Last week she was the centre of so much drama as she lost her place in the X Factor Six Chair Challenge, only to win the wildcard a couple of hours later.

And on Sunday evening Saara Aalto proved the ups and downs were worth it as Overs judge Sharon Osbourne, along with guest judge Robbie Williams, selected her to move from judges houses to the live shows of this year’s show!

“I really want Sharon to take a chance on me,” she said moments before meeting one-on-one with Sharon to learn her fate. “This is the most important moment of my life.”

When Sharon broke the news Saara could hardly believe it. “Really? No. This is a joke. No, no!”

Saara took to Instagram moments after the broadcast to share her excitement.

“Made it to the live shows! This is something beyond words, I’m finally starting to understand what I got myself into. So grateful for this opportunity! Everything is possible!!!

Making it was no easy feat.

As she wrote on Instagram ahead of the Six Chair Challenge: “There are 50 million people in England, 10 million people in London And ONLY 5 million people in the whole of Finland!! I really start to understand how lucky I am to have a chance to [take part in] The X Factor. Thousands and thousands of people auditioned and I’m still here!”

At judges houses Saara performed ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” at Sharon Osbourne’s Hollywood mansion in front of Mrs. O and former Take That member Robbie Williams.

“I think I saw a tear in Robbie’s eye”, she said after her performance and out-of-sight of the judges.

Robbie begged to differ during his private chat with Sharon, saying: “I found myself drifting. I was bored.”

Tonight is the latest chapter in what has been a remarkable journey.

During her first audition — in front of Nicole Scherzinger, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh — she delivered her on-point take of Sia’s “Chandelier”.

It was so good that Nicole said she want to twerk and clap her ass.

Saara breezed through Boot Camp, but things went downhill during the Six Chair Challenge, before going back up when she returned as a Wildcard.

What do you think of the news? Did you love Saara’s performance? Can she win this thing?!

18 Comments
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an esc fan
an esc fan
7 years ago

@ James
Another reason to hate talent shows, the contract is so restrictive, does nothing for most participants careers, all contrary.
Talent shows must go ( in my humble opinion ), in ESC, 19 out of 42 acts were internally selected, some of them were the outcome of national selections that are organized especially for ESC, and others are from stupid talent shows. I am curious what is the percentage.

James
James
7 years ago

@robyn Yes, although had she done badly and not qualified, she might have just applied for X Factor anyway. The other way around now, I believe that Saara will not be able to UMK 2017 now, as X Factor finalists are extremely restricted , and cannot release any songs or participate elsewhere for 12 months after being on the show, which is why acts who didnt win seem to disappear for so long before they can do their first single. That used to be the rule, i would assume it still is but I haven’t checked recently. So if she… Read more »

an esc fan
an esc fan
7 years ago

Aminata is in The Voice of Russia, but I don’t know the way of thinking in the west, maybe in UK is totally different for different reasons. Anyway I hope that participating in ESC is much above talent show, this should be the case.

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

Charlie Grönwall did also advance to the live shows

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
7 years ago

@Robyn, If Saara represented Finland this year, we would not have seen her on X Factor.

Alenn
Alenn
7 years ago

Did the Danish “living doll” advance as well?

an esc fan
an esc fan
7 years ago

She is talented, unfortunately she is in a show where talent is not important, but to be from the right place to give you enough support, and drama, and tears, and soap-opera that is important in talent shows.

James
James
7 years ago

@Mitchelvaneijk There is nothing wrong with reporting on this, they update us as she goes through each stage just as they do with other artists in talent shows. National Final artists are regularly covered, including new music from them – it’s no different from following Margaret, Danny Saucedo etc. It would be really boring, particularly in off-season if WiwiBloggs only reported on the artists who had been on the final /semi-final stage, we would miss out on hearing about tons of new music . People here follow the national finals and want to see how the artists do after them,… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
7 years ago

Robbie was right to get bored. Nobody can compete with Agnetha.

xESCx
xESCx
7 years ago

Honey G must be the next UK eurovision act 🙂

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

She’s such a badass. I love her.

Vanaynay
Vanaynay
7 years ago

X Factor UK is one big joke :’)

Davve
Davve
7 years ago

She was great!

Jamaraqueer
Jamaraqueer
7 years ago

She was weak tonight. I thought she was screaming rather than singing. And she needs to give up the “Finnish fairy” act.

D
D
7 years ago

While she definitely has a great voice, she just doesn’t seem very X Factor to me. She’d be great on Broadway, but if she wants to be a mainstream artist I think she’s going in the wrong direction with her performances. However, I’m definitely happy for her and it’s great to see some Eurovision (and Finnish 😛 ) representation in the mainstream media.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

I’m so happy for her! <3<3<3

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
7 years ago

I thought she was fantastic but I was surprised she got through. Sharon arguably chose 3 of her weakest acts!!! Well done Saara though.

sufle
sufle
7 years ago

She was incredible and I don’t know why Robbie got bored. She was better than some of the other contestants and he just needs to watch her national final performances for Eurovision