Filipina quits ‘X-Factor UK’ over US visa issue—report

A promising Filipina contestant who wowed the judges at the current season of “X-Factor UK” was forced to give up her singing dreams over a “visa issue.”

In a report by The Sun, 33-year-old Ivy Grace Paredes decided to quit the show after her application for a US visa, which she needs to be able to travel to Los Angeles to film episodes of the show, was turned down.

Sources told the news site that Paredes encountered a “past problem” that hindered her American visa application. “There has been talk of a past issue causing problems but no one but Ivy knows the reason,” one source told The Sun.

READ: Filipina stuns judges in ‘X-Factor UK’ with Whitney hit

“X Factor tried their best to help, but ran out of time,” the sources revealed.

Moreover, another insider said, “There was an issue with her application being approved. That meant she was not granted a visa in time and sadly had to withdraw from the competition.”

Paredes, who hails from Malayabalay, Bukidnon, was about to progress to the show’s Judges Houses’ round. In this case, one lucky contestant will take Paredes’ spot and push through with the next round of the show.

Paredes passed the Boot Camp stage after she was praised by all four judges with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “All the Man that I Need” last week. Simon Cowell described her piece as “one of the best we’ve ever had” while Louis Walsh called her a “little diva.”  Gianna Francesca Catolico/rga