X Factor favourite Jahmene Douglas looks unrecognisable almost 10 years after appearing on the show

THE X Factor star Jahmene Douglas has been spotted looking unrecognisable almost a decade after appearing on the singing competition.

The star – who came second in the ITV show behind James Artur back in 2012 – wowed the judges with his rendition of Etta James hit At Last.

Jahmene, 30, received four quick yes votes from The X Factor panel on his first audition in the ninth series of the hit show.

He went on to make it through to the live final of the competition, where he battled it out with James Arthur for the coveted title and record deal.

However, despite finishing up in second place – Jahmene still went on to have a successful career in music, signing a record deal with Sony.

A year after his debut on the show, he released his first record – Love Never Fails – which featured appearances from his show mentor Nicole Schersinger.

In 2016, Jahmene released his second album, Unfathomable Phantasmagoria, which had a speaking feature from actor Samuel L Jackson.

Now, the star looks very different from the days of his early career, having swapped his closely-shaved locks for a much longer style.

Jahmene can be seen showing off his natural curls on social media, as well as his neatly primed beard, which he has been sporting since the show.

He frequently poses for selfies on his Instagram page, where he is seen looking all grown up compared to how we last saw him on TV at just 20 years old.

He previously wowed fans when he revealed that he had dyed his hair blonde.

Just this week, Jahmene revealed he was returning to the stage after years away from performing – hosting a Valentine’s Day gig for his fans.

It comes as the star appears to be in a much better place compared to his time shortly after the show, which saw him share worrying suicidal thoughts.

The soul and gospel singer admitted to fans that he had “suicidal thoughts” and was feeling “broken, lost and worthless” on Twitter.

“I don’t know what to do any more,” he wrote. “My mind is plagued with suicidal thoughts whenever my defences are down.”

He continued: “I feel so broken, lost and worthless. It doesn’t seem to matter how much I try to fix myself, who I talk to or what I put in place it always comes back to this.”

He finished ended the long note writing: “All I am ever left with is the desire to die. I don’t want it, but I do. That’s the inner battle. I’m scared the next time I try I will succeed because I have nothing in place any more.”

Fan flocked to Twitter to share their love and support for the singer stating that he was not alone and should stay strong.

Jahmene later apologised to his fans and, in an emotional open letter, he thanked them for supporting him.

Jahmene and his mother Mandy both spoke about the horrific domestic violence they endured while Jahmene was a child, and the singer praised his mother for writing a book about the experience.