Simon Loves Rachel

Rachel Hylton hopes her troubles are over for good....
We may only have seen the first episode in the new series of The X Factor but already a handful of competitors have stuck out from the rest.
One of the strongest performers in tonight's show was 26 year-old Londoner Rachel Hylton. The upfront mum-of-five stunned the judges with her version of the Amy Winehouse hit, No Good (although, she told them, "It doesn't mean that I am no good").
Rachel's story, however, is certainly a complicated one. After having her first child at the age of just thirteen, she began taking drugs. By the time she was a mother of three, Rachel's drug habit had landed her in prison and eventually her first three children were taken into care.
She told Dermot, "It was only after I had my last two kids that I stopped and changed my life. I'm more focussed on music. I've always sung, but in the past few years I've said enough is enough. I need a better life for me and my kids".
She said, "I do get embarrassed about my past, but I do want much better. I think this is an opportunity to turn my life around in a big way".
Although Rachel impressed with her huge voice during auditions, she apologised to the judges, feeling that the performance she'd given wasn't her best.
Still reeling from Rachel's powerful delivery, Cheryl assured her, "If that was you singing when your breath is whacked, then boy are we in for a shock when you get your breath back. That was outstanding".
Louis called her a diamond in the rough and Dannii agreed that with so much at stake, she was sure that Rachel would work hard to make it in the competition.
Meanwhile, Simon was delighted with the unassuming lady who had just challenged every preconception in the book.
"You've very nervous," he told her, "but I absolutely love you, love you. You're fantastic. A breath of fresh air. And my favourite audition so far".
Out of the audition room, Rachel was overcome, saying poignantly, "All these people who told me i was nothing, they will see I am something now".
Rachel Hylton's past may be cloudy, but The X Factor is all about who can be the brightest star of the future.
Simon told the cameras, "Not enough people in this country are given a second chance. And I want to give her that second chance".

By: XFactor