A mother-of-five has criticised the media for turning the public against her in a talent competition.

Rachel Hylton, from Stanmore, was voted off ITV's The X Factor last Saturday following a turbulent time on the show.

After receiving the lowest number of public votes for the third time, the singer knew her dreams of stardom were coming to an end.

She said: "The press changed the public's view about me. Every time I open my mouth it has been printed wrong. I do not want my words to be misconstrued and twisted."

The 26-year-old was the bookies' favourite to win the competition at the start of the series, after she stunned the judges by revealing her past as a drug addict, and the fact she had her first child at 12 and spent a stint in prison after attacking a woman.

However, after arguing with Simon Cowell and criticising the choice of songs by her mentor, Dannii Minogue, the budding singer lost the public's support.

She said: "The press didn't have to go out and find the victim. I explained my past and it's not something that I am proud of."

Her final performance on Saturday night of And I Tell You I Am Not Going, from the musical Dreamgirls, failed to win over the judges, who chose boy band JLS. Only Miss Hylton's mentor Dannii Minogue voted to save her.

She said: "My best moment was the last song I sang. I really wanted to show everyone that I love performing. I got on with Dannii, but I could have had better song choices."

Miss Hylton moved to the borough six years ago to escape her troubled past and now lives with her two youngest children, Tishon, six, and Tashanee, four, and has minimal contact with her three other children in care.

She is now looking forward to her next gig at Brent Cross Shopping Centre, in Prince Charles Drive, tomorrow, and performances in Newcastle and Birmingham.

She said: "I do not want people to think I am ungrateful, I want them to see I am a nice person. When you are strong people mistake that for being aggressive." * Rachel Hylton will be appearing on the X Factor 2009 Live Tour. For tickets and information go to www.bookingsdirect.com

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