Filipino girl group 4th Impact have got quite a following in Britain since auditioning for The X Factor UK in September. After performing in the reality singing programme's live top 13 show on Saturday, they added an A-lister in their growing fan base: no less than Lindsay Lohan, who posted a photo of 4th Impact on her Instagram with the caption, "I love these girls and my vote is with them!"
The four sisters, Almira, Irene, Mylene and Celina Cercado, sang Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea's hit collaboration Problem, a performance that was well received by the panel.
“I don’t think I really need to say anything, do I?” said Simon Cowell, as he tried to talk over the loud cheers of the live audience. “That was fantastic. Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic.”
Turning to 4th Impact’s mentor Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Cowell said: “I have to hand this to you tonight. You have done an outstanding job mentoring these girls.”
Nick Grimshaw told 4th Impact: “Well done, congratulations. I think you’ve just set the level this competition needs to be at. It was incredible, it was perfect, it really was.”
Rita Ora added: “Those voices, though — how do they even come out of those bodies, I can’t even understand it. But what I love the most is you guys have such a great bond, it’s just lovely to watch and I’m so happy you decided to come on this show to do that.”
Tearing up, second-oldest sister Irene responded, “It’s an honour for us.”
Fernandez-Versini told her quartet: “Honestly, I couldn’t be more proud. Please, you have to stop thanking us. We’re thankful to have you. You are fantastic and this competition needs you.”
Almira, the eldest of the four, said, “This is our dream and we don’t want to wake up.”
Among 4th Impact’s supporters in the live audience were Philippine Ambassador to the UK, Enrique Manalo, who was accompanied by his wife Pamela.
Sunday’s results show featured a surprise double elimination, with 38-year-old belter Bupsi and six-piece girl group Alien Uncovered getting the axe.
4th Impact face tough competition among their fellow remaining acts. Front-runners include 18-year-old supermarket worker Che Chesterman and 17-year-old Louisa Johnson.
artslife@thenational.ae
