Rita Ora has been coaching ‘X Factor’ hopeful Fleur East.
Despite recently being announced as a mentor on rival BBC talent show ‘The Voice’, the ‘Black Widow’ hitmaker helped pop star wannabe Fleur prepare for her audition at the Judges’ Houses stage on the ITV competition, which airs this weekend.
The pair hit it off after meeting at a festival, and Fleur, 26, admits her friend’s advice was invaluable ahead of her performances for her mentor Simon Cowell.
She told the Daily Star newspaper as saying: "I’ve done a lot of live shows as part of a five-piece band with DJ Fresh, we’ve done festivals. We did Wireless with Rita Ora and Emilé Sande and Tinie Tempah."
When quizzed on whether she’d asked Rita for help, she added: "Oh yeah, of course! I used to work in a nightclub in Mayfair called Aura and she used to come there every weekend. When I got the DJ Fresh gig, she walked in and went, ‘Oh my God, it’s you!’ She’s great, I really like her. She’s told me just to enjoy it."
Fleur really enjoyed working with Simon, who is in charge of the over-25s category this year, despite initially thinking he might not get her as an artist.
She said: "Initially I thought maybe Cheryl because she seemed to understand me, whereas Simon was a bit more 50/50. I don’t think he was sold. But then I got here and I thought, ‘This is going to be a challenge for me. It will be more rewarding.’
"He’s the boss man so if he likes you, that means a lot. I was so happy to get him in the end."
Rita Ora helped X Factor hopeful Fleur
