X Factor legend looks unrecognisable 15 years after the show – but can you guess who she is?
X FACTOR legend Mary Byrne looks unrecognisable 15 years after competing on the ITV show.
Mary, 65, who was affectionately dubbed “Tesco Mary” by fans due to her old job at the supermarket chain, has switched up her look after losing six stone.
The former checkout worker has undergone quite the transformation, ditching her brunette fringe for a platinum blonde crop.
While her love for singing remains strong, she has also branched out into new pursuits since reaching fifth place in the show’s 2010 series.
In October, she co-launched The Wise Owl Wans Podcast with Irish actress and writer Eilish O’Carroll, 72.
The podcast, described as “the banter of two legendary Irish women who have experienced it all”, features the pair chatting about everything from love and life to family.
Just recently, Mary promoted a new episode of the show, looking fabulous in a pink animal print top.
On top of her podcasting endeavors, Mary is now shining in the world of pantomime.
She’s been performing as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at Liberty Panto in Dublin, where she took center stage in promo photos, sporting a white frilly dress and wielding a giant wand.
As if that wasn’t enough, Mary also took her one-woman show, Check Me Out, on the road for a nationwide tour of Ireland.
Throughout her career, Mary has also performed on Mediterranean cruises with Cliff Richard and starred in Menopause: The Musical alongside Linda Nolan.
Since losing out on the X Factor title, the much-loved telly star has also gone on to release four albums – and an autobiography called This Is My Life.
Speaking about life since the reality show, Mary has previously admitted she suffered from depression.
She told RSVP magazine: “Suffering from depression is very serious and getting that feeling of dread and panic can have a serious knock on affect in your life.
“When you go through those dark moments, you either grow from them or you just lie down and die. I couldn’t lie down and die because there is too much spirit in me.
“I don’t see depression as a weakness, I see it as a challenge to prove to myself that I am a strong woman and I can get through this. That is what life should be about.”
While she pursued her dream of becoming a singer, Mary said she sometimes misses working with her pals at Tesco.
She previously said: “I work mainly at nights and there are times, especially during the day, that I really miss being on the tills.
“I miss the camaraderie and the friends and chatting to the customers and the craic we used to have.”
The Irish singer proudly revealed how she lost “half a person in weight”, with the positive impact on her mental health also meaning that she no longer needs anti-depressants.