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Real Like You are an English pop music girl group formed in Birmingham in 2019. The band is composed of Halle Williams, Virginia Hampson, Kellimarie Willis and Jess Folley. In 2019, they won The X Factor: The Band, and were subsequently signed to Syco Music. In 2022, the group are now signed to Warner Records.

Real Like You
Origin	Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Years active	2019–present
Labels	Warner Records
Members	Halle Williams Virginia Hampson Kellimarie Willis Jess Folley
Past members	Seorsia Jack Luena Martínez

History

In November 2019, each member of Real Like You auditioned for the ITV talent competition series The X Factor: The Band.[1] Each member progressed to the bootcamp stage, where Jess Folley (who in 2017 had won The Voice Kids), Luena Martínez (who appeared in series 13), Seorsia Jack, Halle Williams and Kellimarie Willis (who in 2017 appeared on Got What It Takes?) were selected to be in the group. However, judge Nicole Scherzinger later called Virginia Hampson back, giving her a place in the group.[2] On 15 December 2019, Real Like You were announced as the winners, winning a record deal with Syco.[3][4] As part of the competition they performed an original song, "Be Like Them".[5] Unlike winners of The X Factor and The X Factor: Celebrity, Real Like You are the first winners of a British version of the show not to release a winners single following their win.

After their win on The X Factor: The Band, Folley expressed that the group intend on releasing an album that is "new and original", and writing for the album started in January 2020.[6] On 29 August 2020, Seorsia Jack announced her departure from the group, stating that she wanted to pursue a solo career.[7] On 9 August 2022, Luena Martínez's departure from the group was officially announced via a statement on the band's official Instagram account.

The band are now signed to Warner Records.

Members

Current members

Halle Williams Halle Williams (born 1 November 2000) was born in Cambridge.[8] Williams is a trained dancer, having studied dance and musical theatre at Urdang Academy.[8]

Virginia Hampson Virginia Hampson (born 11 October 2002) was born in Chelmsford.[9] Hampson has no formal vocal training.[8] Upon her initial audition for The X Factor: The Band, she was told to audition again, at a later point in the day. At the second audition round, she was cut from the band; Nicole Scherzinger called her three days later and added her to the band. [9]

Kellimarie Willis Kellimarie Willis (born 27 October 2002) was born in Coventry.[10] In 2017, Willis competed in the second series of Got What It Takes? winning a sing-off and advanced to the semi final, at the age of 13.[11] Willis is studying songwriting in Birmingham.[8]

Jess Folley Jess Folley (born 11 May 2003) was born in Essex.[12] In 2017, Folley won the first series of The Voice Kids.[12]

Past members

Seorsia Jack Seorsia Jack (born 22 June 2001) was born in Dublin, Ireland, to Zimbabwean parents. She started her career as a solo female artist in 2019. She announced her departure from the band on 29 August 2020 on Instagram, after deciding to pursue a solo career.[13]

Luena Martínez Luena Martínez (born 11 January 1999) was born in East Finchley.[14] In 2016, Martínez auditioned for the thirteenth series of The X Factor, where she made it to the six chair challenge, but failed to proceed further.[15] She attended SoundSkool in Enfield.[15] Her departure from the band was announced on 9 August 2022.[16]

References

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Megan McKenna	Winner of The X Factor 2019	Succeeded by None

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