X Factor Boot Camp Kicks Off; Nearly Half Of Contestants Axed

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The X Factor is as much a ratings seeking show as anything these days, priding itself no longer on just the talent it showcases, but catfights, crying and breakdowns. With judge Britney Spears commenting, We’re gonna push them to their limits, it’s only reasonable to expect a bit of on air tension when the family sits down to watch on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

After settling down inside a swanky Miami hotel, the contestants were bused out to their performance site, and one by one, all 120 of them went in front of the judges, knees shaking and voices set to impress. After all, each performance is only the biggest of their life. Check out the scoop after the jump.

Diamond White, at only 13-years-old blew the judges away after her opening performance of Whitney Houston‘s, I Have Nothing. With other contestants watching White’s stellar performance, it was a sure fire way to induce a healthy amount of fear into the beginning stages of the boot camp.

The night’s other major highlight came when contestants, Paige Thomas and CeCe Frey both sang Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You back to back, to which Simon Cowell responded, One of you actually nailed it. Which lovely lady he meant, we’ll never know. However what we do know is that both made it on to the next round.

Also making it to the next round included Gene Simmons‘ daughter Sophie Tweed-Simmons, Tara Simon, Owen Stuart, and the above mentioned Diamond White.

Not so lucky were about half of the contestants, including Trevor Moran, Jordyn Foley, 12-year-old Jake Garza who forgot the lyrics to his song, and judge favorite from auditions, Jessica Espinoza.

You can check out a more in depth look at the night’s highlights right here.

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