Cher Lloyd finds love with new boyfriend

X Factor runner-up Cher Lloyd has found love with 20-year-old ‘socialite’ Karim Roundi – much to Simon Cowell’s disdain.

The 17-year-old rapper met Karim, a friend of fellow contestant Paije Richardson, backstage after the ITV show and has been seeing him in secret ever since.

Essex boy Karim runs a music blog, Our Life Our London, and is known locally as a ‘socialite’ for his regular appearances on the club scene.

A source told The Sun: “They met after one of the shows when Paije and Cher both performed.

“They kept in touch and hooked up properly after the final when she whisked him back to the May Fair hotel in London.

“They’re besotted with each other. He’s been saying he wants to move in with her as she’s moving to London for her music.”

The pair have also been publicly exchanging flirtatious tweets. Karim even posted a picture of a mannequin which he claims Paije gave him as a ‘Cher substitute’ for when he misses her.

But news of the blossoming romance will come as a shock for Simon Cowell – who recently signed Cher to his Syco label – as he prefers acts to be single as it makes them more marketable.

Cher – who is working with Jay-Z and Will.I.Am on her debut solo album – jetted off to the States this week to record new material.

A spokesperson for Cher confirmed that her and Karim are an item.