ally brooke, dinah jane, lauren jauregui, normani, and camila cabello auditioned on the second season of the us version of "the x factor" on july 27, 2012, failing to make it past the "teens" and "young adults" categories. they were eventually brought back by the judges, and became a five person girl group on july 7, 2012. they eventually came third on the show on december 20, 2012, losing to second-place winner carly rose sonenclar, and winner tate stevens.