Seventeen-year-old Samantha Lavery auditioned for The X Factor UK, hoping to impress the judges with her strong vocals and polished appearance, complete with heavy makeup and styled hair. However, Simon Cowell felt her look was hiding who she really was and believed he hadn’t seen the “real” Samantha. Although she didn’t make it through initially, Simon later invited her back as a Wild Card contestant to audition again at his home in Malibu.

Before her second performance, Simon asked Samantha to remove her makeup, encouraging her to embrace her natural self. She returned with a fresh, makeup-free look and delivered a heartfelt performance that stunned the judges. Her raw talent and authenticity shone through, proving that confidence and inner beauty can make the biggest impact.