ALISHA BENNETT

Age: 23

From: Wembley, London

Job: Receptionist at a gym

History: Alisha was inspired to audition for X Factor after seeing Leona Lewis triumph last year. She lives just down the road from the X Factor studios so saw the crowds of fans queuing every week and thought: "I want some of that!"

Her musical background has been based mostly around her church gospel choir and she has been having singing lessons for the last year. Alisha is really close to her mum, Sharon. She describes them as an "Ab Fab" pair because they are both loud and flamboyant.

Alisha loves fashion and shopping and enjoys reading all the glossy magazines to get style tips, having previously worked as a style adviser in Top Shop.

HMV's Gennaro Castaldo says: "Alisha's probably the favourite - she looks and sounds great, and has a certain style about her. She starts in pole position."