Maria Laroco Makes An Impact For The X Factor UK

It seems like that the Philippines would always make a statement every year for the The X Factor UK. You might have remembered 4th Impact, Ivy Grace Paredes, and now 17 year-old Maria Laroco amazed the judges with her rendition of Prince's Purple Rain. The youngest Filipino contender who joined the show took a huge leap in search for her dream to be an international star.

The performance received a standing ovation and got all the "yes" from the judges. Simon even guessed that she came from the Philippines given the number of impressive contestants who has proved their worth.

Pinoy Talents Who Wowed Even the Likes of Simon Cowell

An X Factor UK judge as uncompromising as Simon Cowell may be very difficult to please, but even the reality television icon will admit that many of the Filipinos who’ve joined his contest are talented beyond doubt.

No matter where they go, Filipinos leave an indelible mark on the music scene. The X Factor UK has proven this yet again with Filipino contestants who have shown a deep passion for music, as well as undeniable prowess in singing. Here we list down remarkable Filipino acts and how they’ve won audiences worldwide on top of Simon Cowell’s attention.

RTL CBS Entertainment Brings Ivy Grace Paredes To Perform At Asian Television Awards

Outstanding Filipino Contestant On The X Factor UK To Showcase Vocal Prowess That Wowed Judges On The Largest Talent Competition In The World

RTL CBS Entertainment, the regional broadcaster for the 21st Asian Television Awards, has confirmed the participation of Ivy Grace Paredes, the Filipino singer who impressed the judges on the current season of The X Factor UK. The 33-year-old songster known for her powerful vocals will take the stage at this year’s Asian Television Awards to shine as she did on the largest talent competition in the world.

Ivy Grace Paredes Receives Loudest Standing Ovation on The X Factor UK Six Chair Challenge

Singing the Whitney Houston megahit, I Have Nothing, Ivy Grace Paredes took The X Factor UK stage to thundering applause and what host Dermot O’Leary described as the “loudest standing ovation of the night.”  Judges Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger were on their feet acknowledging how well the Filipino singer did in this round of the competition.

In giving her comments after Ivy Grace’s performance, Nicole said, “I know why you left the Philippines. (It is) because your voice is way too big for the Philippines alone.  It is meant for the entire world to hear.”

Filipina Singer Ivy Grace Paredes Gets All The Yeses She Needs From The X Factor UK Judges

Ivy Grace Paredes, 33, from the Philippines, impressed all four judges of The X Factor UK with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s All The Man I Need on the sixth episode of the show today. On camera before she belted out her version of the hit song, she said that she was inspired to join the competition after seeing 4th Impact on the show last year. “If they can make it, I can make it, too.” She said that she wasn’t getting any younger but that she could still be on The X Factor UK stage.

After her powerful performance Simon Cowell reacted, "Oh my God! What just happened there?!"

What do One Direction, Little Mix, and 4th Impact have in common?

Before One Direction became a sensation, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson were solo acts who dreamt of stardom. The five then-aspiring singers auditioned at The X Factor UK’s seventh season, but while not all of them got three yeses, everyone managed to make it to second round.

At the end of the bootcamp stage, none of them qualified for the Boys category. Still, the judges saw the talent in the five aspirants and gave them the chance to compete as a group.