20 year old Emma shot to infamy after she first appeared on The X Factor in 2006.
Wearing a dress she made with Dad Phil, Emma sang Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”. The judges said “no”, Simon Cowell told her she sang a bit like a baby and that she looked like she was gong to a wedding.
After her appearance Emma and the family were called “Tellytubbies”, “Flumps” and “Lardbuckets” in the national press. Writing in The Sun Kelvin McKenzie said:
“The Chawner family…are a disgrace to themselves and to the nation.”
“…if we cut off their income support, they would starve, which would be good for them and us.”
Emma even received death threats on forums like Facebook.
Undaunted Emma has since appeared in the audition stages of the X Factor three times, and on the most recent series appeared as “Sister Act” with her big sister Samantha. She has, however never got beyond these first stages.
Emma’s an asthmatic and a smoker who’s been dreaming of becoming a professional singer since she was a young girl and has won trophies in talent shows she entered whilst on holiday.
Emma lost an admirable 3st 7lbs in series one, bringing her weight down to 16st 3lbs but as with the rest of the family, serious doubts remain about her commitment to a healthy diet and exercise regime.
This series will see Emma challenged to quit smoking, spend time away from her family for the first time ever and confront the possibility she may never become a professional singer.
