When Rochester native Jillian Jensen is feeling nervous about singing on national TV, she turns to Eminem.

“The last moment before I go onstage I listen to ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem,” Jensen said. “Whatever you’re thinking, however negative, the song makes me forget about it.”

Twenty-year-old Jensen and fellow Rochester native Jennel Garcia are two of 60 contestants on FOX’s talent TV show “The X Factor.”

Last year, Jensen was performing in Florida with the American Idol Experience, a theme park attraction at Walt Disney World, when she decided to try out for the show.

She made it past the preliminary round of auditions and then she made Simon Cowell cry.

Jensen’s rendition of the ballad “Who You Are” by Jessie J brought tears to Cowell’s eyes during her first performance.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Simon show that kind of emotion,” Jensen said. “It was extremely surreal.”

Garcia’s journey to the show came as a surprise to her.

“The day before the auditions in Providence, one of my best friends said: ‘Come on, you’re going.’ I didn’t think much would come out of it, but it did,” said 18-year-old Garcia.

Once she made it past the first round of auditions, Garcia got to showcase her voice in front of “X Factor” judges Cowell, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and L.A. Reid.

Her cover of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ “If I Was From Paris,” earned her rave reviews from the judges and allowed her to show off her passion for rock and roll.

“My idols are Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Melissa Etheridge – the list goes on,” Garcia said. “I’m really into rock and roll. ‘Paris’ is exactly the kind of music I want to put out.”

Last Thursday, Garcia's cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," was not well-received by the judges.

In critiquing her performance, Cowell said, "I don't know why you chose that song."

Garcia said she tries to take something away from the experience.

“I still get nervous but the judges criticism helps a lot,” Garcia said. “What they say is something I can learn from.”

For Jensen, each performance is a chance to leave her mark on a song.

“I find different ways to make every song I do new to me,” Jensen said. “I try to do a different vocal ad-lib in a different spot and make it fresh. Onstage, I just do what feels natural.”

As for the other contestants, both girls said they think of the group as “one huge family.”

“Everyone gets along really great,” Garcia said. “We’re all pretty friendly and hang out offstage.”

“I personally like to jam with the contestants,” Jensen said. “I grab my guitar, we hang out by the pool and just jam. We’re all each other has and everyone is so talented. I want to enjoy that.”

There are 60 contestants left and only 24 will move on to the next round of the competition. The winner will receive a $5 million recording contract.

While the Rochester girls hope to move forward, both say they are thrilled with the opportunity to be on the show.

“I’m just letting what will be happen,” Jensen said. “At the end of the day all you can do is your best. It’s not worth making yourself crazy.”

To check the girls' singing, watch the video auditions from the show below.