Laura White: 'Cheryl and Ashley seem so happy'
Monday 17 November 2008
Just days after she was sensationally voted off The X Factor, soul singer Laura White has told Closer that she feels no bitterness towards judges Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell – despite the fact they chose her to go rather than fellow contestant Ruth Lorenzo.
“I know everyone expects me to be angry with Simon and Louis, but I’m not bitter at all. Of course I was heartbroken to be voted out, but we all know it’s a competition, and the judges have their own tactics. I’ve just got to move on now,” says Laura, who was tipped to win the show before her shock exit.
She continues: “I haven’t heard from either of them, but I would love to ask them ‘why?’ It still doesn’t make sense to me that they said such nice things throughout the competition, but then voted me off.”
The curvy singer, who says she’s a size 10-12, confesses she was hurt by Simon and Louis’ comments about her appearance.
They told her she’d need to change her image to be in with a chance of winning but, refreshingly, 5ft 4 Laura – who has size 32F boobs – says she’ll never diet for the showbiz industry.
“I’m a 21- year-old girl, and being told there’s a problem with my appearance in front of 12 million viewers was horrible,” she says. “No one ever directly mentioned my weight, but it did make me worry a bit. I’m healthy and normal. I’ll always have big boobs and curves, and I’m fine with that!”
And Laura, who has gone back to live with her family in Bolton after spending six weeks in The X Factor finalists’ house in London, says her mentor Cheryl Cole was furious with Louis and Simon.
She says: “Cheryl was amazing. She told me that Simon only commented on my image because he couldn’t find anything bad to say about my voice. She’s so loyal and supportive. I feel so lucky that she was my mentor. She’s been texting me constantly to make sure I’m OK.”
And former barmaid Laura confesses she was relieved to discover that despite Girls Aloud star Cheryl’s tiny size 0 frame, she eats “just like the rest of us.”
“Everyone speculates about Cheryl and her diets, but I’ve seen her eating crisps and pizza. She doesn’t hold back,” she laughs. “She’s absolutely tiny, so she must just be lucky with her metabolism.
“She was so kind to us, and would give us loads of clothes because she gets so much stuff sent to her. She was always dropping treats off at the house for us, like doughnuts.”
Laura says she loved the entire X Factor experience, and believes that either Diana Vickers or boy group JLS will win. She says: “JLS have a huge fan base, and Diana is quirky and a great singer.”
One of the highlights of Laura’s time on the hit ITV1 show was visiting Cheryl and her footballer husband Ashley Cole’s £6million Surrey mansion with the other two girls in her category, Diana
and Alexandra Burke, 20.
“Cheryl invited us to her home – her house is beautiful. She was really relaxed and didn’t have any make-up on. Her mum Joan was there too. We ordered pizzas and Joan made us hot chocolates. It was a real girlie night.”
While Cheryl’s husband Ashley wasn’t home when Laura visited, she met him several times when he came to watch the live Saturday night shows.
And despite their marriage problems earlier this year, after allegations that Ashley cheated on Cheryl, Laura said the couple appear to be very close.
She says: “They seem so happy together – Ashley was always texting and calling Cheryl when she was with us. And he even joked about how obsessed Cheryl was with us, and how The X Factor has taken over her life.”
Laura’s now looking forward to performing on The X Factor tour early next year, and plans to follow her dream of becoming a recording artist.
While Laura is still getting over the shock of being voted off the show, she says she is “completely overwhelmed” by the level of support she’s received from fans.
More than 50,000 people have signed a petition for Laura to be given another chance on the show, and celebs including Lily Allen, McFly and Leona Lewis all expressed their surprise at her exit.
Laura says: “The support has been absolutely amazing and it just inspires me to never give up. I’m so passionate about writing songs and music and I’m really determined to make it .”
By Sophie Neville
Laura will be appearing on The X Factor 2009 Live Tour. For tickets and information, go to www.bookingsdirect.com
Posted by clarabella
RE: Laura White: 'Cheryl and Ashley seem so happy'
Simon and Louis voted off Laura because she is very talented and was a threat to their act's,end of!!
There is nothing wrong with Laura's image,she is a lovely normal girl!
Laura will go a long way,JLS and Eoghan (if thats how you spell it?) will be one hit wonders if they make it to the end!
Good on Laura for saying she's not going to diet for showbiz,why on earth should she? She has a lovely figure. Was abit cruel of Closer to say 'Laura who say's she is a curvy size 10/12' like there questioning her! As always in mags weights brought up! Change the record,who gives a stuff about how much someone weigh's,its the voice that matters,and Laura has a great one!!
Posted 18/11/2008 08:39:58
Posted by jemma1123
RE: Laura White: 'Cheryl and Ashley seem so happy'
When it comes to choosing between Ruth and Laura, that is hard, and Simon has a soft spot for Ruth
I mean, how do people like Rachel make it through and Laura end up in the bottom two? It was being in the bottom two that lead, obviously, to her chances of being voted out, nothing else. She shouldn't have been in the bottom two, nothing to do with the judges!
Posted 18/11/2008 09:57:49
Posted by Karli
RE: Laura White: 'Cheryl and Ashley seem so happy'
Although I didn't take to Laura's singing abilities it is clearly obvious why the judges put her out, it is all a matter of opinions. I do find it quite low of Simon to comment on her image when it is a singing competetion as Laura is a lovely looking and good figured woman. I find it unfair that Eoghan and Daniel were in after her though, it is all down to the votes and I do think the judges made the right decision with keeping in Ruth as she can sing so many different songs. But at the end of the day, if Ruth was voted out we would still be boiling mad as they do have good talents. It's only ourselves to blame who is in the bottom 2 and somebody has to go out every week.
Posted 18/11/2008 11:35:45