Dionne is 26 years of age and comes from London. She lives with her mum and dad and is the youngest of six children. Dionne has been singing for six years and has joined a theatre company and performing in plays. She has also performed in clubs and been a backing singer. She was previously afraid to take part in The X Factor until her family encouraged her to take part. Previously Dionne studied Psychology but wasn't too keen and decided to pursue a career in singing. Dionne's musical influences include Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. In the competition, Dionne performed '(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman' by Aretha Franklin in the London auditions and sailed through to the Boot Camp stage singing ‘Come Together’ by The Beatles on the first day and ‘Without You’ by Nilsson on the second day. At Judges' Homes stage, she performed ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ by Tina Turner after a nervous first attempt that she needed time to think it over.
Q&As
What would winning The X Factor mean to you?
“Winning The X Factor would be the start of a whole new life and would be like a dream! It would mean everything to me, my family and my friends and the first thing I’d treat myself to would be a house”.
What are you looking forward to about taking part in the competition?
She’s looking forward to moving to The X Factor house to get to know all the other contestants. “I can learn so much from them. You can really help to enhance yourself from bonding and supporting each other’ she explains. She continues ‘I’m going to miss my friends and family and watching my favourite soaps - Home and Away and EastEnders! My family are so proud of me. This was the first time I have entered the competition and I feel blessed to have got this far.”
Where did you go to school and what were your favourite subjects?
Dionne went to Sydenham Girls Comprehensive, South East London. She doesn’t come from a musical family, but rates drama and singing as her favourite subjects. Her proudest moment was singing at a family member’s funeral. “I felt like I did him proud” she says.
Who are your musical influences?
Her musical influences are dominated by legendary female singers. “I love Eta James, Mica Paris, Shirley Bassey, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Judy Garland, Tina Turner - the list goes on. I’m a huge Whitney fan and I’d love one day to perform with her. ‘I Want To Dance With Somebody’ is my favourite ever single.” But to really impress the Judges, Dionne says that she’d sing the sexy ‘I Just Want To Make Love To You’ by Eta James.
Has singing always been an ambition of yours?
Singing has always been an ambition of Dionne’s but it was a family tragedy that has spurred her to finally pursue her dream. “When I was 16, a girl came up to me in the school corridor and said I had a good voice so from then on I kept on singing. It was only when I lost a close family member that I thought life was for living and really went out to achieve my goal.”
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