A nervous teenager is the last to perform and starts crying in front of the jury when he hears Simon’s decision on stage

Renowned for his unfiltered honesty, Simon Cowell has earned a reputation as one of television’s most demanding judges. He never sugarcoats his critiques, and when he does offer praise, it’s only because he truly believes in the talent before him.

On The X Factor UK, Simon faced one of the show’s most intense moments: the infamous 6 Chair Challenge. With only one seat left and the finalists nearly set, any new contestant would have to outperform an already-selected singer to secure a spot.

It was in this high-stakes atmosphere that 16-year-old Olivia Garcia stepped onto the stage for her audition. Visibly nervous, with a slight tremor in her voice, she knew she had just one shot to prove herself. She chose to perform Changing by Paloma Faith—a bold choice that initially left Simon unconvinced.

But as the song unfolded, Olivia’s nerves faded, and she found her confidence. Her voice grew stronger, her delivery more powerful, and the audience responded with increasing enthusiasm.

The judges, who had started with skeptical expressions, soon showed clear signs of admiration. When she finished, the crowd erupted in applause. Nicole Scherzinger wasted no time in declaring that Olivia deserved a place in Simon’s final six.

“Olivia, you’ve just made my decision a lot harder… because I have to give you a chair,” Simon admitted, prompting cheers from the audience. With the pressure mounting, he scanned the contestants already seated, knowing one of them would have to go.

The tension on stage was palpable. Every competitor braced for the possibility of elimination. After a difficult deliberation, Simon ultimately placed Olivia in the third chair, offering relief to the five remaining hopefuls who had narrowly avoided being sent home.

Her performance became one of the most memorable moments of the knockout rounds, proving that courage and determination can turn the tide even in the most nerve-wracking situations. In the end, Simon selected the six contestants he believed had the greatest potential to go the distance in the competition.

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