If there was no music, there would be no Jazzy Axton. That's what the 14-year-old Mount Maunganui College student believes.

She loves singing – it makes her happy – but off stage she admits she's an anxious person. However, Jazzy says: 'As soon as I step on stage I don't have a care in the world.

Mount Maunganui College student Jazzy Axton is an X-Factor New Zealand wild card contestant. Photo: Supplied.

'I'm not nervous, and I feel like someone could give me the most shocking news in the world and it wouldn't phase me.”

The ‘stage' is the X-Factor stage. Jazzy's been counting down the days until she was old enough to enter the reality singing competition on TV 3. And now she has.

Jazzy heard an upsetting ‘no' by X-Factor judge and Mount Maunganui-raised musician Stan Walker on Sunday night – but made it back onto television screens as a wild card contestant last night.

She's hoping people will believe in her today as voting lines open for people to choose which Wild Card contestant re-claims their spot on the reality show.

The camera loves her. But she hasn't let the fame go to her head.

'I think if I was 14 or in the over 25 category I wouldn't feel any differently about it,” says Jazzy. 'This is what I want to do and I have absolutely no doubts that I should be here.

'I have nothing but positive thoughts going through my head. Of course there's going to be some people who may perceive me wrong. But as long as I know who I am, I think it's all ok.”

Jazzy's been singing since she could talk. That's how she sees it. 'I started singing because I felt that was the only way I could truly express myself and clear my mind.”

She lives by the motto: ‘Be confident and believe in yourself'. 'But confident isn't going out there and saying everyone will like you. It's going out there and saying that you'll be okay if they don't,” she adds.

The girl behind the microphone is sweet, shy and soulful. But put a microphone in her hand and it's a different story.

Jazzy believes everyone has their story to tell. She's chosen not to publically share hers. But she's got a message for other girls her age.

'No matter what people say about you,” she adds, 'and no matter what your story may be, no matter who believes in you and who doesn't, or who thinks you're ready and who thinks you're not – as long as you know who you are – and even if you don't – music can help you find it. Follow your heart.”

Jazzy admits she likes any type of music she can get her hands on. 'I love every single genre,” she says. 'I like upbeat, not necessarily pop songs – and I like taking songs that you wouldn't really expect and unplugging them, making them acoustic.”

Her music idol is English singer Jessie J. 'She's just incredible. I believe in her morals and I think she has a very inspirational story. She's just an absolutely amazing singer.”

But the teenager won't be following in the ‘Domino' singer's footsteps - she'd like to make her own. 'But as long as I'm doing what makes me happy that's all that matters,” says Jazzy.

And singing makes her happy. But she's not just a singer. Jazzy dances, plays the piano and the guitar too.

She singles out her singing teacher Scott Braid for special praise, saying: 'He's absolutely incredible. He's helped make me into who I am today. He's not only taught me some good life lessons, but about the industry too.”

And she hasn't forgotten about the 'massive love and support” her family has shown her along the way.

The Top 12 X-Factor contestants will be mentored by four judges including Melanie Blatt, Natalia Kills, Willy Moon and Stan Walker. The competition winner receives a recording contract with Sony Music NZ.

To vote for Jazzy, text JAZZY to 3999 or vote at: vote.xfactornz.co.nz/vote