Cowell: Renee-Mai has a real X Factor
Plenty of people have been criticised by Simon Cowell - but not many 10-year-olds have been showered with praise and told they are a star in the making.
Renee-Mai Bolter won the X Factor judge's heart when he presented the Walsall schoolgirl with a Pride of Britain Award. He invited her to studios in London where the show is filmed to see it go out live after telling her she was beautiful and 'would go far'.
The youngster was presented with the award after she was subjected to a terrifying hostage ordeal at her family home at the age of seven.
She was violently attacked when held captive with her mother and baby sister for eight hours by a 54-year-old man. But her quick thinking and calm actions helped protect her family - and she was handed the Child of Courage award by the X Factor frontman along with his fellow judges Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Louis Walsh and presenters Dermot O'Leary and Sarah-Jane Crawford at last week's ceremony.
The youngster also got to visit 10 Downing Street and, along with some of the other winners, was given a tour by David Cameron.
Renee-Mai said the two-day trip to the capital - that also saw her bump into singer Peter Andre at The Hilton hotel where she was staying - was 'amazing'.
Her mother Katie said: "She was invited to one of the live shows by Simon and we just need to sort out when we can go.
"Louis wanted us to go this weekend but it was too short notice. Simon said she was beautiful and that she would go far.
"He said she will get whatever she wants in life, and I think he sees big things for her."
Renee-Mai, who wants to be an actor, said: "I just couldn't believe it - it all really fun and exciting."
Her mother Katie Bolter, said the attack in 2011 still haunts the family and added: "Renee-Mai is still trying to come to terms with it and it has been a traumatic few years."
The family were targeted by 54-year-old Leonard Brown, who had previously done odd jobs for the them.
He threatened to kill them all after picking up a can of petrol from the garden shed and after he started hitting Katie Renée-Mai tried to shield her before he punched the youngster in the face.
Before he could attack eight-month old Lexi, Renée-Mai threw herself in the way, shielding her little sister and taking the blows herself.
Katie added: "When we got back from London Lexi said to Renee-Mai: 'Thank you for saving me, I will love you forever.'
"Renee-Mai was really the centre of attention down there. It was an amazing couple of days and it all went too quickly."
She also hid a mobile phone allowing her mother to call the police when their attacker left the room.
