A Stanmore mother of five is one step closer to super-stardom, having got through to the second round of The X-Factor.
More than 10million viewers tuned in to see Rachel Hylton sing her heart out to get a place in the show's boot camp last Saturday.
The judges were visibly shocked when the 26-year-old revealed she had her first child at 13 and then went on to have four more.
After a troubled childhood, Ms Hylton became a drug addict, and by the birth of her third child her habit had spiralled out of control and landed her behind bars, with her children taken into care.
She said: "I've had some family who don't agree with me doing this, who think if my past comes out it's going to be embarrassing for them.
"I have had to deal with a lot. I am embarrassed about my past. But I don't see why I should be living in fear. I've got to go for it, and do something."
After Ms Hylton sang Amy Winehouse's hit You Know I'm No Good, judge Simon Cowell said: "You're fantastic. A breath of fresh air. And my favourite audition so far.
"Not enough people in this country are given a second chance. And I want to give her that second chance."
After her audition the aspiring singer was hopeful for the future. She said: "I want to go all the way, I do. I think this is an opportunity to turn my life around in a big way.
"I need a better life for me and my kids."
