queen when she won the reality TV show, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Ray Quinn

Ray Quinn looked like a sure thing to win the X Factor 2006 season, with his combination of boyish good looks, warm personality and all round-ability as a singer, dancer and quality entertainer.

However, as the competition progressed, Ray suffered waning popularity as he failed to diversify his performances from the Frank Sinatra style of crooning. Although Leona Lewis beat him in the finals, Ray has managed to make the most of his skills.

Now with a glittering career in London’s West End, Ray has managed to steal the show with his powerful voice and quick feet in Grease and Dirty Dancing to name but a few.

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