Lorna Simpson has become the first act to exit The X Factor 2013 live shows following a sing-off with fellow over 25 candidate Shelley Smith.
The 26-year-old - who had been the bookies' favourite to leave the competition - lost out after finishing last in the second round of public voting.
Shelley's place in the bottom two had already been cemented on Saturday night following the introduction of the new 'flash vote' - in which the least popular act at the end of an eight-minute voting period automatically goes into Sunday's sing-off.
However her rendition of the Dreamgirls hit One Night Only ultimately proved more popular with the judges than Lorna's version of Faith Hill's hit There You'll Be.
With the pair's mentor Sharon Osbourne abstaining from sending one of her own acts home, it was left to the other three judges - who voted two to one in favour of keeping Shelley in the competition.
"Two brilliant singers, an amazing sing-off, it's a really really difficult one but I have to send somebody home," Louis Walsh said.
Nicole Scherzinger delivered the final blow when she added: "Lorna you have blown me away in the past week so much, Shelley, there's something about you and I think there's more to see from you, so the act I'm sending home is Lorna."
Afterwards the student admitted: "I think my favourite memory of the competition was getting to boot camp because I never even thought I'd get that far.
"It just goes to show that when you really do go for your dreams they do happen," she added.
Meanwhile a clearly upset Sharon added: "For once in my life I'm stumped."
A further twist in this year's voting sees the removal of the 'deadlock' option, which saw the result revert back to public vote if the judges failed to agree on who to send home.
Instead, if the judges' voting is tied then the act who lost out in the 'flash vote' on Saturday night will automatically leave the competition.
Ten other acts - including Tamera Foster, Hannah Barrett, Nicholas McDonald, Sam Callahan, Abi Alton and Luke Friend all made it through.
Sam Bailey also sailed through to next week, as did groups Kingsland Road, Miss Dynamix and Rough Copy.
Next weekend will see the eleven remaining acts perform love and heartache themed songs.
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