X Factor star looks unrecognisable with wicked transformation 15 years after ITV series

Lucie Jones looks worlds away from her time on The X Factor (Picture: Lia Toby/Getty Images)

X Factor star Lucie Jones looked worlds away from her time on the ITV programme 15 years ago as she was pictured at the Wicked premiere.

The 33-year-old Welsh singer first rose to fame on Simon Cowell’s talent show in 2009.

She finished in eighth place on the competition, losing out to Jedward in a showdown in week five.

During her stint on The X Factor, Lucie was mentored by Dannii Minogue, with that year seeing Joe McElderry go on to win, and Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon in the final.

After her time on the ITV talent competition, Lucie has had a successful West End career, which recently included playing Wicked’s Elphaba Thropp on stage in 2022.

She now looks unrecognisable from her days on The X Factor, 15 years ago.

Lucie was on The X Factor in 2009 (Picture: PA) She attended the Wicked premiere on Monday (Picture: Lia Toby/Getty Images)

On Monday, she joined the likes of Jonathan Bailey, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo (who plays Elphaba in the new film) at the UK premiere.

Lucie wore a glam black suit, with silver embroidery and a matching clutch, and stuck to the Wicked theme with bold green eyeshadow.

She posed for a group shot with the stars of the film, including 7 Rings singer Ariana.

Lucie posed for a group shot alongside the stars of the film including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo (Picture: Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImage)
Lucie played Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Wicked London Production Ltd) The singer once made it to week five on The X Factor (Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images)

In 2022, Lucie told Metro about playing the Wicked Witch of the West in the hit theatre production.

‘For as long as I can remember I wanted to do Wicked,’ she said. ‘I’ve literally dreamed about it since I was 12 years old when I first saw the show. So for me, this is it.’

While on the West End, Lucie has also held roles in Les Miserables and as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

The star also represented the UK in Eurovision in 2017, which was held in Kyiv.

Lucie represented the UK in Eurovision in 2017 (Picture: AP) She was on The X Factor with Olly Murs, Stacey Solomon, Joe McElderry, Lucie Jones, Danyl Johnson, Jamie Archer, Lloyd Daniels, and Jedward (Picture: Gareth Davies/Getty Images)

She performed Never Give Up on You, with the UK coming in 15th place and Portugal’s Salvador Sobral winning that year.

Speaking of her loss, she later blamed Brexit, saying: ‘I had no idea how Brexit was going to affect the vote until I was there. I did notice lots of Brexit comments.

‘I mean the Aussies were the only ones to give us 12 points out of everyone — now that was pretty awkward.’

She added to The Sun: ‘We didn’t come last which I’m thrilled about.

Lucie auditioned for The X Factor in 2009 and met her now-husband during boot camp (Picture: PA) Lucie and Ethan married in 2017 (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)

‘We got great public response and I have had loads of messages of support from celebrities.

‘It’s great that we got the support from home. All the messages have been just overwhelming.’

The same year, Lucie married her partner Ethan Boroian, who she met during auditions for The X Factor in 2009.

They met during boot camp and stayed in touch before going on their first date five years later.

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