Highgate's got the X Factor - Sophie Habibis in live finals

Former barmaid at the Whittington Stone on Highgate Hill Sophie Habibis has won over new judge Kelly Rowland to become one of the 16 acts selected for the X Factor live finals beginning this weekend. The 19-year old from Tufnell Park joins fellow North London luminaries Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and 2010 finalist Paije Richardson in reaching the latter stages of the show.

Habibis charmed in the first rounds of the competition with her smoky renditions of Christina Aguilera's "I Got Trouble" and Bon Iver's "Skinny Love". A fan of US musican Lauryn Hill and fellow North Londoner Amy Winehouse, Habibis won her place in the final 16 after a performance at Rowland's Miami home that co-judge Jennifer Hudson described as "flawless". Former Destiny's Child star Rowland added, "I want the album now!"

Tufnell Park has produced its far share of musical talent in the past - rapper Ms Dynamite and reggae singer Eddy Grant both come from the area. But it's Series 3 winner Leona Lewis, who grew up in nearby Finsbury Park and currently lives in Hackney,  whom Habibis probably most hopes to emulate - Lewis's recordbreaking first single, A Moment Like This was downloaded 50,000 times in thirty minutes, and outsold the rest of the Top 40 combined to become the 2006 Christmas number 1. 

Catch Sophie on this weekend's X Factor from 7.30pm on Saturday, or check out her first audition online here.