Monica Michael became the sixth act to be eliminated from The X Factor on Sunday night. After the four judges were split between saving her or Anton Stephens in the sing-off, the decision went to deadlock and the singer with the fewest public votes, Monica, was eliminated.
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It's been an emotional journey for the 26-year-old singer, who was brought back as the judges' wildcard contestant after mentor Rita Ora did not put her through to the live shows. But Monica has said this won't be the last we see of her as she spoke to HELLO! Online about her X Factor experience and her plans for the future...
Monica Michael was the sixth act to be eliminated from The X Factor
In light of the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris over the weekend, Monica and the judges made the last-minute decision to change her song. For movie week, the singer had planned on performing Nancy Sinatra's Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) but on the day of the show it was switched to V Bozeman's What Is Love in respect of the Parisian victims. Whilst Monica agreed wholeheartedly with the change, she knew it would leave her at a disadvantage.
Speaking about the Pulp Fiction hit she told HELLO! Online: "It could've made me one of the strongest contenders of the weekend. It was very me, very urban, there was a rap in it, it was kind of like seeing the old Monica come back. And then I had to switch it and it was like 'damn'. I knew I wasn't going through."
Monica was asked to change songs last minute out of respect to the Parisian victims
But The X Factor is only the beginning of her musical journey, as she revealed she will be going to America to work on her debut album. "It's back to writing for me," she said. "I'm allowed to be as creative as I want. There's no boundaries, there's no rules. That's when I come to life."
And Monica has the backing of Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, who mentored her when she first auditioned for the show last year, but didn't give her a seat during the six chair challenge. Admitting they still "have a little thing going on," she revealed that Cheryl and Simon Cowell have urged her to release Pretty Little Sister, My Angel, a song written by Monica that won over the judges in her first audition.
But regardless of what the future may hold, youth worker Monica has vowed to stay involved with The British DJ & MC Academy where she works with young aspiring artists. She hopes her story has inspired them and other young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue their dreams. "They see me there for five years as a girl with a hood on in a council estate, rapping and then they see me looking glammed up on a Saturday night show," she said. "It's inspiration for them. It's inspiration for me!"
Monica has a special relationship with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini who mentored her when she first auditioned for the show last year
As for her new set of X Factor friends, although she said she loves them all, she has a special place in her heart for Ché Chesterman, Mason Noise, Reggie 'N' Bollie and Louisa Johnson, and hopes one of them will win.
Monica was not the only singer to leave The X Factor on Sunday night. Simon's contestant Max Stone left the competition immediately after his rendition of Bruce Springsteen's Secret Garden saw him receive the fewest number of public votes.