Rachel Hylton Axed X Factor act Rachel Hylton has spoken out about her elimination.

She reckons the media is to blame for giving her a bad name.

The mum-of-five says she's been the victim of a newspaper hate campaign.

Since rising to fame on the show, 26-year-old Rachel has made no secret of her trouble-ridden past, which includes a stint in jail.

But now the wannabe star, who was kicked off The X Factor this weekend, says her problems have been used against her in the press.

Speaking in her exit interview, Rachel made reference to "a blatant witch hunt to get me off that show".

"Every week there was a story in the paper. Every Saturday, there was something bad about either Dannii or me. They were trying to turn people against me," she said.

"I've kept quiet about this for so long, but I'm really, really upset. I am opening my mouth now because I haven't done anything wrong.

"I am not happy about the life I used to live. I am not proud of it. But that's not who I am anymore.

"By week four or five the press started hounding me, printing this, printing that.

"I know I've made mistakes and I know those mistakes have been very detrimental, especially to my first three children (who are in care).

"I hold my hands up to all of that. I know having five children at 26 isn't good. But anyone who thinks I don't care about them or think about them is absolutely wrong".

Rachel was voted out after appearing in a sing-off against JLS this weekend. It was the third time she had appeared in the bottom two.

Judge Simon Cowell expressed his regret as he made his vote against her.

Check out what she else she had to say in Sky TV Guide's exclusive interview with Rachel.