Maria Laroco singing Prince’s “Purple Rain” during her audition. Image: Screengrab from YouTube/The X Factor UK
Maria Laroco succeeded to fight for her place in the final six of “The X Factor U.K.”
The 17-year-old proved once more that she deserves her place in the talent competition, as she battled Georgia Burgess for the last seat in the final six.
The official Facebook account for Blue Ant Entertainment uploaded the video of the sing-off between the two contestants last Tuesday, Oct. 2.
Both sang their audition pieces — The Jackson 5’s “Who’s Loving You” for Burgess and Prince’s “Purple Rain” for Laroco. X Factor judges Louis Tomlinson, Ayda Field and Robbie Williams gave Laroco a standing ovation, impressed by her rendition of the classic hit.
“These girls both deserve their spot[s]” Field said.
Tomlinson echoed Field’s remark, saying, “You both deserve a seat.”
In a surprising turn of events, Judge Simon Cowell chose both Burgess and Laroco to advance in the final six of the competition’s “The Girls” category. Cowell eliminated the already-seated Jennifer Owens.
“That was just an impossible decision” commented Tomlinson after the sudden elimination.
Burgess and Laroco now complete “The Girls” final six alongside Bella Penfold, Scarlett Lee, Molly Scott and Shan Smith.
“That was the hardest thing I’ve done,” Cowell told the girls as they celebrated being part of the final six. JB
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