Simone Battle Dies: G.R.L. Singer and Former X Factor Contestant Was 25

The news was confirmed by her record companies and Robin Antin, founder of G.R.L. and the Pussycat Dolls groups, on Saturday, Sept. 6

Simone Battle, a member of G.R.L. and a former contestant on the U.S. version of The X Factor, has died at age 25.

The news was confirmed by the management and record companies and founder of the female pop group on Saturday, Sept. 6. The cause of her death was not revealed and her family has not commented.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of Simone Battle of G.R.L.," Reign Deer Entertainment, the management firm led by Larry Rudolph, Robin Antin, Kemosabe Records and RCA Records said in a joint statement to E! News. "Simone was an exceptional young talent and human being, and we are all devastated to learn of her passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this time."

G.R.L's four other members are ,Paula Van Oppen, Lauren Bennett, Emmalyn Estrada and Natasha Slayton. The group responded to the news about Battle's death on Twitter.

Words cannot express the depth of our loss. Simone's incredible talent was only surpassed by the size of her heart.

? G.R.L. (@grl) September 6, 2014

We will carry her memory with us in everything we do.

? G.R.L. (@grl) September 6, 2014

Battle, who grew up in Los Angeles and was a former music student of the University of Southern California, had appeared on the debut season of the FOX singing competition series The X Factor in 2011. She was mentored on the show by judge and franchise creator Simon Cowell. She released the single and music video "He Likes Boys"  that October.

She later joined a new female pop group founded by Antin, founder of the Pussycat Dolls. The new ensemble became known as G.R.L. The group released a debut single, "Ugly Heart," in June.

One of Battle's childhood friends, Lauren Jones, told E! News that the singer was "destined" to become a star.

"I've known Simone since high school and I just have always known her to be such a confident and driven young woman," she said. "It was an honor to watch her grow as a person along with her gift for performing. She was truly a rare and unique beauty from the inside out. She will be missed."

"She had a beautiful voice to match a beautiful girl," she added.

Another one of Battle's friends also talked about the singer, calling her death "shocking."

"Simone was full of life," the friend said. "Accomplishing all of her goals and dreams. She was so talented, a star in every sense of the word. I've never encountered such fierce drive. You just knew she would be a star, and she was so gracious. It's hard to grasp she's gone. She will be incredibly missed."

(Pictured below: L-R: G.R.L. singers Paula Van Oppen, Lauren Bennett, Emmalyn Estrada, Natasha Slayton and Simone Battle appear in Beverly Hills, California on July 19.)

—Reporting by Linda Kim, Lindsey Caldwell and Mike Vulpo