The Most Famous X Factor Winner, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the winner you think is the most famous!

Updated on Apr 30, 2024 07:15

In the swirling world of reality TV talent shows, where stars are born and dreams are realized, the journey doesn’t end when the season finale credits roll. For many winners of the X Factor, their victory marks the beginning of a new challenge: maintaining and growing their fame in a constantly shifting industry. Understanding who has truly captured the public’s imagination post-victory can be as unpredictable as the show's outcomes themselves. That's where the power of community input becomes invaluable. By casting a vote for who you believe is the most impactful X Factor winner, you contribute to a dynamic tally that reflects real-time public consensus. This ongoing ranking not only helps track the success of these artists but also guides new viewers in discovering which of these talents have continued to resonate with audiences, long after their initial triumph.

Who Is the Most Famous X Factor Winner?

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29
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Fiona McKinlay · CC BY-SA 2.0

One Direction

The boy band, consisting of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik, finished third on the seventh season of The X Factor UK in 2010. They went on to become one of the biggest boy bands in the world, selling over 70 million records worldwide.
One Direction Carpool Karaoke is a segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden where the English-Irish pop boy band One Direction joins James Corden in a car to sing their hit songs while driving around. The segment gained immense popularity due to the band's huge fan following and energetic performances.

Aired On: December 15, 2015

Duration: 13 minutes

Guests: One Direction (Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne)

Views on YouTube: over 148 million

Songs Performed: What Makes You Beautiful, Story of My Life, Steal My Girl
One Direction in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular Carpool Karaoke
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular fanfiction on FanFiction.net
- Position 6 of 10 in Most successful boy band of all time
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular One Direction album
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39
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Leona Lewis

The British singer won the third season of The X Factor UK in 2006. She has sold over 20 million records worldwide and has won several awards, including a Grammy.
Leona Lewis in other rankings
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous Lewis
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21
votes
Rustyleigh · CC BY-SA 4.0

Little Mix

Simon Cowell

The girl group, consisting of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall, won the eighth season of The X Factor UK in 2011. They have sold over 50 million records worldwide and have won several awards, including a Brit Award.
Little Mix is a British girl group that was formed on the reality TV show called 'The X Factor' in 2011. Consisting of members Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall, Little Mix has become one of the most successful and popular girl groups worldwide. They are known for their harmonious vocals, fierce dance moves, and empowering lyrics. Little Mix has received numerous awards and accolades for their music and have achieved several chart-topping hits.

Debut Year: 2011

Origin: United Kingdom

Number of Members: 4

Vocal Range: Soprano/Mezzo-soprano

Genre: Pop
Little Mix in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most beautiful girl group
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19
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Anthony Winward · CC BY 3.0

James Arthur

The British singer won the ninth season of The X Factor UK in 2012. He has sold over 30 million records worldwide and has won several awards, including a Brit Award.
5

17
votes
Garry Knight · CC BY-SA 2.0

Alexandra Burke

Alexandra Burke

The British singer won the fifth season of The X Factor UK in 2008. She has sold over 4 million records worldwide and has won several awards, including three MOBO Awards.
Alexandra Burke's version of 'Hallelujah' is a soulful and powerful rendition of the iconic song originally written by Leonard Cohen. Burke's version became one of the most popular and commercially successful covers of 'Hallelujah'.

Release Year: 2008

Genre: Soul/Pop

Duration: 3:37

Label: Syco

Chart Performance: Reached #1 on UK Singles Chart
Alexandra Burke in other rankings
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular version of "Hallelujah"
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14
votes

Marple Bridge Photography · CC BY-SA 2.0

Matt Cardle

The British singer won the seventh season of The X Factor UK in 2010. He has released four albums and has sold over 2 million records worldwide.
7

10
votes

Welshdevil69 at English Wikipedia · Public domain

Shayne Ward

The British singer won the second season of The X Factor UK in 2005. He has released four albums and has sold over 3 million records worldwide.
8

9
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Ben Haenow

The British singer won the eleventh season of The X Factor UK in 2014. He has released one album and has sold over 500,000 records worldwide.
9

6
votes

InfoGibraltar · CC BY 2.0

Sam Bailey

The British singer won the tenth season of The X Factor UK in 2013. She has released two albums and has sold over 500,000 records worldwide.
10

8
votes

CelebMix · CC BY 3.0

Louisa Johnson

The British singer won the thirteenth season of The X Factor UK in 2015. She has released one album and has had several successful singles.

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Ranking factors for famous winner

Overall Success

The winner's post-show success in terms of record sales, chart positions, and commercial achievements is crucial. This includes album sales, streaming numbers, and the ability to sustain a successful career over time.
Global Recognition

The level of fame and recognition the winner has attained internationally is important. This includes achievements in different countries, fanbase growth, and global concert ticket sales.
Industry Impact

The winner's impact on the music industry is a significant factor. This includes awards received, critical acclaim, collaborations with prominent artists, and their influence on subsequent contestants and on the music industry as a whole.
Cultural Relevance

The winner's ability to connect with and have an impact on popular culture is relevant. This includes media presence, social media following, viral moments, and the ability to stay relevant and adapt to changing trends.
Enduring Popularity

The winner's ability to maintain a loyal fanbase and sustain public interest over time is essential. This includes continued relevance in the music industry, engagement with fans, and the ability to consistently release successful music.
Longevity

The winner's ability to have a lasting career and continue releasing music years after winning is an important factor. This includes the number of albums released, the consistency of output, and the ability to grow and evolve as an artist.
Personal Branding

The winner's ability to develop a distinct and recognizable personal brand is considered. This includes fashion influence, personal style, charity involvement, and participation in other media ventures beyond music.
Fan Engagement

The level of engagement and loyalty from fans is significant. This includes fan interaction, social media presence, fan clubs or communities, and the ability to connect with and inspire a dedicated fanbase.
Media Impact

The winner's media coverage and presence in the press should be considered. This includes interviews, magazine covers, high-profile appearances, and media interest beyond their music career.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous X Factor winner. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or winner is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2202 views
161 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each winner once every 24 hours. The rank of each winner is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous x factor winner

The X Factor has been one of the most popular singing competitions since its inception in 2004. Over the years, it has produced some of the most talented singers in the music industry. However, the question on everyone's mind is, who is the most famous X Factor winner of all time? With so many talented artists to choose from, it's not an easy answer. From Leona Lewis to Little Mix, the competition has been a launchpad for many successful careers. In this article, we take a closer look at some of the most famous X Factor winners and what they've achieved since winning the competition.