ELIMINATED X-Factor contestant Dionne Mitchell has slammed Simon Cowell for his comments about her on Saturday night.

Although saying Dionne was a good singer, he questioned her moves, saying she had "the grace of a boxer".

Dionne found herself in the bottom three, along with Kerry McGregor and Ashley Mackenzie.

The Brockley student polled the lowest public vote for her rendition of For Once In My Life and was immediately dismissed from the show.

She was the first act to be eliminated on the night and did not get the chance to sing again.

The two remaining contestants battled to stay in the hit TV show by competing in a sing-off.

Judge Louis Walsh had the casting vote and chose to keep Ashley, automatically sending wheelchair-bound Scot Kerry home.

Dionne, of Beecroft Road, Brockley, lives with her parents Daphne, 58 and Seymour, 76.

She said: "I'm still deflated, battered and bruised by what Simon said. It's a crying shame.

"I have suffered from confidence problems in the past, and was bullied at school.

"But I can't let what one person said ruin my career, life goes on.

"I gave my performance on Saturday my all, and I know this sounds big-headed, but I couldn't fault it.

"I might not be dance trained, but I concentrated on the vocals first and foremost.

"I wouldn't change it for the world."

Speaking exclusively to the News Shopper, Dionne revealed she had held Simon Cowell in the same light as her favourite singer of all time Whitney Houston, but that was before he hurled abuse at her on Saturday.

Dionne said: "It is like meeting Whitney Houston and her spitting in my face."

Apart from the obvious low-point of her departure and enduring a trademark tirade from X-Factor's Mr Nasty, Dionne enjoyed her short time in the spotlight.

The 26-year-old added: "My favourite moment of the whole experience was when Sharon said yes' and put me through to the live finals.

"I was thinking wow. This can't be happening to me.

"I love Sharon so much.

"She is very caring and motherly towards her artists.

"I couldn't have asked for a better mentor.

"As for Louis, he was wonderful to me, I just want to pinch his cheeks."

For the remaining contestants, Dionne has tipped Ashley, Ben and Robert to go all the way.

Dionne has not decided exactly what her future plans will be, but is not ruling anything out.

She said: "I want to sing, act and present.

"My ultimate goal is to get a recording deal and work in musical theatre.

"But it is too early to say, so I'm just going to spend a few days at home and try to register everything that has happened."

Dionne's brother Wayne, 43, said: "She is obviously a little bit upset, but life goes on.

"I think her performance was fantastic.

"She made it through to the last 10 out of thousands of people. My family and I are so proud of her.

"This won't be the end of Dionne's career, but the beginning.

"It was very unfair for Simon to say she had the grace of a boxer.

"I won't bring myself down to his level, but I understand he has a show to put on and people expect it of him now."

  • An audience of 9.5m people tuned in to see Saturday night's show.