Spotlight on ...DAMI IM

Her book is called Dreamer, but some of Dami Im's experiences after winning The X Factor in 2013 were more like a nightmare. In this exclusive extract from her inspiring and revealing memoir, Im, 34, reveals what life was like in those early days of stardom.

I was ruled by schedules I never actually got to see. I was meant to be sent details of the weeks ahead so I would know where I'd have to be and when, and what I'd have to do - perform, be interviewed, do a photo shoot - but instead I was told the day before, or the morning of, which city I was flying to and what I was doing.

Before The X Factor I had played shows of all kinds, but I had never played at a corporate function. That quickly changed, as I was booked in for many corporate gigs by my new manager, who was part of the deal for the winner. I didn't know it at the time, but his management company was part-owned by Sony, my new record company, and I also didn't know that these corporate gigs were a big money-maker for management, as they took a commission on every show I played.