'X Factor' Australia eliminates first contestant from live shows

Cleo Howman has been eliminated from The X Factor Australia.

The 25-year-old Gold Coast resident, who made it through to the top twelve contestants last week, performed Adele's 'Chasing Pavements' on Monday night's first live show but was asked to leave last night.

After, Howman entered a sing-off against Jacqui Newland, who sang Gossip single 'Heavy Cross', judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte revealed that she would not be voting against her protegée and instead said that she wanted to send Newland home.

Mel B's vote went to her contestant Newland, while Guy Sebastian admitted: "Cleo, I've always said to Nat that you're probably my favourite of her three." He said that he was struggling whether to make a decision based "on potential... or performance" and then decided to save Newland because of her "hunger" for success.

> Australian 'X Factor' contestant audition goes viral
> Mel B blasts fellow Aussie 'X Factor' judges

Ronan Keating was left with the final decision. He decided to eliminate Howman, reducing the final twelve to eleven.

Keating, Mel B, Sebastian and Bassingthwaighte all performed a medley of their solo hits at the beginning of Monday's episode, ending with Spice Girls track 'Who Do You Think You Are'.

Watch Cleo Howman's elimination from The X Factor below (Australian readers only):