Katie Waissel reportedly broke down during Sunday’s show after a stylist wanted her to wear her ‘unique’ headgear for a second day running, prompting the singer to demand that there aren’t any more gimmicks. According to The Mirror, Katie wants her future performences to be about her voice, not her look.

Katie allegedly raged at the stylists: “This is a joke. I don’t want to wear it. You can’t make me wear this s***.”

She ranted: “Stop making me do all this. Let me just sing, be me. I want it to be about my voice, not this s*** you’re making me wear. I look ridiculous.”

An X Factor insider revealed: “Katie was in a right state. She knew she’d been rejected by the pubic and feared if she went on in another strange costume it might be the end of her.

“She was even saying to people backstage, ‘I just don’t want people to hate me’. I want them to see the real me and to prove I’m worthy to be in the show.”

Cheryl tried to help her act, telling her: “You just have to be strong.”

A show source told the paper: “Cheryl is really trying to turn things around for her. She has spent hours talking to her since she was in the bottom three on Sunday and has even bought her a gold designer bracelet to wear for luck.

“Katie doesn’t understand why some fans hate her and really wants to turn things around. She wants to ditch the gimmicks and try to wow people with her voice and Cheryl is determined to do everything she can to help her.”

Meanwhile Katie’s mum Diana has revealed in an interview with Heat magazine: “Katie may come across as annoying, but she just wants to stand out. She’s learning to handle criticism.

“It would be difficult for anyone to take, but the more she receives, the more she’s having to get used to it.”

Let’s hope Katie realises impressing people with her voice will require her to learn a whole song…