July 5th 2024.
Mary Byrne's success on X Factor has been a major turning point in her life. She firmly believes that we only have one life to live and age is just a number. At 64 years old, she's not ready to slow down anytime soon.
Affectionately known as "Tesco Mary" due to her past job as a supermarket worker, Mary never fails to impress with her witty remarks. She's been on an incredible journey since her debut on the popular ITV show in 2010, the same year that launched the careers of One Direction and Cher Lloyd under Simon Cowell's guidance.
For the past 14 years, Mary has been using her platform from X Factor to stay in the spotlight and has amazed her fans with her stunning transformation. Gone are the days of her signature brunette locks and straight fringe. Today, Mary rocks a sleek blonde bob, and the reason behind her bold makeover? Well, she simply believes in seizing the day.
In an interview with The Agency, Mary revealed, "It was a gradual process. I started with a bob and some highlights, and within a year, my hair got even blonder and shorter." She's not afraid to take risks and has recently added some volume to her hair, giving it a chic and modern look. As she says, "You only get one life, and at 64, I'm still alive and kicking."
But does being a blonde bring more fun? With a coy smile, Mary simply responds, "Sometimes."
Life has been good to Mary since her time on X Factor. She's had a double platinum and gold album in her home country, Ireland, and has even had the opportunity to perform on Mediterranean cruises with Sir Cliff Richard. She was also part of the cast of Menopause: The Musical alongside Linda Nolan. Currently, she's touring with her one-woman show, Check Me Out.
Despite her success, Mary has not forgotten her roots and remains in touch with her fellow contestants and mentor, Louis Walsh. In fact, she even gave him a piece of her mind when he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother last year.
"I watched the show, and Louis just couldn't keep his mouth shut," Mary giggled. "He always says what he feels, and that's just him. I couldn't tell him to keep quiet, but I did tell him to be more diplomatic. He just laughed and said, 'You know me.'"
Mary also shared a funny anecdote about one of Louis' wild stunts during their time on X Factor. She accompanied him and One Direction's Zayn Malik on a trip to the grocery store, where they were followed by the paparazzi. To make things interesting, Louis suggested that he and Zayn put on a show and try to kiss Mary. "Both of them were kissing me on the cheek as we were walking away," Mary recalled with a laugh. "They were just crazy, absolute nutters."
Speaking of One Direction, Mary only has kind words for the boys, who affectionately called her "mummy Mary" during their time on the show. She would often sew their ripped clothes and even their underpants. She also shared a funny memory of a young Harry Styles, who would moon her every morning. "He would say good morning, kiss me on the cheek, and then moon me when the other guys would come around," Mary shared with a laugh.
Although she hasn't kept in touch with Harry, Mary recently saw him backstage at The Late Late Show. They had a lovely chat over coffee, and Mary expressed how proud she was of his successful career. "He was always such a lovely guy," she reminisced. "The whole group were the best guys in the world."
These days, Mary is focused on her one-woman show, which tells the story of her life from her humble beginnings to her journey on X Factor. But there's still one career goal she hopes to achieve – to sing the theme song for a James Bond movie. "It's just a dream, and I know it may never happen," she said with a smile. "But if it did, I could die happy."
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