X Factor - Meet Rachel Hylton

Monday, 6 October 2008

26 year-old South East London girl Rachel Hylton hardly had the best start in life, having been in prison after getting mixed up with drugs and having five children at a very young age.

Her parents split up when she was nine years old and after that she lost control and direction, having her first child at the age of 13.

Drug problems and prison meant three of her children were taken into care, but after the birth of her fourth child she was determined to change her life for the better.

Rachel's looking to the X Factor to help cement her status as officially "back on track".

Greatest Love Of All

Music has always been important to Rachel - at the age of 13 she won a ghetto blaster for coming first in a singing competition performing Whitney Houston's 'Greatest Love Of All'.

Having Jamaican parents meant Rachel grew up listening to reggae music, and she admits she's only ever had one music lesson in her life.

Rachel tries to sing every day and rates music as the saving grace during the hard times in her life.

She admits that since she first appeared on the X Factor, people she hasn't seen in ages are getting back in touch and she's recognised in the street.

And Rachel's extremely supportive family are really proud of what she's doing too - which means the absolute world to her.

Do you want Rachel to be the winner? Vote in our X Factor poll.

Meet the other X Factor over 25s.

X Factor photo gallery.