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    X Factor contestant Lloyd Daniels looks unrecognisable 13 years after appearing on the reality show.

    The singer was just 16 years old when he stepped on stage in front of the judges in 2009, making it all the way to the quarter finals in the Boys category mentored by Cheryl Tweedy.

    During his time on the show, in which he stole the hearts of the nation and ended in fifth place, the teen heartthrob sported his signature flop of blonde hair and a fresh-face.

    READ MORE: X Factor star Cher Lloyd unrecognisable in glam transformation 12 years after ITV fame

    In the days since, Lloyd now has a thick beard and shorter blonde locks.

    The star was open about undergoing a hair transplant in 2017, documenting the process on his Facebook page where he admitted he had been "uncomfortable" with his hairline since he was a teenager.

    In a post shared on his social media on Thursday, the former reality star revealed he has teamed up with charity, Humen to raise awareness for men's mental health by taking part in their Rise Against Suicide Walk.

    In 2020, the Welsh singer admitted he felt pressured to hide his same-sex relationship while taking part in X Factor.

    Speaking about his time on the show during an Instagram Live, Lloyd said he clicked with someone but felt forced to hide his first gay relationship from the public.

    He said: "I met someone on the show and we really clicked. I'd never had that emotion towards guys. I knew it was more than a friendship and it slowly unfolded. I ended up being with them for over a year.

    "It was odd to accept it because I was going through a huge change in my life joining the music industry, I thought 'am I going mad?' I felt off-colour."

    At the time, Lloyd felt he couldn't talk about his sexuality because his marketing was aimed at teenage girls.

    "The hardest part about it was not being able to talk about it. I won't say I was under oath, but to that somewhat extent I couldn't talk about it because of my status," the star explained.

    He added: "I had to aim my marketing towards teenage girls, that was what was going to sell the whole 'Lloyd Daniels, X Factor self'."

    He went on to say: "I felt really suppressed, like I wasn't being my true self. It was really, really hard. I totally get that's how the music industry works. It's different now to how it was ten years ago."

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