And now for the real competition: Quiffed X Factor USA judge Nicole wows in short keyhole dress as Paula covers up in black

There was also a battle in the style stakes between female judges Nicole Scherzinger, 33, and Paula Abdul, 49.

Nicole just about pipped Paula to the post, pouring her stunning figure into a short, white keyhole dress with a cut out triangular panel around the bust.

Sexy ladies: Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul arrive on stage for part one of this week's X Factor USA grand finale. Nicole looked sexy in a white keyhole dress while Paula went for a long black dress

Styled within an inch of their lives: The judges take their seats, with Nicole having her hair styled into a retro quiff while Paula wore her tresses loose

Paula, meanwhile, went for a long classic black dress with twist, with a cutaway sections on top over sheer material.

She wore her hair long and looked minuscule in the ensemble as she confidently strode out on to the stage with the other judges.

Making an entrance: Paula and Nicole flanked by fellow judges Simon Cowell and LA Reid, who looked dapper in suits

Finalists Melanie Amaro, Josh Krajcik and Chris Rene all took to the stage to perform two songs each, including a duet with R Kelly, Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne respectively.

And no doubt Nicole and Paula will have another pair of eye-catching outfits to wear to mark the occasion.

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Nicole looks so desperate to stand out. She knows she won't be back next year as a judge and she can't even get her US record label to agree a date for her new album's release in the States.

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