X Factor’s Zara McDermott had hypnotherapy for crippling stage fright and reveals No Love Lost has changed her life
X FACTOR: Celebrity's Zara McDermott had hypnotherapy for crippling stage fight, and revealed that being in No Love Lost has changed her life.
The 22-year-old star teamed up with her fellow Love Island 2018 alumni Samira Mighty, Wes Nelson, and Eyal Booker to take part in the ITV show this year - and have impressed with their vocals.
And while the group are enjoying their time in the competition, their success has even more meaning for Zara who has overcome huge fears on the programme.
Speaking to The Sun Online, the brunette beauty said: "This experience has been more than just a TV show to me, it’s actually changed my life.
"Before the show I was unable to sing in public and I had hypnotherapy to help with my stage fright, but being in the band and having the support of Samira, Wes and Eyal standing by my side has meant I have overcome my fears of performing in public."
Detailing just how bad her stage fright used to be, she continued: "Before the show I was such a bundle of nerves when it came to singing in public, but I’m so proud of myself for overcoming this.
"The live shows have been more than just a performance to me, it’s shown me that I can do it and it’s enabled me to do what I love with three people who I love and respect."
Zara added: "I owe my band mates a lot because they have encouraged me so much to believe in myself and reminded me to have confidence in myself.
"My band mates are so supportive and I couldn’t ask for a better group of people around me. I’m not hiding away in my bedroom singing now, I’m writing music and I’m heading out onto one of Britain’s most famous stages.
"I’m so thankful and appreciative to Wes, Samira and Eyal for sharing this experience with me. I can honestly say we are the closest we have ever been and we have music to thank for that!
"We are the closest we’ve ever been. We are stronger than ever as a foursome. Our bond is unbreakable, and music has brought out the best in us"
And Zara isn't the only one who believes the group is going from strength to strength, with her bandmates also gushing about their close bond.
Samira shared: "We love each other more and more every day, and we respect each others opinions because of that.
"First and foremost, we are four best friends, who met in unusual circumstances and have built our friendships based on our love for each other and music."
Eyal added: "A lot of people have been shocked to see us in a group and singing together.
"The moment we started singing we instantly knew that this was going to be the start of something special."
In last week's first live show, the foursome impressed viewers when they sang their original track All Or Nothing.
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They were voted through to this week, where they will perform again in a bid to impress the judges and viewers at home.
Discussing tonight's performance, Eyal said: "Hopefully everyone loves the performance tonight. We’ve worked so hard on it and we are so proud of how far we have come!"
Wes agreed: "We never imagined a year ago we would be singing on The X Factor stage, but we can’t imagine it any other way now.
"Singing is our passion and we want people to know how seriously we are taking the process. It’s important for us that we are getting to write our own music – we hope this experience is showing people a different side to us."
X Factor: Celebrity continues tonight at 8.30pm on ITV