Louisa Johnson says Rita Ora is like a "sister" to her.
The 17-year-old ‘X Factor’ hopeful – who is favourite to win the show against rivals Ché Chesterman and Reggie and Bollie – has praised her mentor for being more like a sibling than a judge.
When asked if she would have preferred to have Rita or fellow judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini as a mentor, she shared: "I love Cheryl’s music. But I’d say probably more Rita, because she’s more edgy and we have the same sort of style. But I would have been happy with either of them as mentor.
"Cheryl’s got a motherly sense about her. Rita’s more like a sister. You can talk to her about anything. She wants us to work hard because she’s worked hard – and look how far she’s come."
And Louisa – who hails from Essex – also admits she has been "surprised" by Nick Grimshaw’s judging abilities and praised the BBC Radio 1 DJ’s genuine nature.
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Nick has surprised me the most actually. He’s been amazing. I didn’t doubt him in the first place, I knew he’d know a lot because he works on a radio station.
"He’s such a nice person – so funny and genuine and lovely. He and Ché are so jokey and take the mickey. They say, ‘Oh Louisa, you’re not gonna win.’ But it’s all light-hearted jokes and banter backstage."
The first part of the ‘X Factor’ final airs tonight (12.12.15).
Rita Ora’s sisterly love
