X Factor star's incredible 16 stone weight loss by changing two key habits

Emma Chawner first appeared on X Factor in 2007, but was rejected by the judges - including Simon Cowell, who told her to 'lose weight'. Now 17 years later, the singer has ditched her snacking and upped her water intake to lose a whopping 16 stone

An ex-X Factor contender has stunned her Instagram followers with an incredible 16-stone weight loss reveal. Emma Chawner, one of the show's most memorable auditionees, has successfully overhauled her image a staggering 17 years after first stepping into the limelight.

She initially faced cutting criticism from Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh back in 2007, leading to a dramatic moment where her family barged into the audition room following Emma's tearful exit. Not deterred, she reappeared on the X Factor stage in 2009, alongside her sister Samantha, yet despite improved confidence, received another round of rejections, with Cheryl Tweedy commenting, "Emma, I have to say, you're definitely more confident when you've got your sister with you. But nothing else has really improved unfortunately."

Emma previously blamed her size on genetics, remarking, "It's not because of what I've eaten. It's because of the genes in my family. Mum's big, dad's big, my sister's big. No-one's thin in our house."

Post-X Factor life saw Emma join Lorraine Kelly's Big Fat Challenge for weight management, during which she confided in Lorraine that losing her pet and her parents' split spurred her transformation.

The sad news of her mother's passing at age 73 came this January. Emma spilled the beans to Lorraine about her solo weight-loss drive: "No one's pushed me to do it, I've done it all myself. I was always out of breath and diabetic."

Post-show, Emma kept the pounds at bay with a 30-day detox and swapping old habits for new, such as ditching snacks and upping her fluid intake. Five years on, she's a staggering 16 stone and four pounds lighter. The 35-year-old shared: "I'm still losing it but very slow now." "I'm happy with how I am and it's not far to go."

Fans didn't hold back their cheers, with The Mirror noting one fan's praise: "Fantastic, you look amazing," while another chimed in with heartfelt words: "You look so beautiful and pretty! Please remember weight cannot be defined by age, weight, or gender. Your beauty has always shined through! I'm glad to see you! Bless you love!"