Leasowe singer Mandi’s X Factor hopes

Jun 18 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

SINGING star Mandi Gibbons is continuing her journey to pop stardom by securing herself a place on The X Factor.

The 16-year-old from Leasowe launched into her singing career after winning the Search for a Star talent competition in Birkenhead in 2005.

Since then, she has worked alongside Ricky Tomlinson, the Four Tops and the Three Degrees while performing in Stars in their Eyes and many Wirral pubs, clubs and theatres.

Earlier this year she continued on the road to fame by auditioning for ITV’s The X Factor.

Mandi breezed through the first three untelevised auditions and has now got the chance to impress Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole.

The Park High pupil said: “I am really looking forward to the experience of singing on television in front of the judges.

“I’m not going to get myself worked up about it though. I’ll just be myself and do my best.”

Mandi started the audition process in Manchester amid 15,000 other hopefuls which were later reduced to 150.

Before she got chance to sing, she had to queue for several hours but she said it was definitely worth the wait in the end.

Mandi’s proud dad, Philip, who went to Old Trafford with her, said: “When Mandi sang, you could hear her voice all over the stadium.

“Everyone, including the stewards, kept telling her how good she was but Mandi just remained cool and relaxed.

“She will always sing because she couldn’t do anything else with that voice - everywhere she goes, everyone tells her she’s going to be famous.”

The X Factor returns later in the summer.