X FACTOR judge Sharon Osbourne has been branded a pushy prima donna by Chenai Zinyuku. Chenai made it through to X factor bootcamp in 2004 and was one of the final twelve acts in last years show.

Chenai Zinyuku claimed Sharon issued a host of demands for last year’s live finals of the ITV1 show. Chenai, 21, said: “She demanded the largest dressing room and told them how she wanted it decorated. She was only in it for a few hours but she wanted new carpets in a certain colour and everything custom-made.”

Chenai, who has struggled to launch a pop career, also claimed Simon Cowell takes little or no interest in the artists in his group.

And in a warning to other contestants, she added: “I thought everyone would love me after X Factor but you just don’t get taken seriously.”

Since leaving the X Factor house Chenai has revealed that she is not at all surprised by her mentor Louis’ decision to save Nicholas rather than her last Saturdau night.

“It wasn’t that difficult a decision for Louis to make,” Chenai said. “I always knew that if it was down to me and one of the boys, he’d keep one of the boys, because they’re more likely to win.”

“Louis has turned to me before and said ‘Boys pull the votes in’. He’s in it to win it as well as us,” she said.

When asked about how she felt about leaving the show, Chenai said: “It’s just a bit surreal, it’s surreal when you make it and it’s surreal when you don’t.”

“You look forward to going home and seeing everybody and you’re a bit gutted that you’ve left the competition.”

But hopefully this won’t be the last we see of Chenai. She said “I definitely still want to go into music and I just need to figure out how I’m going to do that,”

After what was described by judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne as Chenai’s best performance on the X Factor, Chenai was left in the bottom two acts in last nights show along with team mate Nicholas Dorsett and after a second and more confident performance was voted off the X Factor 2005.

Sharon voted to save Chenai, saying her performance on the night had been better than Nicholas, an opinion all the other judges agreed with. Simon then voted to save Nicholas, admitting that Chenai had performed better than Nicholas’, but he believed Nicholas had a better chance of lasting on the show. So the casting vote lay with Chenai’s mentor Louis Walsh. He took his time (though not as much time as Sharon took when deciding between Chenai and 4Tune 2 weeks ago) and in the end he sent Chenai home, as he also believed that Nicholas has a better chance in the competition.

Chenai was dignified when interviewed by Kate Thornton, though obviously gutted. She was even gracious enough not to do what the rest of us no doubt are, and that is blaming Louis! His appalling song choices to date ruined Chenai’s chances of winning the X Factor, and will continue to threaten the future of his two remaining acts Shayne and Nicholas if he doesn’t work much harder in the coming week!

Tonight’s show really sorted out the good from the great! As always Sharon’s group shined, but tonight Louis’ acts left me a little cold. I would have to agree with Simon and Sharon, Louis’ song choices are hideous and if he doesn’t change his ideas soon he will be left with no acts in the X Factor!

Here’s my X Factor chart for tonights show:

1. Brenda Edwards:

Brenda once again lit up the stage with her version of Someone Elses Guy by Jocelyn Brown . She looked like a seasoned Diva who was more used to performing in packed arenas than the X Factor stage. She showed her immense vocal talent by holding her final note of the song for 11 seconds with ease. As Louis Walsh said her performance was both “electric and energetic”


2. Andy Abraham:

Andy shone tonight while singing the Frankie Valli track ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. I concurred with Simon when he said “Thank God you are still in the competition.” Against all odds Andy has performed amazingly once more.


3. Maria Lawson:

Maria followed Simons advice and sang a more contemporary song this week in the form of James Blunt recent chart hit ‘Beautiful’. Simon thought she could record it as her own and praised her as “the best performance of the night so far”. I think Maria is one of the few acts that could transend from this show to a successful music career. She has it all: talent, looks, confidence and lots more talent!


4. Journey South:

The boys took a chance tonight with their song choice of First Time I Ever saw Your Face by Roberta Flack, and it paid off. They showed that they didn’t need backing tracks and choirs to support their, what could only be described as raw talent.


5. Chico Slimani:

Chico impressed the judges tonight with his version of ‘Kiss’ by Prince. Louis Walsh thought it was his best perfomance to date and Simon is shocked to admit that he is actually beginning to like Chico, he even thinks the competition would be boring without him. I think this was Chicos best performance vocally so far, the first week that he really sang properly. It was nice to hear!


