Katie Waissel

Katie Waissel (born 27 January 1986) is an English singer-songwriter who came into the public eye when she finished seventh in the seventh series of The X Factor. She is also known for being a housemate in Celebrity Big Brother 18, where she finished in eighth place.^[1]

Career

2008–10: Early career and Green Eyed World

In mid-to-late 2009, Waissel starred in an interactive, online reality show Green Eyed World, sponsored by Sprite. The show focused on her journey in the US and Europe in hopes of a record label in 14 episodes of roughly 5 minutes in length each. Sprite experimented with the world's first YouTube/Facebook digital connection.

During her time on the show, Waissel shot a music video for her song "Live and Learn", and released a five-track EP, Songs from Under the Covers under "KatieVRecords". A song recorded at the time, a duet with The Private Life of David Reed "Moving Mountains", later appeared on their self-titled album during her time on The X Factor under the alias "Lola Fontaine".^[2][3] Waissel has been on tour with East 17 and Andy Abraham^[4] Sometime after the show, Waissel performed in Hollywood for Paris Hilton together with friend and fellow contestant X Factor Storm Lee.^[5]

2010: The X Factor

Before auditioning for The X Factor, Waissel had worked as a receptionist, waitress and once worked at OK! magazine.^[6] At her audition, she wanted to sing "At Last" by Etta James, but Simon made her pick another song before she even started singing. Eventually, after failing to remember "We are the Champions," she was allowed to sing her original song.^[3] She then sang "At Last" by Etta James, and was put through to bootcamp by Cole and Cowell. At bootcamp, she sang "Make You Feel My Love" and reacted with shock when she was the first girl put through to the judges houses.^[7] She fell to pieces when performing the song "Smile" in front of Cole and will.i.am at the judges' houses stage,^[3] and had to stop to compose herself after crying, stating that "it's an emotional song for me".^[8] Despite stumbling through her song for the second time, Cole picked her as one of her final three girls.

In week 1 of the live shows, she sang "We Are the Champions". She was put in the bottom three as a result of the public vote, but because Nicolo Festa polled the fewest votes, Waissel had to sing in the final showdown with F.Y.D., the other bottom three act from week 1. She sang "Don't Let Me Down" in the final showdown and was saved from elimination by the judges by a majority vote, with only Cowell (F.Y.D.'s mentor) voting against her. In the second week of the live shows, Katie sang "I'd Rather Go Blind". She managed to avoid the bottom three this week and secured a place to the third week, where she sang "I Wan'na Be Like You". In the fourth week she sang "Bewitched" and was in the final showdown with Belle Amie. Judges votes were deadlocked this time, but Waissel was announced as safe when it was revealed that Belle Amie had the fewest votes.^[9] She was in the final showdown again the next week after performing "Don't Speak" but was saved by a majority vote over Treyc Cohen when Cole refused to vote for either of her acts, while Cowell and Walsh voted to eliminate Cohen.^[10]

Waissel was in the final showdown for a third successive week when she sang "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", and this had been the fourth time Waissel had been in the final showdown. The judges votes were tied once again, but the public vote showed Aiden Grimshaw received fewer votes and he was eliminated.^[11] This was the first time in the show's history that a contestant was put into the final showdown four times and survived. In week 8, she performed "Sex on Fire" and "Everybody Hurts". In the series' third double elimination, Waissel received the fewest number of votes and was automatically eliminated.^[12] Overall, she came 7th in the competition.

Waissel performed the following songs on The X Factor:

2011–13: Katie Waissel, Red Velvet and X Factor 2011 Final

Shortly before her elimination, it was revealed Jay-Z had an interest in signing Waissel and fellow X Factor contestant Cher Lloyd to his label, Takeover Roc Nation. These plans did not materialise.^[13] On 17 March 2012 Waissel released her self-titled debut album on Chamberlain Records, which consists of recordings from her time on Green Eyed World. The song "The Ugly Truth" was used to promote the album – she performed the song on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, The Late Late Show, and embarked on a short shopping mall tour – although it was not released as a single. In June 2011, Waissel announced she is currently working on another album, and promised it will be a "dirty, sexy, rock 'n' roll" album.^[14] In July, she revealed her new band, called "Red Velvet Lovers", and according to Waissel are a "proper band".^[15]

In May 2013, Red Velvet released their first song for free download, entitled "I'm Fine", about Waissel's failed marriage to Alphonso, adding a message on her Twitter page thanking her fans for their support.^[16] Three more songs, "F*ck You", "High Fashion", and "Say It", were released for free download in June.

2016: Celebrity Big Brother

Katie competed in Celebrity Big Brother 18.^[17] She received one nomination in the first week from Chloe Khan, after Katie cried when Chloe made a comment about Amy Winehouse. This wasn't enough to make her face the public vote. In week 1, Katie nominated Grant Bovey and James Whale.^[18] Fellow Housemate, Christopher Biggins, was removed from the House on Day 9, after he made offensive comments about bisexual people and a racist joke towards Katie, who is Jewish, about the Holocaust.^[19] In the second week, Katie received one nomination, this time from Saira Khan (no relation to Chloe). Saira felt like she hadn't spoken to Katie much, as Katie was stuck in a different group. Again, this wasn't enough for Katie to face the public vote (although Saira herself did). In week 2, Katie nominated Saira and Heavy D. Saira was evicted later that week. On Day 13, Katie and fellow Housemates, Ricky, Aubrey, James, Samantha and Frankie, threatened to walk out, after the nighttime antics of Lewis, Marnie, Bear and Chloe got too much. In Week 3, Katie clashed massively with Colin Newell (Heavy D), after he questioned her celebrity status and made a mess in the kitchen. He was evicted on Day 20. So far, everyone that has nominated Katie has been evicted (with Chloe being voted out in Week 2). On Day 23, Katie nominated Ricky Norwood and James Whale with her and Renee Graziano being the only housemates with no nominations that time. With Lewis Bloor and James Whale leaving in Week 3, Katie became one of the 8 housemates to make it to the final week. On Day 25, Katie received 2 nominations (from Frankie Grande and Ricky Norwood) and she gave her one nomination to Frankie. Anyone who got a nomination was put up for eviction this week, so Katie, Frankie, Ricky, Samantha Fox, Marnie Simpson and eternally nominated Stephen Bear faced the public vote. Katie had a meltdown late in Day 25 and threatened to walk. She decided to stay though. On Day 27, Katie received the least amounts of votes to save and was evicted from the house in eighth place, along with Samantha Fox in seventh place. Leaving Frankie Grande, Aubrey O'Day, Renee Graziano, Ricky Norwood, Marnie Simpson and Stephen Bear battling for the crown. Frankie came 6th, Aubrey came 5th, Marnie came 4th, Renee came 3rd, Ricky came 2nd and Bear won.

Personal life

Waissel is Jewish.^[20] In September 2012 she married male model Brad Alphonso. She announced that they had split after two months of marriage on 30 December 2012.^[21] In 2015, she married comedian Brian Moote. The two are currently living apart; he in Atlanta, Georgia and Katie in New York. Both have removed all traces of their marriage from their respective Twitter accounts but no formal announcement has been made.

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Studio Singles

As featured performer

Guest appearances

^ a "Moving Mountains" was later also included on Waissel's self-titled album, as "Katie Waissel feat. David Reed".

Tours

• 2011: The X Factor Live Tour 2011

See also

• List of The X Factor finalists (UK series 7)

References

External links

• Facebook
• Myspace
• Twitter
• Red Velvet Website
• Red Velvet Facebook
• Red Velvet Twitter