Her life was transformed when she won The X Factor in 2013, not only scooping a £1million recording contract with Simon Cowell and launching her hugely popular singing career, but also cementing a solid friendship with her mentor on the show, Sharon Osbourne.
And now, as notoriously feisty Sharon returns to the panel, Sam Bailey has a few words of warning for fellow judges, Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger who are currently filming auditions.
Sam says: “I think there are going to be big clashes between Sharon and the judges!
"I’m so glad she’s back – they’ll be a lot of snide comments between her and Simon. And her and Louis are just like two naughty school kids when they’re together.
“I’m not slating last year's judges [Cheryl, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw], but it’s nice to have people on the show who really know their craft and have been in the business for a long time.
"Louis and Sharon know everything about music, and Nicole has been in the Pussycat Dolls and is a classically trained singer. And she’s beautiful!”
Sam’s single Sing My Heart Out is released on 5 August.
Read the full interview with Sam, who opens up about nights out with Katie Price and dabbling with Botox, in this week’s Closer magazine.