6. The Conway Sisters:

The Conway sisters failed to wow the judges tonight with their performance of ‘One Voice’ by Billy Gilman. Sharon thought it sounded a bit Broadway and Louis thought it was an “bad song” from a “bad mentor”. I didn’t dislike it as much as the judges, but then I love Broadway and West End musicals. Simon was right to point out the tuning problems in the middle of the song, but I don’t think that was the main problem with this performance or this act. The problem for me is that they just don’t move or inspire me. They are good singers but I just don’t feel excited by them.


7. Shayne Ward:

Shayne sang ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ by Stylistics and I am in agreement with Simon and Sharon when they criticised the song choice. The song is too old for Shayne. he sang it well, very well actually, but the performance lacked excitement or feeling as he obviously doesn’t identify with this type of music.


8. Chenai Zinyuku:

Chenai’s song for this evening was You Were Always On My Mind by Elvis Presley. Again she didn’t sing it badly, though she definatley needs to work on her diction as it is hard to make out the words of any song she sings. But the song was all wrong for her. Sharon said she is longing to see personality shine through in Chenai’s performance in a way that we haven’t so far. I don’t think Chenai has found her niche yet and it shows from week to week.


9. Nicholas Dorsett:

Nicholas gave his worst performance to date while singing ‘I Want You Back’ by The Jackson Five. Sharon said “I don’t think you did yourself justice singing that song” and I think the majority of people would have to agree. The song was out of tune at parts and Nicholas looked uncomfortable when usually he is quite confident on stage. Simon believes that Louis Nicholas’ mentor is killing him in this competition. I would go as far to say that he is killing all his acts!

Well the songs for this week show have just been announced on Xtra Factor 24/7 and are as follows:

1. Nicholas Dorsett: I Want You Back by The Jackson Five
2. Shayne Ward: You Make Me Feel Brand New by Simply Red
3. Chenai Zinyuku: You Were Always On My Mind by Elvis Presley
4. Brenda Edwards: Someone Elses Guy by Jocelyn Brown
5. Maria Lawson: Beautiful by James Blunt
6. Chico Slimani: Kiss by Prince
7. Journey South: First Time I Ever saw Your Face by Roberta Flack
8. Conway Sisters: One Voice by Billy Gilman

We’d love to hear what you think of the song choices this week!

Chenai was born and raised in her current home town of Bradford on the 1st of June 1986, making her 19 years of age.

Chenai’s dad is from Zimbabwe and her mother is English, Chenai lives with her mother and three half brothers.

Chenai’s love of music and singing started at a very young age and she lists her biggest influences as Betty Wright, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Funky House.

Chenai entered The X Factor last year and made it as far as Sharons bootcamp before getting sent home in tears. This year however all three judges were in agreement that Chenai had improved massively in the last 12 months and she breezed through the early stages of the competition before being chosen by Louis Walsh to be one of his four acts to compete in the live finals.

Chenai’s songs so far have been:

Week 3 : Hero by Mariah carey
Week 2: Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton
Week 1: Closest Thing To Crazy by Katie Melua

It seems that the mums of all of Louis’ contestants are up in arms this week!

As we reported yesterday Phillip Magee’s mum has blasted Louis for choosing poor songs for her son, now Chenai’s mum is saying much of the same.

On saturday nights Xtra Factor Chenai’s mum said to Ben Shephard that Louis needs to pick songs that showcase Chenai’s voice much more and allow her to show what she is capable of. She thinks Chenai should be singing more challenging tracks such as a Whitney Houston or Aretha Franklin number.

Well in a matter of speaking anyway.

Chenai Zinyuku, one of the final 12 contestants in this years X Factor, has managed to shed a stone in the last few months after Louis Walsh made some comments about her weight during the auditioning process.

She said: “It was between me and Louis. He just said it to me, but I knew that would come up anyway.

“I’m eating healthy and doing a bit of exercise. Being fit helps with your vocals.”

Here at Ubnreality TV we think Chenai looked stunning as she was, but if it makes her happier and more confident then all we have to say is “You Go Girl!!”