Niki Evans: ‘An older woman will never win X Factor’
Former X Factor contestant Niki Evans, has blasted the ITV show for being ageist and said that an over 25 year old woman will never win it.
Niki came fourth in the 2007 series and was unlucky enough to be mentored by Louis Walsh.
Niki told The Mirror: “I will eat my hat if an over-25 woman ever wins The X Factor.”
She added: “Age is a horrible, horrible thing to have to go through. But I was very lucky, touch wood. There’s only a couple of us who got to fourth (position) – of my age group, women.
“I’d be very surprised if an over-25 woman ever won it. It’s not just ageist – it’s sexist as well because you get the little cute boys, and since the four age groups have come in, because it’s over-25s, it’s groups – under-25 boys and under-25 girls. Since that it’s got much much worse because you’re getting twice the amount of young people coming through.”
Niki also believes that the new style auditions make trying out for the show easier and less scary.
She said: “It’s a lot easier now isn’t it? You get backing tracks, you get a big audience so I don’t think it’s as scary as walking into one room with four people staring at you with no music so I think it’s a lot easier these days.”
Niki’s new single, I Feel Love, a cover of Donna Summer’s 1977 hit is out on September 21.
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Ok I accept the show is ageist and sexist, it always has been.
In the real world success is attributed only to the young that is the under 25’s, when success hits older people the over 25’s that is, we never hear of them. On a few rare occassions we will hear of success coming to the over 25’s, and at times like this it is highly likely to be a man. It is a man’s world.
I don’t in all honesty think the talent show is a picture of accurate success for those involved in the music industry at regional or National levels. It is sad though that wjen successes are reported or opportunities are available they are filled by the young and inexperienced.
I do believe though than one day an older contestant will come along who will blow the talent show apart, I would love it to be a woman.
I don’t agree that the show has become easier. The effect of singing with a backing disc does not make it any easier facing around 4 thousand or 6 thousand people in an audience. An audience that is likely to be family and friends of contestants.
The experience is likely to be nerve racking for those who have never sang to an audience before even more nerve racking as the audience can be fickle for the obvious reason.
I loved the bit where she said “Age is a horrible, horrible thing to have to go through..”
We should set up a support group for people who are having trouble adjusting to getting older. Oh, that would be the entire population of the planet, Niki! Seriously the most idiotic comment I’ve ever heard.
It is far harder for an ageing woman to succeed or retain a career position in the real world of entertainment than it is for a man.
[...] from a serious case of sour grapes here. Just last month, she was claiming that the X Factor is ageist and older acts have no chance of success. Now she is claiming that this year’s older category [...]