X Factor heartthrob Lloyd Daniels was just 16 when he appeared on the ITV reality show back in 2009, and has since undergone a hair transplant and got engaged to his boyfriend
The X Factor star Lloyd Daniels is barely recognisable 16 years after after his memorable stint on the ITV talent show. The Welsh vocalist was merely 16 when he took to the stage before the judging panel in 2009, progressing to the quarter finals in the Boys category under Cheryl’s mentorship, eventually scoring fifth place.
Louis Walsh described him as “karaoke” before his exit, while Cheryl predicted a bright future, saying: “He is only 16 – he has got loads of time to blossom into a real star.” Lloyd went on to tour the the live version of the show during the following year.
Throughout his journey on The X Factor, the teenage sensation was known for his trademark floppy blonde hairstyle and youthful appearance. Fast forward to today, and Lloyd now sports a moustache or full beard alongside his much shorter blond hair.
The performer – who has since starred in musical theatre and pantomimes – was candid about getting a hair transplant back in 2017, when he was just 23, sharing updates on Facebook where he confessed to feeling “uncomfortable” about his receding hairline since his youth, calling it his “biggest insecurity”.
In a candid post before the surgery, he wrote alongside a near-nude picture of himself: “”This is a big deal for me… I’d rather be naked than show you this but here’s me showing you my biggest insecurity.
“There are ways of making a difference to how you feel within. Mine starts tomorrow. I hope this inspires some of you to make a step if you feel how I’ve felt for a long time!
“Thank you for all your support! I really mean it – I hope that people can realise that this is a struggle for some and that there is a way of maintaining comfort with a hair transplant if you’ve suffered hair loss, whether you are male or female.”
Back in 2020, Lloyd said he experienced pressure to conceal his same-sex romance while competing on The X Factor. Reflecting on his experience during an Instagram Live session, he disclosed he formed a connection with someone but felt compelled to keep his first relationship with a man private from viewers.
He explained: “I met someone on the show and we really clicked. I’d never had that emotion towards guys. I knew it was more than a friendship and it slowly unfolded. I ended up being with them for over a year.
“It was odd to accept it because I was going through a huge change in my life joining the music industry, I thought ‘am I going mad?’ I felt off-colour.”
Lloyd confessed that he felt unable to discuss his sexuality at the time due to his target audience being teenage girls. “The hardest part about it was not being able to talk about it. I won’t say I was under oath, but to that somewhat extent I couldn’t talk about it because of my status.”
He further explained: “I had to aim my marketing towards teenage girls, that was what was going to sell the whole ‘Lloyd Daniels, X Factor self’.”
He continued: “I felt really suppressed, like I wasn’t being my true self. It was really, really hard. I totally get that’s how the music industry works. It’s different now to how it was ten years ago.”
