BAREFOOT singing sensation Diana Vickers is hoping the votes will keep pouring in when she next appears live on The X Factor this weekend.
The 17-year-old and 10 other finalists will be singing Michael Jackson hits during Saturday night’s show.
Last week Diana, from Accrington, wowed the judges and the public with her performance of U2’s With Or Without You.
It was the first time she had ever performed live.
Diana told the Observer: "My gosh, it was nerve-racking. As soon as I stepped on stage I was nervous but when I looked in the audience I saw my mum and my family and felt better.
"As soon as I saw the judges, Cheryl (Cole) gave me a cheeky smile and I relaxed."
Following her performance judge Louis Walsh tipped her as "the one to beat" but his colleague, Simon Cowell, compared her to Marmite, saying viewers would either love her or hate her.
He added: "Diana, I loved it. It’s very important you stand out from the crowd and although you took a massive risk it worked."
Speaking about her decision to sing barefoot, quirky Diana said: "I never wear heels. I wore them at the dress rehearsal but it wasn’t working for me so I decided to take them off. It was the best decision I made."
Diana said she was delighted so many people had voted for her.
"It’s great to have the support."
She added that she was nervous about tomorrow night’s show and added: "I am very scared. Michael Jackson is amazing but I don’t know if my voice and his music go together."
Earlier this week national newspapers claimed Diana was acting like a diva.
But her mentor and judge Cheryl Cole offered her support as soon as the reports came out.
Diana said: "At the end of the day I know what is going on in my life and I know what is going on in the competition.
"Cheryl has been so amazing. She is definitely the best mentor. She texted me this morning to find out how rehearsals have been."
Diana said all the contestants get on very well, especially the girls.
She said: "We are having a dinner party tonight. But most of the week we are very tired and don’t have a lot of time. I still haven’t got over Saturday night. But everyone in the house is great."
And while Diana loves London, she said she misses her family – mum Ann, dad Eddie and older sister Charlotte – and all her friends from Westholme School.
She said: "I miss being able to go for a long walk or get a Chinese takeaway.
"I spent all of Sunday with my family and it was the best thing. It was really good to see them."
X Factor will be on ITV at 7.25pm on Saturday night with a results show at 10.10pm.
