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The X Factor singer Katie Waissel has said she ‘found the courage’ to perform for the first time in 10 years after having therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The 36-year-old first appeared on our screens for The X Factor in 2010, where she impressed TV judges Simon Cowell and Cheryl with her rendition of At Last by Etta James, after initially forgetting the words to Queen’s We Are The Champions.
Katie made it to the live shows of the talent programme and came seventh in the competition, which was won by Matt Cardle, before releasing her self-titled debut album in March 2011.
The classically trained pianist has now said she finally feels ready to release music again, after performing her new Christmas song on GB News.
‘I’ve not performed in a decade. Thank goodness for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) therapy, because if it weren’t for that, I don’t think I could have ever found the strength or courage to do that. It’s taken a lot,’ she said.
‘I hope it may be an inspiration to anyone that feels like they can’t get over a hurdle. If you absolutely allow yourself to put in work from a mental health standpoint, you can overcome anything.’
Katie opened up about her struggles (Picture: GB News)
The musician rose to fame on The X Factor in 2010, where she came seventh (Picture: Ken McKay)
Katie, who suffered a heart attack last November, revealed that she has also written a new song after being inspired by her four-year-old son.
She explained: ‘I started writing songs when I was 14 years old. Recently I found the courage through PTSD therapy to get a piano for my home again, because it’s been such a long time.
‘My son Hudson and I often do carpool karaoke. I like to speak about music in the car on the way to school and during the holidays.
She is also training to be a lawyer (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
‘We were speaking about who we’re celebrating with and how there are some family members that are no longer with us. I said, “It makes me sad”, and my son said, “Well, no, if you just use your imagination and you believe in magic then they can be here with you too.” And that’s what sparked the song.’
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In her first X Factor audition, Katie, whose grandmother Sheila Vogel-Coupe – known as Britain’s oldest sex worker – died in November aged 93, said she loved being the ‘frontman’ and had ‘wanted to be on stage’ her whole life.
Now she is also retraining as a lawyer with a focus on welfare, human rights and liberty within the creative industry sector.
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The former reality star, who also did Celebrity Big Brother, is now training as a lawyer.
