Abby Brammell

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By Rachel Quigley

Saved: X Factor bosses were under pressure to disqualify contestant Katie Waissel after it emerged she has recorded a jazz album in the US, but the decided to keep her in the competition


X Factor hopeful Katie Waissel has learned she will be allowed through to the next round of the hit talent show, the Daily Mail has learned.

The 24-year-old Madonna lookalike wowed the audience and won over Cheryl Cole in the opening episode, securing a place in the next round – despite the fact her nerves nearly got the better of her.

But X Factor bosses came under pressure to disqualify her after it emerged she actually had a record deal in America that she had signed earlier this year under the name of Lola Fontaine.

At the time, a man claiming to be her manager called Jason Silverman revealed that she was signed to a two-record deal with Chamberlain Records and was about to release a record in Los Angeles.

This prompted fears that the hair salon receptionist from Harewood, Herts, would be banned from judges houses auditions – the final round before the live shows next month.

Katie scraped through to boot camp after performing At Last by Etta James after originally fluffing her lines to Queens We Are The Champions after begging Simon Cowell to give her another chance.

US deal: The Madonna lookalike signed a two-year contract under the name Lola Fontaine. Her album is due to be released shortly

When Cheryl Cole asked her what experience she had, Katie replied: 'I sing all the time... anywhere that will have me I sing. I sing on trains with my guitar... I sing in the salon,' but failed to reveal her substantial professional experience, that also included her own YouTube show.

The X Factor has strict rules about contestant’s previous musical work – they face disqualification if they have a music management contract.

At the time a spokesman said: ‘We are looking to the whole thing to see if a contract does exist and if there is found to be one, what the wording is.'

YouTube star: Katie also appeared in her own series, Green Eyed World, which showed her moving to New York to sing. It received 155,000 views

But show bosses were today able to come to an agreement with her record company and gave the 24-year-old the news that she would be going to the judge's house stage with the other hopefuls.

In addition to her recording deal, Miss Waissel also appeared in YouTube show Green Eyed World last year, as Katie Vogel.

The 14-part series followed Katie travelling to New York to pursue her dream of singing.

It was produced by Sprite and received 155,000 hits. But canny viewers on YouTube were sceptical of the singer long ago, with one commenter posting 'this is just a fake show on YouTube'.




source: dailymail
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