Gamu's photo album: The singer pictured joking with a friend.
She and her school friends must have dreamed of the day she starred in an X Factor final.
But last night, Gamu Nhengu was having to face up to a future without her dream – and without those friends too.
The 18-year-old singer was told on Sunday that she had missed out on a place in the live finals of the ITV talent show.
And yesterday she was told she must leave Britain altogether. Her family have just days to return to their home country of Zimbabwe – or face deportation.
Star quality: A glamorous Gamu poses with friends as they prepare to go to a dance in July
The ambitious teen has long been dreaming of making it to the X Factor final
It is a bitter blow for Miss Nhengu, who appeared so carefree when she posed with a group of girls before a ball in July.
She had proved popular with X Factor fans, who were outraged that she was excluded.
Speaking out for the first time since Sunday's show, she said yesterday: 'Thank you so much to everyone. I'm overwhelmed by the support. The whole experience has been amazing and I'm doing fine.
'I've been overwhelmed by the response.'
ITV received 600 complaints after the Mail revealed how judge Cheryl Cole was told by producers not to pick the singer because of doubts over her immigration status.
Yesterday, thousands of viewers even threatened to boycott the show’s lucrative voting phone lines unless she was brought back on the show.
However, immigration officials claimed that her mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, had received thousands of pounds worth of benefits while working as a nurse.
Miss Ngazana, 38, is believed to have claimed child tax credit and working tax credit during her eight-year stay in the UK.
Under immigration rules, she is not allowed to have access to benefits and must support herself and her family on her own.
Furthermore, the family have no right of appeal and Miss Nhengu cannot apply for a visa just for herself.
The singer moved to Scotland with her two brothers, 11 and nine, after their mother began studying at Stirling University and qualified as a nurse.
Her mother was allowed to stay in the UK under the Fresh Talent scheme and had the right to stay – until August 29. Her children were allowed to stay as their mother’s dependants.
The family, who live in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, reapplied to stay in the UK in August and up until yesterday, they were waiting to hear the outcome.
The UK Border Agency told the Mail: ‘The applications made by Miss Ngazana and her family were considered in line with the published immigration rules.
‘Miss Ngazana’s application was refused as it did not meet all of the conditions for approval. Her family, who had applied as her dependants, were therefore also refused
Wild card woes.... Gamu has lost out on the chance of a recall to Treyc Cohen
‘Where people are found to have no right to remain in the UK we expect them to leave voluntarily.’
Even before that decision, X Factor bosses had no plans to bring Miss Nhengu back to the show.
Mrs Cole, 27, was said to be ‘really, really upset’ after fans lashed out at her for not picking Miss Nhengu as one of her three finalists.
She felt unfairly targeted as she was also advised not to pick the hopeful as her ‘wild card’ entry to join the live finals on Saturday.
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