[Arneldo]

X FACTOR former junkie Rachel Hylton has made it into the final 24 contestants, TV Biz can reveal today.

The single mum has been open about her life of drug addiction, crime and under-age sex — and revealed her heartache at having three of her five kids taken into care.

But it looks as if things are on the up for the 26-year-old.
Brilliant

For she blew away judges on the ITV talent show with an emotional performance of Amy Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good.

A source on the telly talent hit told us: “Rachel is brilliant — it looks as if she could go far on the show.

“She has got past boot camp and the next stage will be the judges’ houses, which we will film in a few weeks’ time.

“That’s when the four judges pick their final three and those 12 go through to the live shows — so Rachel is in with a great shot of making it.”

Rachel lives in Stanmore, North West London, with her two youngest children, son Tishon, six, and daughter Tashanee, four.

Her older two sons and a daughter have been adopted, but Rachel — drug-free for six years — is allowed “letterbox contact” with her children, we can reveal. This means she can send them birthday cards, Christmas cards and any other family news.

Talking about her troubled past, Rachel, who has been jailed for crimes including attempted burglary, admitted: “I’m not trying to hide anything.

“I know I took drugs and I know I committed crimes. I’m really remorseful for that.

“I’ve come out the other end and want to have a second chance to make life better for me and my kids.”

Sun