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    1. Celebrity News

    Girl group Little Mix crowned X Factor winners

    The foursome became the first group in the singing show's history to take home the title

    By Marie Claire
    Published 12 December 2011 In News

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    Tulisa Contosavlos & Little Mix - Tulisa Contosavlos - Little Mix - Marcus Collins - Girl group Little Mix crowned X Factor winners - X Factor 2011 - Marie Clarie - Marie Claire UK
    Tulisa Contosavlos & Little Mix - Tulisa Contosavlos - Little Mix - Marcus Collins - Girl group Little Mix crowned X Factor winners - X Factor 2011 - Marie Clarie - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: Rex Features)
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    The foursome became the first group in the singing show's history to take home the title

    Delighted girl group Little Mix broke X Factor records last night, as they became the first group in the singing show’s history to take home the winners title.

    The foursome, mentored by X Factor newcomer Tulisa Contosavlos, beat Liverpool hairdresser Marcus Collins to the title, and dissolved into tears in front of a whopping 10,000-strong audience at London’s Wembley arena as they heard the news.

    X FACTOR FASHION: ALL THE STARS AND STYLE

    Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock wowed the crowds with a series of hit songs over the weekend, including En Vogue’s Don’t Let Go and festive favourite Silent Night, as well as winner’s single, Damien Rice hit Cannon Ball.

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    And despite a string of show-stopping songs from rival Marcus, the girls were finally awarded the X Factor crown.

    Struggling to contain their excitement, the tearful band members gushed ‘wow’ and ‘oh my god’ before telling show host Dermot: ‘This is never going to sink in. We can never thank the public enough for voting for us.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    ‘We are just so so grateful and thankful to everyone who voted and to everyone backstage.’

    Graceful runner up Marcus Collins revealed the ‘amazing’ girls ‘really deserve’ the X Factor title, while their proud mentor Tulisa gushed: ‘I think I wanted them to win more than they did.'

    Despite being absent from this year’s panel, show boss Simon Cowell took straight to Twitter to offer his congratulations to the girls, Tweeting: ‘Congratulations to @LIttleMixOffic . And Paula as you can see, groups can win this show! I was really hoping a group would win this year. @OfficialTulisa has done a great job. These girls could be stars.'

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    It’s thought Little Mix will now battle for this year’s Christmas number one, hoping to avoid the same fate as 2009 winner Joe McElderry, who was tipped to the top spot by rock group Rage Against the Machine.

    Were Little Mix your X Factor favourites? Or do you think Marcus deserved to win? Let us know in the comments box below…

    X FACTOR FASHION: ALL THE STARS AND STYLE

    X FACTOR BEHIND THE SCENES

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