A former X Factor finalist has given a candid and heartbreaking account of his time on the hit ITV show, revealing the intense pressure to conform to a manufactured image contributed to a serious personal struggle.
The Double-Edged Sword of Reality TV Fame
Chris Leonard, now 30, shot to fame in 2014 as one-eighth of the constructed boy band Stereo Kicks during the show's eleventh series. The band, mentored by Louis Walsh, quickly became fan favourites and reached the live finals, eventually finishing in fifth place behind winner Ben Haenow.
However, in an exclusive interview, the County Meath-born singer confesses his experience was a complex "mixture" of emotions. While grateful for the career opportunities it afforded him, Leonard reveals the darker side of his sudden fame.
"One thing that many people don't realise is, I developed an eating disorder after the show," he disclosed. "I got so sucked into the image side of things. My image was always in question within the band."
'Not Allowed to Be Myself'
Leonard, who had originally auditioned as a solo artist, found his personal identity stifled by the demands of the show and the band's constructed image. He describes being caught between extreme choices like shaving his head and a general prohibition on expressing his true self.
"People always questioned my image, which was because what was being put out there wasn't who I was. There was none of my personality," he explained. This disconnect led to a damaging internal conflict, as he felt pressured to live up to an artificial persona. "I think that affected me because I had a feeling or an expectation of people expecting me to live up to it," he added.
Despite these "difficult parts," Leonard remains philosophical. "If it wasn't for X Factor, I wouldn't get to do the things I'm doing today... I'm very grateful." When asked if he would do it all again, he stated he absolutely would, but would advise his younger self to "be a braver 19-year-old from Ireland and stand up for himself more."
Vital Advice and a New Path
Now, eleven years after Stereo Kicks split in 2015, Leonard has found fulfilment touring the world with his traditional Irish band, Shillelagh Law. He credits savvy advice from fellow ITV talent show alumni for helping him navigate the end of the X Factor "bubble."
He recalls a pivotal moment in Louis Walsh's dressing room with members of JLS. "They turned around and said 'Chris, just be prepared, when this is over, when the X Factor bubble pops, it's done, the phone stops ringing'. If it wasn't for them saying that to me, I wouldn't have been as prepared."
Reflecting on the youth of some contestants—his bandmate Reece was 16 and Charlie just 15—Leonard now hopes television networks have robust measures in place to support contestants' mental health as they handle newfound fame.
He also offers hard-won wisdom to new bands like Simon Cowell's latest creation, December 10. His advice is to "stay humble," keep egos in check, work harder than ever, and "be kind to people, don't think you're above anybody." For Leonard, fame was never the goal; he was simply "a young lad from Ireland chasing his dream."
