X Factor's ‘Tesco Mary’ Byrne shares how she 'picked herself back up' after fame ended

ok.co.uk:

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.