Brenda Edwards became emotional as she recalled a remark Simon Cowell made about her appearance on The X Factor.
The Loose Women star and singer appeared on the show back in 2005 and during today’s edition of the daytime show, she spoke about a moment judge Simon criticised her during her audition.
Brenda said Simon asked her: “What have you come as?” and she was left hurt by his comment.
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She said: “I did The X Factor in 2005 and I think I looked alright to be honest.
“I didn’t have audition clothes to wear so I just pulled whatever I had out of the case and put it on. I didn’t actually think I would get an audition.
“I got in front of the judges and lovely Simon said to me, ‘what have you come as?’ And for me, even though he didn’t use the word ‘fat’, that’s what I took as his interpretation.
“I went home and I was really quite down and depressed. I got through the show and there was one week where he said I was like Shirley Valentine because I had changed and transformed.”
She added: “I took the positive out of the what I thought was initially the negative.
“I was four stone heavier at the time and I made the conscious decision to go to the gym and I was trying to think about what I was eating.”
When asked if she thinks Simon’s comment was helpful in making her lose weight, Brenda said: “It did work. I wasn’t happy about it because I was literally there just to sing.”
The show then played a clip of Brenda on the show 14 years ago.
In the footage, Brenda is seen crying as she told the camera: “In my first audition, Simon said I wasn’t sexy. I tried to do something about it to fit in to what society see as a successful recording artist.
“I’m just working really hard for this. I am going to show Simon I am a recording artist.”
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After watching the footage, Brenda was overwhelmed and overcome with emotion.
She said: “Watching that back is just… I’ve got to be careful because my eyelashes will come off.
“I loved the experience but [Simon’s comment] shell shocked me into doing something. I’m not in one for fat-shaming but it kind off worked for me.”
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