Alisah Bonaobra is back in “The X Factor UK.”
Sent home last week by judge Sharon Osbourne, the 22-year-old Filipina singer was brought back by viewers as one of four wildcard contestants who will compete in the live shows of the popular talent search series.
Alisah was voted from the Girls category along with Talia Dean in the Overs, Leon Mallet for the Boys and Jack and Joel in the Groups.
Despite being given the thankless task of eliminating Alisah during the Judges’ House phase of the contestant, Sharon was very pleased to see her back in the show.
Alisah, who called herself the “comeback queen” in a taped interview, then delivered another soaring performance, taking on “This Is My Now” by “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks and drawing loud cheers from the studio audience. All three judges — minus Simon Cowell, who was indisposed, were thrilled.
“That song is absolutely perfect for you because this is your now and you deserve to be back on the show. You always should have been on the show!” said Louis Walsh. “It’s almost like a winner’s song, and I love a power ballad with a key change from a great singer and you are a great singer! You’re a great performer. You got great soul and I love the way you fight back!”
Filipina-American diva Nicole Scherzinger agreed with Louis and referred to Alisah as her little Disney warrior princess. “You just hiya-d and karate chopped all through that song! But you did it with grace. You did it with poise. You did it with strength. I freakin’ adore you!” she said.
“I look at you and I’m like that’s my little ninja Filipina sister up there! You were meant to be up there, like [what Louis] said, this is your now, because that’s your stage, and you just took it tonight, honey!”
Sharon, who only a week ago criticized Alisah for being “very one-dimensional,” now has a different opinion of the latter. “Everybody says in this contest that they really want this, and they really need to be here. I know your story. I know what you’ve gone through. And you know what? With a voice like yours, you’re going to be here ‘til the end, Miss! I am so happy for you, so, so happy!” said the elated Girls mentor.
When host Dermot O’Leary asked the judges who they thought won the night, the lady judges Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne both favored Alisah, who went on to survive the first week of the live shows and will continue with her “X Factor UK” journey.
No wildcard contestant has ever won in the “The X Factor UK” but several have done quite well in the competition, with Christopher Maloney making it all the way to the finals and placing third overall.
“The X Factor UK” airs first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment same day as the UK on Sundays and Mondays at 10:30AM with primetime encores Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00PM.
RTL CBS Entertainment is available on SKYcable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channels 37(SD) and 313(HD).
Watch Alisah Bonaobra perform “This is My Now” by Jordin Sparks on “The X Factor UK” here:
