First girl voted off The X Factor

It was the third time Rachel had been in the bottom two

Student Rachel Adedeji has become the first solo female contestant to be voted off ITV1's The X Factor.

The 18-year-old Londoner was in the sing-off against Lloyd Daniels after receiving the smallest number of votes.

But after the judges could not decide whom to save, it was decided on the public vote.

Mentor Dannii Minogue said she did not know where it went wrong. It was the third time Adedeji had been in the bottom two.

Minogue said all the guest artists who mentored the acts had adored Adedeji.

The judge added that she hoped Adedeji went on to find success like JLS, last year's runners-up who performed their latest single, Everybody in Love, on Sunday's results show.

Head judge Simon Cowell said she sang much better than Lloyd Daniels, who was suffering from a sore throat, but that he could not ignore her lack of popularity with the public.

He then used his vote to create a tie between the judges, forcing the decision to go back to the public's vote.

Tears rolled down Adedeji's cheeks when she was told she was leaving the show.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me," she said.

"It's been amazing and I got to meet so many lovely people and work with great judges."

She told her mentor Dannii Minogue: "You're amazing."