Former X Factor contestant Tamera Foster is having a blast hitting the road in search of stardom.

The young singer from Gravesend is enjoying life after the ITV talent contest and admitted that over the Christmas period, she missed her hectic schedule.

Sixteen-year-old Tamera made it through to the quarter finals of the popular show, but lost out to the public vote when judges Nicole Scherzinger, Gary Barlow, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh found themselves deadlocked over her fate.

Since then, Tamera has been keeping herself busy and has performed various gigs around the country, including G.A.Y nightclub in London, until rehearsals begin later this month for the up-coming X Factor tour.

After she left the show, the first place she headed for was home.

She said: “The first day I went home and saw my family and everything. A few weeks later I was straight on the road and doing performances around the country. It hasn’t really slowed too much after the show.

“I’ve been gigging and I’ve done some appearances. A few weeks ago I went down to Great Ormond Street Hospital for their Christmas party and that was really nice.”

Tamera is still enrolled at North West Kent College studying a diploma in music technology.

The aspiring singing sensation is determined her quest for the big time will not come at the expense of her studies and wants to get some qualifications.

The teenager is also finding it hard to get used to the trappings of fame - especially when it is on her own doorstep.

She said: “I went shopping with my family [in Bluewater] a few days ago and there was people coming up for photos and it felt weird. I still need to get used to that but it was really lovely.

“I’ve had so much support from the public and fans since I left the show.”

Tamera said that there had been some interest from record labels and although the future was looking bright, it was nice to have her X Factor mentor still give her pointers.

Show judge Nicole Scherzinger, who used to sing with the Pussycat Dolls before launching her solo career, keeps in touch with the Gravesend girl.

She said:“I’m still in contact with Nicole and we email quite a lot. She is a really cool person and she gives me a lot of advice and everything.”

At one point a bookies favourite to take home the X Factor crown, Tamera found it strange watching from the stands as her friends sang in the final.

She said: “We were in the audience so that was really cool to see it all happen. I felt like I should be up there doing something – it was really surreal watching from the other side – but I was proud of the guys.

“Rehearsals don’t start until the middle of January for the tour, but that should be good - I’m really excited.”

The X Factor tour kicks off at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on February 15 and ends at the LG Arena in Birmingham on March 29.

The tour will visit 14 different cities across the UK and Ireland including London, Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow.