Ready for their close-up! X Factor contestants get the pop star treatment as they get pampered in hair and make-up and mingle backstage with the stars in candid behind-the-scenes photos

By Georgina Littlejohn

Last updated at 11:12 PM on 25th October 2011

As a bunch of pop wannabes they've already proved that they have the voices that can take them to the top of the charts.

But with their future resting on their image as well as their fantastic vocals, the X Factor contestants must also be sure that they are looking their absolute best when facing the judges, the public audience and the million of viewers as well.

So getting the pop star treatment from hair stylists and make-up artists is a must before each live performance in order to transform them from ordinary to outstanding, as these behind-the-scenes pictures show.

Barmaid to rock chick: Sophie Habibis gets the rock chick treatment as she relaxes in hair and make-up before Saturday's live performance

Taking it in her stride: Sophie looked happy and relaxed and every inch the sexy rock chick as she relaxed in the dressing room before her performance

In the candid backstage snaps taken on Saturday and Sunday, the finalists are seen getting their image tweaked and teased to perfection as they prepare to fight to stay in the competition ahead of the live shows.

First in the chair was 19-year-old Sophie Habibis, who looked relaxed and happy in the make-up artist's chair as she beamed for the cameras before going from barmaid to rock chick for her performance of Bon Jovi's Livin' On A Prayer.

Wish me luck, boys! Sophie poses with Frankie Cocozza and Craig Colton before unpinning her hair and making her way to the stage for her live performance

Diva in the making: Misha B poses in make-up as she shows off her dramatic eyes before being snapped leaving wardrobe in her PVC outfit for the live show

Kitty Brucknell also underwent and amazing transformation as she posed for a picture in her everyday clothes having had her hair put up Lady Gaga-style before emerging from the dressing room as a super-cool pop star in her low-cut black suit and dramatic eye make-up.
Purple was the theme for Misha B as she emerged from make-up with sexy and sultry violet eyes before making her way to the costume department to get kitted out in her black PVC outfit for her rendition of Prince's Purple Rain.

Before and after: Rhythmix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock waits for her make-up to be finished before showing off her final look

Funky: The Rythymix girls showed no sign of nerves as they headed off to perform Ke$ha's Tik Tok

Me and my boys: Tulisa Contostavlos poses for a picture backstage with her boy band The Risk to wish them luck before the live show

Girl group Rhythmix were also seen in and out of the dressing room as they got prepared for their performance of Ke$ha's Tik Tok, which caused a debate as to whether it was actually rock for the rock-themed week.

Lots of behind the scenes pictures were taken over the weekend, especially on Sunday which sadly saw Sami Brookes kicked off the show in favour of Kitty.

Transformation: Kitty Brucknell poses for a picture after having her hair done before showing off her final look before the show

What a difference a day makes: Kitty looked softer with her blonde hair straightened and loose round her shoulders as she posed with Jonny and Sami before the results show on Sunday

But before she tearfully departed the reality TV show, Sami got to meet one of her idols, Kelly Clarkson, who won American Idol in 2002 and performed her new single on Sunday show.

Contestants also mingled with Professor Green, who also performed on the show and were snapped with each other and the judges as they wrapped up another busy and eventful X Factor weekend.

One for the photo album: Sophie cuddles up to Professor Green as a delighted Johnny gives his mentor Louis Walsh a big hug

The girls with the big voices: She might have been voted off, but Sami looked happy as she posed for a picture with Kelly Clarkson who had performed on the show

The boys done good: Gary Barlow smiles in admiration at his acts Craig, Marcus Collins and Frankie as they all made it through to next week's show

And a photographer who was lucky enough to get in on the action backstage managed to capture the excitement - and no doubt absolute nervousness - of the contestants as they put on brave faces before heading onto the stage with their mentors to face the public vote.

And that moment when the screen was pulled back and the acts were ushered on the stage in front of the public audience was captured as they all gripped hands and went out to discover their fate.

You ready, ladies? Kelly poses with her girls Misha, Sophie and Janet Devlin before leading them out to find out their fate

Let the battle commence - again: The judges, Kelly Rowland, Louis Walsh, Tulisa Contostavlos and Gary Barlow, pose for a snap together before Saturday's live show