X Factor - Reject Kimberley Southwick speaks
23 October 2007 - 19 year-old Kimberley Southwick became the first X Factor casualty on Saturday night's explosive first live show of the 2007 competition.
She was up for the chop alongside fellow 14-24 year-old Alisha Bennett - both being mentored by stroppy Sharon Osbourne.
After being voted out, Kimberley said: "I was completely gutted. And it was between me and Alisha and that's what I was upset about. We've been best mates throughout this experience.
"I met her at the very first part of bootcamp and obviously we shared a room in LA. We're roomies just now. So that was the worst situation we could possibly have been in.
"But I never expected to get this far so I'm quite content with it, I'm quite happy." Read about how Kimberley was voted off >
The Brummie barmaid said that Alisha was even more upset than her after being saved by the remaining three judges, Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh, after Sharon Osbourne refused to vote.
She also reveals what she would've done differently: "I wouldn't have sung that song, It's Raining Men, I would have chosen a belter which would have showed I can sing. A power ballad. And the choreography didn't help, because I had so much to think about.
"But it all comes together for a good performance, and I'm a performer. I'm there to entertain people. I wanted to go out with a bang and I think I did that.
After Sharon refused to vote for either of her acts on Saturday, she walked off the show. Other reports suggest a bust-up with fellow judge Dannii Minogue led to Sharon's departure. Read the full story >
Kimberley talks about what happened after the show with Sharon: "She's called me quite a few times since. She was really upset and she was angry. She really took it to heart and felt it was a personal attack on her.
"But she's invited me over for Sunday dinner today so I'm going to go and see her later. It'll be fun. I think she's just really upset at the minute."
