A SINGING starlet from Christchurch has set out to win over Simon Cowell after he slated her girl group during their controversial X Factor audition.

After making it through to the arena auditions, 24-year-old Leah Doyle performed in front of thousands of people at Wembley as part of the five-part girl band Rouge Kiss.

Following their lively performance, which was shown on TV earlier this month, the girls received three yeses from Cheryl, Louis and Mel B, putting them in with a chance of getting through to bootcamp. But despite undergoing a radical makeover after receiving criticism from the outspoken Cowell in the previous round, the girls still failed to win over the music supremo who described them as “Yorkshire Terriers wanting to be an Alsatian”.

Now hoping to show Simon what they’re really made of the group has released a tongue-in-cheek music video aptly named Rouge Kiss Bites Back.

Leah, who is a former pupil at St Peter’s School, said: “We were really hoping Simon would be on our side.

“Obviously you want to impress all the judges but we just tried to see the humorous side of Simon’s comments. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

“We made the video because we wanted to show him that we can sing.”

Undeterred by Simon’s comments the girls, who formed the band three months ago after meeting at auditions, are now focussed on making their mark in the music industry.

“I have always wanted to do something in the arts – either singing, dancing or acting,” Leah said.

“Cheryl and Mel B were big idols for me. I grew up listening to the Spice Girls and was a big Girls Aloud fan.”

Describing her X Factor journey as an incredible experience, she added: “We really have loved it and we hope it will lead to something. When we went out on stage at Wembley and performed we got such a good reaction from the crowd. It’s been amazing.”

‘I pulled up to a house...’

BOURNEMOUTH singer Ebony Day, 21, is also set to appear on the national talent show in the coming weeks.

During her audition the former Bransgore and Highcliffe School pupil performs an acoustic cover of the theme tune for the American TV comedy series the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.