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By ANDREA MAGRATH
Fresh faced: X Factor hopefuls Cher Lloyd (L-R), Katie Waissel and Rebecca Ferguson went make-up free as they left rehearsals last nightThe trio appear to have put their bickering behind them, and were sharing a joke as they sped off in their waiting car.
We have become used to seeing them arrive and leave rehearsals every day in full make-up and hair, high heels and carefully chosen clothes.
The X Factor girls seemed to have the fame game sussed from the start, always appearing picture perfect and ready for their close ups
But as the competition heats up, it seems Cher Lloyd, Katie Waissel and Rebecca Ferguson are spending less time in front of the mirror and more time in the studio, as they left rehearsals late last night looking tired without their usual heavy make-up.
But for once, there was no hiding the bags under their tired eyes after an 11-hour day of rehearsals as they prepare to sing two songs each on this weekend's live show.
The girls have been stepping down their primping routine in the last week, with 17-year-old Cher Lloyd choosing comfortable Ugg boots over her high heeled trainers and forgoing her trademark red lipstick and heavy eyeliner.
Glam: Cher (left) and Katie, pictured last week, looked a lot brighter and usually make sure they are in full make-up for rehearsalsKatie, 24, chopped off her high-maintenance platinum blonde hair last weekend in favour of a chic brunette crop, and has stepped out this week with very little make-up.
Even glamorous Rebecca Ferguson, who has been the breakout style star this season has been bothering less with the wide brimmed hats and piled-on jewellery she wore at the start of the season.
After the shock elimination of Aiden Grimshaw and Cher finding herself in the bottom two last week, all of the contestants have said they realise now that no one is safe, and are putting all their efforts into rehearsing.
Working overtime: The One Direction boys were looking a little drained as they left the studios late at night after a day of rehearsing
Sleepy: 17-year-old Niall Horan tweeted after 2am: 'Just finished now in studio. So tired'Katie Waissel was up at 5am today to get a head start on practising. She told fans on Twitter: 'Wow this must be THE earliest I have ever woken up and rehearsed lol!'
But while Katie has been on shaky ground since the start of the competition, now even favourites like One Direction are feeling the pressure.
The teens were in the studios until past 2am rehearsing for this weekend's show.
And some of them appear to be feeling the strain. 17-year-old Niall Horan moaned to his 65,000 Twitter fans about the lack of sleep.
All smiles: Cheryl Cole looked cheerful despite the long hours 
Home time: Dannii Minogue (left) left with partner Kris Smith's mother and baby Ethan in towHe wrote during the evening: 'At the recording studio, not finished just yet, sooo tired.'
The boys finally were dismissed in the early hours of this morning. Horan tweeted: 'Just finished now in studio. So tired.'
He added: 'Anyone tries to wake me up early, I will throw a sponge cake at their face.'
Relations between the finalists are strained this week as some of them vent their frustrations over controversial contestant Wagner remaining in the competition at the expense of talents like Aiden Grimshaw and Treyc Cohen.
Drained: Matt Cardle (left) and Mary Byrne looked tired arriving for rehearsals yesterday morning
Controversial: Louis Walsh (left) and his contestant Wagner are angering the other judges and contestants as Wagner remains in the competitionBookies favourite Matt Cardle - who is close with 18-year-old Aiden - came to blows with the Brazilian earlier this week, according to the Sun.
The 27-year-old Essex man is still favourite to win with 13-8 odds, but is closely followed by the 54-year-old former P.E. teacher, whose odds have been slashed from 100-1 to 10-1.
Creative Director Brian Friedman let slip this week that the seven remaining contestants will be singing two songs each for this week's rock theme.
A few song choices have already been revealed, with Mary Byrne belting out U2's All I Want is You, and Brass in Pocket by The Pretenders.
One of Cher's songs will be Walk This Way by Aerosmith and Run DMC, while Wagner will take on Radiohead's Creep.
source: dailymail [endtext]