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Simon Cowell blasted by X Factor reject Austin Drage after being 'overlooked' for Eoghan

X FACTOR reject Austin Drage last night accused Simon Cowell of forgetting him.

Essex boy Austin, 22, claims the show's Mr Nasty, who was his mentor, was too busy with Irish teenager Eoghan Quigg to help him.

And he now says he is glad to be off the show because he was not being shown to his full potential.

Austin said: "Simon saw other characters and maybe he forgot about me.

"Possibly, he was concentrating on Eoghan. He's got all the High School Musical thing going for him."

Austin was one of the early favourites to win the show and was seen by many as the best male singer in this year's competition.

But even before the live show began, questions were raised when he was re-styled with a severe hairdo and dark militarystyle clothing.

Austin said: "They were trying to mould me so much and it just wasn't working for me.

"I don't think I got the chance to show the public who I was.

"They were trying to create something with me but I don't think they had an idea what.

"The dark hair and look at the start of the show wasn't me.

"The week I did Billie Jean when I was in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt that was finally me but it took a lot to get to that."

Austin admitted he was not happy at Simon's song choice - Rose Royce's Wishing On A Star - last week, when he was booted out.

He added: "If someone tells you this song is going to work for you and he's probably the most powerful man in the record business, you are not going to argue with him.

"You are naive and you've got to put an element of trust in someone."

Austin will be back on The X Factor tonight with the other 12 finalists to perform their No 1 single Hero, which was released to raise cash for charities to help former services personnel.

They will be joined by Mariah Carey, who had the original hit with the song.

The American diva will also sing her new single I Stay In Love.

Austin said it was a bittersweet moment on Sunday when Hero went straight to the top of the charts.

He said: "Of course it's tough.

"It was hard. I'm the only pop star walking around with a No1 single without a record deal.

"I have to work with my band and get my own single out there."

The band is The Cameron-atrio he fronts.

He is now writing and recording and hoping to put out a single and tour a round the country, including Scotland.

Austin added: "I've got friends in Dunoon and Leon Jackson (the Scots winner of last year's X Factor) is a pal.

"When I was put out last Saturday, he was screaming at the telly he was so angry because he knows what I can do."

Austin admits that he attracted some unwanted attention while he was on the show.

It was revealed that he appeared on E4 reality show Boys Will Be Girls and dressed up as a girl to pass himself off a member of a girl band.

There were also rumours he might be gay but the singer is dating former topless model Nikita Vassilliou, 28 - and she claims he wears her knickers.

Without as much as a blush, Austin reveals it's true.

He said: "Well, when you can't find a pair of clean Calvin's....

"Yes, I do every now and then.

"I've got no inhibitions because I know when I get on stage my music talks for itself and it wouldn't matter what I was wearing."

Source:Daily Record