Woman Goes Under Knife to Win Simon's 'X-Factor' Love

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 4th 2009 10:50AM

If you thought people camping out for a day to audition for 'American Idol' was determination, wait until you hear about what one, um, motivated British woman did to get Simon Cowell's 'X-Factor' attention.

Five years ago, Cowell bluntly told the then-18-year-old Katrina Lee that he wished he could take her voice and put it in someone else's body. Lee, now 23, took that to heart, and has done quite a bit to change what's on the outside by undergoing various surgeries (facial, lipo) and hygiene procedures. See What She Looked Like Before After the Jump!

Speaking with Britain's The Sun (via Daily Mail), Lee says in the run-up to this year's 'X-Factor' auditions in Glasgow, she had facial laser surgery, liposuction, dental work, exercised feverishly and even dyed her hair a bright red to stand out.

"What happened to me the last time nearly tipped me over the edge, it was terrible," Lee said of Cowell's comments to her years ago. "I came face-to -face with Simon Cowell and told him that his comments had nearly wrecked my life."

According to Lee, Cowell "seemed really shocked" about telling her years ago that: "I just wish I could put your voice in a nother body." She says Cowell now admits "'That's not a nice thing I said.'"

Lee says now that she's "come back a new person," Cowell told her that she "was a good-looking girl."

"I went through so much after his comments the last time. I was 18 and they really hit me hard. Now I'm delighted. It's been through a lot, including facial surgery. I've gone to every extreme to get to this point," Lee said.

It seems to have worked. Lee belted out Sinead O'Connor's 'Nothing Compares 2 U' at the auditions, and she was quickly sent on to further rounds.

"This year Cheryl Cole said my audition was fantastic and I'm really pleased I've come this far," Lee said.

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Simon Cowell Snapshots

American Idol judge Simon Cowell arrives at a hotel in Denver, Colo., on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, for a call back audition of contestants for the American Idol show. (AP Photo/Charles Pulliam)

Simon Cowell Snapshots

American Idol judge Simon Cowell arrives at a hotel in Denver, Colo., on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, for a call back audition of contestants for the American Idol show. (AP Photo/Charles Pulliam)

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM ****NO CANADA RIGHTS*** Simon Cowell is spotted partying at club VIP with a mystery female and is startled when he sees his picture being taken. EXCLUSIVE July 19, 2009 Job: 58516EW Saint-Tropez, France www.bauergriffiffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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Tags: plastic surgery, PlasticSurgery, simon cowell, SimonCowell, x-factor

Comments

(187)

Friday 04 September

By Kim

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Who cares what Simon thinks? To risk your life undergoing dangerous surgery to appease someone you don't even know is insane. By the way- the anesthesia can alter her voice anyway!

Sunday 06 September

By Dena

I only have one thing to say- Simon needs to hear the song Beautiful You by Tony Diaz. It's about how the entertainment industry treats "little girl 14." In the song some 14-year-old girl who's a little overweight and has kinky hair wanted to look like some air-brushed amagazine cover. THIS IS WHAT HE REDUCED THIS YOUNG GIRL TO- A MAGAZINE COVER! That's not cool, that's not ethical, nor is it professional. He needs to quit doing stuff like this or he's gonna end up in court- I'm tellin' ya folks, it's coming- watch and it WON'T be about fame, money, or reputation- it will be about abuse. Brace yourselves.

By Elle

Simon Cowell is a PIG who clearly only sees people for what they look like on the outside.

By joe

simon should become the new crocodile hunter!

Monday 07 September

By samara

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I can't find the before picture. can you please tell me where to find it

By My Lee

Gimmie a break with these reports already! My intelligence can only take so much, lol! God forbid he tells this girl to jump off a bridge, yikes! What he should tell her is to include a tubal ligation in her surgery procedures so that she can spare herself and us from bringing another one of her in this world. Please assign her a therapist pronto so that Simon wont be suied for his future remarks.

By untitled

Personally i think Katrina looked fine the way she was before. To change your appearance based on what somebody else thinks is stupid!

By Marco

Anybody who takes what that IDIOT says seriously is just as much of an A-Hole that he is

By Reena

I think she looked better before! now she looks like Peggy from Married with Children! there was nothing wrong with the way she looked before...and for her to take what Simon said and do that to herself is completely insane!!

By WOD40

You got that right

By charles

Where's the before picture? I want to see what she looked like.

By Mrs. Kiss

Charles, click on the "via daily mail" to see her before photo.

Saturday 05 September

By patsydane

i could not pull that up either.

By georgio

People do what they want to do. Cowell's comment's probably triggered what she was thinking all along about her looks. Cowell is in the entertainment business and appearences right or wrong can be the factor which dictates their success or failure. That's just the way it is in the entertainment business. She is/was not looking for a clerks job at Walmart. Personally I think she needs some guidence on her stage appearence. I believe that is what Cowell meant. She needs serious, professional help with her hair style/color, make-up and clothing. If she has had minimal cosmetic surgery that's OK but the other areas of her appearence is what need work!

By april21158

She looked much better before. Her before picture looks a little like Jessica Biel to me. She nuts for letting his comment make her permanenlty change the way she looks. He's an ass anyway - who cares about his opinion.

By Mary

I agree it doesn't matter what he thinks. I know he's pretty ugly in his thoughts, so that makes him seem ugly all the way around. It's great if a person is pretty, but also important to have inner beauty, and positive vibes.

By Tanita

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She was soooo much fresher, younger and cuter looking before...WTF were you thinking, Simon?!?

By wendell

How did Simon Cowell get this kind of power over people's lives? Are we all going nuts? I like Cowell's attitude for judging talent, but his comment about the different body was out of line.

By bill

He, like Oprah, has NO power over ANYONE. His a-- ought to be put on the next boat back to England.

By CeCe

I like Mr Cowell too. Have you heard the phrase 'money talks'? There you have his influence and power.

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