X-Factor star Alejandro Fernandez- Holt said he is adapting to the crazy world of fame – but there were no fans in sight when he re-opened a Brighton charity shop yesterday.

The 17-year-old talent show hopeful from Burgess Hill said strangers stare at him in the street and abuse him online.

But despite having 19,000 followers on Twitter there were no screaming girls when he officially re-opened charity shop Debra in York Place.

The St Paul’s Catholic College student, who works at Hollister in Brighton, treated staff to a rendition of Enrique Iglesias number Hero which got him through the first auditions.

MORE:

He said: “It’s crazy. I’m having to adapt to the press releasing stuff about me and the nasty comments.

You have to get used to it.

“After one quite cheesy performance I got loads of abuse. But then the positive feedback makes it worthwhile.

“People just stand and stare.

“I was in the leisure centre buying chips and people were taking pictures, and I was like ‘just ask!’ “I’ve learnt not to put anything controversial on Twitter. I said I had a crush on (fellow X Factor contestant) Tamera and it was in the paper the next day.”

Yesterday he helped to reopen Debra, which supports people suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a painful genetic condition which causes the skin to blister and shear.

Alejandro attended with stageschool friend Rhiannon Pyett, whose mum Sonja works at the branch.

The Enrique Iglesias-style singer is through to the ‘boot camp’ stage of the competition.

He added: “I can’t say much but there’s a twist coming. People said it was the hardest boot camp in ten years.”

Branch manager Amanda Evans said: “It’s great to have support from Alejandro and we were pleased to learn his mother Maria has supported us int he past. EB is a dreadful condition and we’re the only charity trying to find a cure.”