X Factor’s Honey G reveals all about terrifying kidnap and sexual assault ordeal
Wannabe singer suffered a loss of confidence after her traumatic experience...but is back stronger than ever now
X FACTOR star Honey G has revealed she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted.
The rapper, whose real name is Anna Georgette Gilford, 35, said the ordeal while at Salford University had “affected my whole life”.
She stunned the judges during the auditions with her unique version of Missy Elliott’s Work It.
But Anna, who lives in north-west London, admitted the attack had affected her hopes of becoming a DJ after studying music production.
She said in an exclusive interview: “Before I graduated from university, I did have a very bad experience and unfortunately as a result of that my DJ career didn’t survive and then I basically moved into production.
“Obviously the effect the bad experience had on me – it kind of ruined my confidence, it knocked me and basically it’s affected my whole life.
“Basically in my final year of university I was car hijacked and kidnapped and sexually assaulted. A man was convicted for what happened – for the crime.
“I’ve come through as a stronger person. It wasn’t that I got into the wrong crowd or anything like that.
"A lot of people say hip hop’s associated with this, that, violence and that – I don’t really look at things like that or people saying that urban music is associated with violence. It’s a stereotype."
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And Anna, who will perform tonight in front of thousands of fans during the show’s six-chair challenge to win a place to the Judges Houses’ round, says she hopes the show will make her.
She said: “I run a small business and I really don’t enjoy running my business.
“It’s not doing very well and I’m in debt with the tax man – I’m constantly arguing with the tax man. I’m looking for a way out for my life at the moment.
“I don’t really see myself as like a straight-laced business women or anything like that – that’s not really me, that’s not what I want to be.
“I only do my job because obviously I’ve got to pay bills. I’m a taxpayer so you know I’ve got a lot of business overheads as well but I do it because I don’t have anything else to do.
“I’m basically looking for a route so I can launch my career as a rap music artist in the music industry, as a recording artist, someone who can sell records.”
She discovered dance music as a teenager when she started raving aged 14, before becoming a DJ, launching her own club night, and getting a degree in popular music recording from Salford University.
Now she wants to use her music as a platform to speak about the world.
Anna said: “I’m not JAY Z, I’m not DRAKE, I’m not LIL WAYNE, I’m not MISSY ELLIOTT, I’m Honey G.
“I do find it a lot easier to express myself as Honey G because I can express my beliefs, my thoughts in my tracks. I can address topics that need to be addressed.”
But aside from her ambitions in the world of rap, she is eager to find someone to settle down with.
She explained: “I’m single and I’m looking for love – I’m looking for someone to share my life with. I want to have kids soon, I want to start a family.
“I want to find a long term partner, if not marriage before I decide to obviously have kids and stuff. I am looking for that special someone.”
Whenever it happens, I know four judges who will be fighting to be godparents.
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