Seasons

The X Factor season 1 (2011)

Aired on Fox from September 21, 2011 to December 22, 2011. 12 finalists, with their show results and what they did after the show.

Top 12.

Finalists

FinalistShow resultMentorAfter the show
Melanie Amaro
WinnerDecember 22, 2011Simon CowellMelanie Amaro, also named Melanie Ann Amaro, received a $5 million recording contract with Syco Music and a Sony Music label in December 2011. Epic Records announced her signing on January 3, 2012. She released Don't Fail Me Now on August 1, 2012 and Long Distance on December 3, 2012. The album Truly was never released. She released Fuel My Fire independently on June 26, 2014, Dust (featuring Fabolous) on May 6, 2015, and The One on February 17, 2016. By January 2018 she was signed to Moorehouse Music Group.
Josh Krajcik
Runner-upDecember 22, 2011Nicole ScherzingerJoshua Andrew Krajcik formed the Josh Krajcik Band with Corey Gillen and Mitch Pinkston. The band's record Ghosts is dated 2005, and a release party for Atavistic was held on February 11, 2011. On November 29, 2012 he released a four-song EP titled Josh Krajcik. Blindly, Lonely, Lovely came out on April 2, 2013 on Phonogenic and Sony. He self-released the album Oblivion on May 18, 2017. In 2019 he began a body of work called EPIPHANIAC. On May 14, 2026 he sang Dream On at Columbus Commons.
Chris Rene
Third placeDecember 22, 2011L.A. ReidChristopher Rene released the independent album Soul'd Out on July 21, 2009. On January 17, 2012, a joint venture between Syco and Epic Records was confirmed for him. Young Homie came out on March 13, 2012. The EP I'm Right Here came out on October 2, 2012 through Syco and Epic Records and reached number 55 on the Billboard 200. Young Homie did not enter the Billboard Hot 100.
Marcus Canty
Fourth placeDecember 15, 2011L.A. ReidMarcus Canty is named among the 2009 YoungArts notable winners in Voice. On January 18, 2012, Epic Records announced that he had received a record deal. Won't Make a Fool Out of You came out on March 7, 2012 and is on the Think Like a Man soundtrack. The EP This...Is Marcus Canty came out on March 5, 2013 on Epic and reached number 114 on the Billboard 200. A studio album titled Jazzy Knights is dated 2020.
Rachel Crow
Fifth placeDecember 8, 2011Simon CowellRachel Kelly Crow moved to Los Angeles in 2008. In February 2012 a Columbia Records music deal and a Nickelodeon deal were announced. The EP Rachel Crow came out on June 26, 2012 on Syco and Columbia and reached number 14 on Top Heatseekers. She voiced Carla in Rio 2 in 2014 and Tip on Home: Adventures with Tip and Oh from 2016 to 2018. Solo came out on April 21, 2017, and Dime followed through BMG Rights Management. Coulda Told Me came out in 2018 on S-Curve Records. Up All Night came out on January 25, 2019. In 2025 she graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York.
Drew Ryn
Sixth placeDecember 1, 2011Simon CowellDrew Ryn went by Drew Ryniewicz. She is from Chino Valley, Arizona and lives in Nashville. She released Problems on March 31, 2019 and Orchestra on August 12, 2020, and she has played 300 shows for anti-bullying. Walk On Water came out on January 10, 2025, and Funhouse on March 20, 2026.
Stro
Seventh placeDecember 1, 2011L.A. ReidBrian Vaughn Bradley Jr. is known as Stro, formerly Astro and The Astronomical Kid. He released the EP The Astronomical Kid in 2009 and the single Stop Looking at My Mom in 2010. By January 18, 2012, Epic Records had signed him. He played Tucker in Earth to Echo, released July 2, 2014. In October 2018 he signed to Mass Appeal Records. The EP Nice 2 Meet You, Again is dated 2018. A report of June 12, 2019 said that he had left the Euphoria pilot and that HBO had replaced him with Algee Smith. The EP T.H.U.G.S is dated March 13, 2026.
LeRoy Bell
Eighth placeNovember 23, 2011Nicole ScherzingerLeRoy Bell and Casey James formed the duo Bell and James. A&M Records signed the duo to an album deal in 1978. Livin' It Up (Friday Night) reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. The album Bell & James reached number 31 on the Billboard 200, and Only Make Believe reached number 125. He released the EP Spending Time in 2004 on Martez Music Group, then Two Sides to Every Story in 2006, A Change Is Coming in 2008, and Traces in 2010. In 2020 he released Stony Hill with G.E. Smith.
Lakoda RayneMembers: Dani Knights, Fletcher, Hayley Orrantia, Paige Elizabeth Ogle
Ninth placeNovember 23, 2011Paula AbdulLakoda Rayne formed in 2011 when Simon Cowell grouped Cari Fletcher, Hayley Orrantia, Paige Elizabeth Ogle, and Dani Knights, with Paula Abdul as mentor. On November 29, 2011, the four said they planned to live in Los Angeles and keep writing songs together.
Stacy Francis
Tenth placeNovember 17, 2011Nicole ScherzingerStacy Francis was a member of Ex Girlfriend. The group released X Marks the Spot on October 5, 1991 on Reprise, and Why Can't You Come Home reached number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group ended in 1995. She starred as Doris Winter in Mama, I Want to Sing! from 1992 to 1996 and as Rusty in the Broadway production of Footloose from October 1998. In January 2017 she finished 11th on Celebrity Big Brother 19. We Stand Together came out on May 1, 2020, and Eco Echo Earth Song came out on April 22, 2022.
The Stereo HogzzMembers: George Jenkins III, Jonathan Glenn, Justin Williams, Kregg Gibson, Trace Kennedey
Eleventh placeNovember 10, 2011Paula AbdulJustin Williams came up with the name Stereo Hogzz. On November 11, 2011, the group counted five members. On June 10, 2013, the group was Trae Badd, Jon Glenn, Just'n, and KG.
InTENsityMembers: Arin Ray, Austin Percario, Ellona Santiago, Emily Michalak, Emily Wilson, Francesca Duncan, John Lindahl, Lauren Ashley, Ma'at Bingham Shango, Nick Dean
Twelfth placeNovember 3, 2011Paula AbdulInTENsity was a ten-member group formed at The X Factor boot camp in 2011 and mentored by Paula Abdul. The members, ages 12 to 17, were Ellona Santiago, Nick Dean, Francesca Duncan, John Lindahl, Emily Michalak, Arin Ray, Lauren Ashley Redmond, Ma'at Bingham Shango, Austin Percario, and Emily Wilson. In November 2011, the group said it wanted to continue together and hoped to be signed.
  • Winner
  • Runner-up
  • Other finalists

Sources