Mary Byrne, also known as The X Factor’s ‘Tesco Mary’, has revealed how she “picked herself back up” after facing some downfalls after appearing on the show.
Mary, 62, competed against the likes of One Direction on The X Factor, and came in fifth place in 2010.
12 years on, Mary said it’s been “a whirlwind of phenomenal excitement”, but that “there’s been downs as well”.
“I can’t even think of half of the things I’ve done. I’ve been in the company of Westlife, Boyzone, Take That — all those stars that have been on the telly and radio for years. And then there’s little ol’ Mary from Ballyfermot, in their company," Mary told the Irish Mirror.
“The whole thing has been a whirlwind of phenomenal excitement. And yes, there’s been downs as well — when the phone stopped ringing after you come out of The X Factor and all that. But over the last 10 years, I’ve picked myself back up; I’ve met the right people and have been putting myself out there.”
The singer,who has shed six stone in recent years, went on to gush about some of the celebrities she’s met.
“I’ve met some fantastic people — meeting Tom Jones was one of the highest times of my life; he’d been my hero for such a long time. And standing in front of the Queen of England when she came here,” Mary recalled.
“But to meet Gay Byrne, for me — because I grew up with the man on TV and on the radio, meeting him was probably the highest moment of all of them. He turned out to be, to me, such a gentleman and lovely person. He was so kind.”
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Mary also spoke of her strength, and how she always has the courage to get back up again.
“The one thing I have learned (over the last few years) is that I’m very strong,” she explained.
“I didn’t realise how strong a person I am, and how much courage I have to get back up every time I’m knocked down by emotions or mental health, to get back up and out and face it.”
In recent times, Mary has also revealed that she’s no longer taking antidepressants because she feels like she no longer needs them.
“I still suffer from depression but because I feel so good I am talking to my doctor about coming off the anti-depression tablets. I don’t need them any more,” she previously told the Irish Mirror.
Mary also described her weight loss as “a journey to get healthier and to live longer and to be there for my daughter Deborah”.
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