Former X Factor finalist Holly Tandy has opened up on her bullying hell.
Sunday evening saw the second half of the Quarter Finals of The X Factor 2017 where Holly made her exit.
The contestants this year have been performing on separate nights in their categories and on Sunday the Overs and Girls were in the spotlight.
And it was Rai-Elle Williams and Holly who were next to be voted off the show, in a second double eviction for the weekend.
They followed in the footsteps of duo Sea and Conor and Sam Black who were eliminated on Saturday night following the Boys and Groups’ performances.
Following her exit, Holly has spoken up about being bullied and how she was left hating school.
“People were saying anything from stuff like I was a bad singer to people wishing I was dead,” the teenager revealed. “It was quite strong at times and that was really hard for me and my family.”
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Holly explained: “I hated school. It got to the point where I stopped speaking to people at school.
“I know now it was mainly about [the bullies’] insecurities, not mine. But at the time I felt absolutely broken.”
Having now made it as far as the Quarter Finals on The X Factor, Holly hopes to inspire others.
The 16-year-old said: “The main message is you can’t listen to people like that. You can’t let it defeat you. You have to let it make you stronger. I try not to focus on what happened in the past.
“I am moving on and I am succeeding. I have to keep remembering how far I have come.”
A total of 6 contestants now remain in the competition’s final stages ahead of next weekend’s semi-finals.
They are Simon Cowell’s Groups Rak-Su and The CutKelvins, Sharon Osbourne’s final Girl Grace Davies.
Plus Louis Walsh’s last Boy Lloyd Macey and Nicole Scherzinger’s Overs Kevin Davy White and Matt Linnen.
The X Factor 2017 continues next Saturday and Sunday night on ITV.
It’ll be the semi-finals and for the first time this year, the acts will all be going head to head.
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