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Simon Cowell reveals Camila Cabello originally wasn't allowed to audition for 'X Factor'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 5/26/21

Simon Cowell's cigarette break put Camila Cabello on the map.

The legendary American Idol, America's Got Talent and The X Factor judge stopped by The Kelly Clarkson Show on Tuesday afternoon and revealed that Cabello almost didn't audition for The X Factor.

"Camila, she wasn't even meant to audition," Cowell explained. "I think we were like on time or something that particular day, which meant she was a reserve, and I went backstage to have a cigarette. She was laying on the floor crying. I went, 'What's the matter?' She said, 'They won't let me audition.' I went, 'Well, just go out and audition.' She came out five minutes later—amazing."

Cabello auditioned for 2012's second season of the American version of the series—as did Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane and Lauren Jauregui. The five girls were later put together to form Fifth Harmony, which skyrocketed them all to mainstream pop fame with singles such as "Work From Home" and "Worth It."

Eventually, Cabello departed Fifth Harmony in December 2016. The group announced an indefinite hiatus in March 2018.

Cabello has released two solo studio albums—Camila in 2018, Romance in 2019—and received three Grammy nominations. The 24-year-old topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "Havana" featuring Young Thug and "Senorita" featuring Shawn Mendes, her boyfriend.

The Cuban-born, Miami-raised star is set to make her acting debut when Kay Cannon's Cinderella remake is released via Amazon Prime Video later this year. Cabello plays the iconic titular character.

Watch Cowell's exchanges with Clarkson—the first-ever American Idol winner, by the way–below.