[Red Moon]

'Forget my past i want a better future'

The X Factor’s Rachel Hylton
• At 12 she got pregnant with her 28-year-old drug dealer boyfriend’s baby

• She and her baby were put in separate foster homes

• Addicted to drugs, her second child was also taken into care when she was 17

• Her third baby was taken away when she was jailed for burglary at 18

X FACTOR CONTESTANT Rachel Hylton says she is ready to close the depressing chapters of her life and move on.

Hylton has been wowing the judges and the nation with her powerful vocal talent on the popular TV talent show, but her past has raised as much interest as her voice.

She was a hit with the judges ever since her first audition for The X Factor, when she sang singer Amy Winehouse’s hit single You Know I Am No Good. But it isn’t just her talent that has captivated audiences.

Hylton’s past life has become a talking point of this year’s show, which offers a £1 million recording contract to the winner.

Hylton has previously been candid about her life whilst on the hit show. She has confessed to drug use, spells in prison and having the first of her five children when she was just 12.

But talking exclusively to The Voice, she said it was time to look ahead.

However, there can be no denying that the woman who has captivated the show’s regular 12 million audience has had a remarkable life journey.

The 26-year-old grew up in Hackney, east London, but at the age of 11 was expelled from two schools for violence and began engaging in underage sex.

In a recent interview with the News of the World, Hylton confessed: “I would run away from home. I lost my virginity when I was 11 to a boy who lived next door to me. He was 14. I also had sex with older men.”

When she was 12, she became pregnant for the first time. Her then boyfriend was a 28-year old drug dealer who introduced her to crack and ecstasy.

Her drug use resulted in social services putting her in one foster home and her son in another.

When she was just 14 Hylton began a three-year relationship with another drug dealer who abused her.

“He introduced me to heroin. Mentally and physically, he used to torture me. He was a nasty piece of work,” she told the News of the World.

Hylton had another son when she was 17 and he was also taken into care as her drug habit continued.

Soon after Hylton’s boyfriend dumped her and she turned to crime to feed her habit.

She admits: “I was a complete addict so I would shoplift, do muggings and commit street robberies.”

However, at 18 and pregnant, Hylton’s crimes began to catch up with her and she got her first jail term – 18 months for attempted burglary – and was sent to Holloway Prison. Her newborn daughter went straight into care and was later adopted.

Once released from prison Hylton could not stay clean and soon found herself back inside, while she was pregnant with her fourth child.

However, she was determined to keep her new baby and turn her life around.

Hylton finally gave up drugs and went on to have another daughter.

She is now a single mum and hopes overcoming her struggles can serve as an inspiration.

“I don’t want to be a role model, I hope I can be an inspiration to people. God has put me on this earth and has blessed me with an amazing talent.

“I hope I can inspire people, not just those who have been through the pitfalls of life that I have been through but to show that you can rise above challenges,” she said.

Hylton told The Voice that singing has always been her passion. After years of unsuccessfully trying to break into the industry she decided to appear on the X Factor.

“I really love singing and I’ve sung since I was five. I want to be a well established recording artist and that’s why I went for the show,” she explained.

After beating 180,000 hopefuls, she secured one of the 12 spots to sing on the live final shows, and is enjoying her moment in the spotlight.

“I feel really good, I feel blessed and I’m really happy that I have this opportunity and it’s just very exciting,” she said.

To prepare for the shows, Hylton was given a glamorous new look that is very different to her appearance when she auditioned for the show.

But despite her happiness at her makeover she’s surprised by some of the reactions she’s received.

“I am happy with my image change but I am not happy that people seem to think that because I had my hair in a ponytail I was ugly, and that I am a tramp,” she said.

Caring for her son Tishon, six, and four-year-old daughter Tashanee with limited money, meant that she had no time to spend on her appearance.

“I was a mum on income support and we didn’t have much money. I’m not going to look like I’m dressed up to the nines and put clothes on my back and my kids don’t have clothes or food in their stomach,” she said.

Hylton’s devotion to her children meant she had to make sacrifices. She explained that despite turning her life around challenges still remain.

“Before I came on the show I had a pair of Nike trainers I had for three years because I couldn’t afford a decent pair of trainers for myself. The bills needed to be paid,” she said.

Hylton is determined to win The X Factor so she can provide a better life for her family as well as live her dream. Her children are proud of their mum and have become popular at school.

“My son says to me he’s famous at school because everyone keeps coming up to him and saying, ‘Your mum’s on TV’,” she said proudly.

Despite the gruelling schedule of rehearsals, choreography and vocal lessons, Hylton spends as much time as possible with her children.

“I have time sometimes to go and see them, read them a story and give them some dinner,” she said.

But she’s prepared to work hard as necessary on the show and has thanked the public for their support.

She says if she wins it will change her life.

“I think I deserve to make a better chance for myself. I think I deserve this,” Hylton said.

“I don’t want to live the life I used to live. I’m not doing this to be famous, I want to give my children a better quality of life.”

Source:The Voice