A SINGER from Derbyshire has said she is relishing the opportunity to become a superstar after winning through to the first stage of TV's latest X-Factor show.

Maria Theodoulou was watched by millions last Saturday when her group, Chaos, received the nod from Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Danni Minogue on the popular talent show.

Now the 22-year-old and her fellow band members are going all out to become the first group to win the show.

Maria, from Darley Dale, said: "It is amazing to get through to the next stage.

"We are totally focused on giving it our all.

"We are massively determined to make it to the final and we are going to give it 110% from here on in.

"It is my ambition to become a superstar and I have the chance with X-Factor, so I'm not going to let it slip now."

Maria, of Whitworth Road, was invited to form Chaos by her cousin, Androulla Frangeskou, who failed in an X-Factor audition last year.

A former St Elphin's School pupil, Maria said: "All the judges were really nice with us.

"Simon Cowell is quite sarcastic but he's also a really nice man underneath, so I was really pleased to impress him."

"Of course, Cheryl Cole has been through it all before with Girls Aloud and she could see how nervous we all were.

"She gave one of the girls a big hug and told us all to relax.

"Louis Walsh was probably the nicest of the four and Danni Minogue said some really nice things about us as well.

"I just can't wait to get to boot camp, it's going to be the most incredible experience."

Maria and her fellow band members – Androulla Frangeskou, from Lincoln, and Gemma Higgins and Natalie Davies, both from Birmingham – impressed the judges by singing the smash hits Chasing Cars, by Snow Patrol, and Christina Milian's When You Look at Me.

After getting through the first stage, the band will now spend nine days honing their skills in boot camp, where they will live with the other artists.

Maria, who is currently studying drama and marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University, was given support on the day from her proud mum, Christine Theodoulou.

She said: "It was a fantastic day and I'm really proud of my daughter.

"All of the girls sang so well and the judges said such nice things about them.

"Louis Walsh said they were really talented, while Simon Cowell said they reminded him of Girls Aloud."

A date has yet to be set for the boot camp phase of the TV show.