NIKI
GROOMED AS "NEW KYLIE"
 X
FACTOR favourite Niki Evans has a secret past — as a pop singer.
Mum-of-two Niki, 34, was discovered by Pete Waterman , of the Popstars talent show, 18 years ago and groomed to become the next Kylie Minogue.
She recorded a record called Who Do You Think You Are but it never made the big-time. She also sang on a Coca-Cola ad.
On the opening X Factor show viewers saw Niki get an emotional thumbs up from judges after disclosing how her dead father made her audition from beyond the grave.
A record company insider said: "Isn't X Factor supposed to be for unknowns, not pop stars having a second chance at fame?
"They could have told viewers about her past as Niki R who got
into the Top 50."
But there was no mention of how velvet voiced Niki was previously a professional singer who made a bid for pop stardom under the name Niki R when she was just 16.
She was signed by hit making machine Stock Aitken Waterman in 1989 to Libido
Records.
The label is a division of music giant PWL which at the time also had Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Sinitta, Jason Donovan and Bananarama on its books.
Niki shared a studio with Kylie - the sister of new X Factor
judge Dannii Minogue - as the Aussie was recording I Should Be
So Lucky.
The music industry insider added: "At one time Niki was being
groomed as the next Kylie Minogue. She had the looks and the voice.
"Unfortunately for her Who Do You Think You Are never had the legs to break through as a major hit. It got a bit of radio airplay and made the charts but wasn't sensational.
"At the time there were so many female popstars around trying to break it was felt that it wasn't worth pursuing Niki's career.
"Within a couple of years she was back working the amateur circuit. Most people assumed we'd never hear from her again.
By the late 1990s Niki had turned her back on music as she married became a proud mother.
But her father John Rolph, who was suffering from a serious illness, was convinced that her daughter should pursue a music career again.
Before his death last September he secretly sent away for forms for his daughter to enter The X Factor. Tragically he never had the chance to explain his plan to Niki.
It was only when she was sorting through his paperwork after the funeral that Niki found the forms and realised what her father wanted her to do.
At the auditions Niki performed a flawless rendition of Whitney Houston hit I Will Always Love You that visibly blew away the judges.
After the performance an emotional Louis Walsh told her: "I'm absolutely astounded." Simon Cowell added: "I think you've got a great voice, just great. I absolutely loved your audition."
Early favourite Niki is now expected to fly through the judges' bootcamp and into the live performance shows.
An X Factor spokeswoman last night confirmed our story about Niki's secret past but said she hadn't broken any show rules.
She said: "As long as an artist isn't under a current recording contract they are allowed to audition for the show.
"People like Niki are the reason why Simon Cowell invented The X Factor. She's tried all her life and this is her second chance."
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