'X Factor' USA Melanie Amaro: 'Paula and Nicole will be missed'
First season X Factor judges Abdul and Scherzinger confirmed their exits from the reality series last week, as did host Steve Jones.
Amaro - who won The X Factor in December - was asked about the change in the show's judging panel during an interview with Access Hollywood.
"Judging is a hard something and them being judges, I know they had to make some, like, big decisions on the show, but I'm just, I'm happy I had a chance to work with all of them," Amaro told the website. "They're amazing judges."
Amaro added of The X Factor's future: "[Paula and Nicole] will be missed, but I just feel as though I need to look forward to what next season's gonna bring, who [Simon Cowell] has up his sleeve to bring as a judge."
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Mariah Carey is among the stars who has been tipped to join The X Factor's judging panel. She recently received the endorsement of friend and American Idol judge Randy Jackson.
Celebrity Perez Hilton had also asked to be considered by Simon Cowell for a role on The X Factor's second season.
Last week, it was reported that Cowell has offered Beyonc a $100m contract to become an X Factor judge.
LA Reid - who judged the first season of The X Factor - recently signed on to return for the series' next run.
The X Factor premieres its second season on Fox later this year.
> Randy Jackson on Idol, Voice, X Factor: 'There's room for everyone'
> X Factor USA winner Melanie Amaro: 'Everyone was my competition'
Watch X Factor winner Melanie Amaro and Elton John's Super Bowl commercial below: