Now that you are famous, are people crazy when you show up someplace?
I honestly don’t consider myself famous. Honestly. I think that being on American Idol is not really real fame. To me it’s kind of like a little bit of exposure and publicity. I think fame comes from actually doing something big with your career. Somebody like Beyonce, Alicia Keys, etc… They’re famous. But I guess people consider me being famous and so when they see me, yes people get very excited, take pictures, autographs… the whole 9 yards. Once I was eating pizza and this guy started freaking out and asked me to sit with him… I did… but it was strange.

Where do you shop?
Oh, gosh. I love shopping! I shop everywhere. I don’t really have a particular place to shop. See, I love clothes and I love style, but I don’t like to dress or be like everyone else, so I like to find stores and clothes that are unique and different. If I shop at a store where everyone shops then I’ll have something that somebody else has. So I really don’t have a particular place I shop at. I do like Nordstroms for shoes, because believe me I love shoes! I also shop at Finish Line, Foot Locker and other places for shoes, and little boutique shoe stores. Clothes is a whole ‘nother story…

What is your lucky number?
My lucky number I would have to say is 7. I don’t actually believe in luck, because I am a Christian, but 7 is the Lord’s number and it’s in the Bible so it’s my number too. Plus, I was number 7 twice on American Idol. In my group when I was still in the top 32 and when I was back for the wild card show!!!! God was looking out for me!

What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is RED!!! I also like this blue color… I don’t really know how to describe the exact shade. I guess you could say it was almost the same color blue as the shoes I wore when I sang “I Have Nothing.”


What is JPL really like?
I really prefer not to comment on this question. Sorry guys! He’s a nice guy.

Was Camile really shy when you first met her?
Camile is nobody’s shy!! HAHAHA. She is the loudest most crazy girl ever. I love that girl so much. We became really close because we honestly are so much alike and we feel like we’re soul sisters. That girl is not shy.

Who was your closest friend on AI?
Before I made it to the top 12 my closest friend was Elizabeth LeTendre. We still talk occasionally and that’s still my dogg for life. I am also very close with LaToya since my group and she is probably the one I’m closest with in the top 12. I am also super close with Camile because we are so much alike as far as singing, our styles, and who we admire and how we act. Diana and I have gotten pretty close, in fact I’m going to stay with her at Christmas time. Fantasia and I are close as well. During the Finale I spent a lot of time with Jasmine – she is fun and very sweet.

Which AI Performance were you most happy with?
My fav. AI performance was “I have Nothing.” I honestly think I did my best on that one. Well, not my best as to what I can really do, because you guys aren’t ready for me yet. LOL. No, but really, I haven’t shown you half of what I can do, but out of the performances I did on AI that would have to be my favorite.

Have you been reading the FOX Message boards?
Yes, I do read the message boards. We are told not to, but of course curiosity kills the cat… we all read them at some point. I actually read them a lot. I would get sad and hurt a lot by the things that some people would say about me. So I thank you for standing up for me and for being my back bone!!! Love you guys.

Which other Fan site message boards do you read?
I am not a message board person. In fact I never read a message board in my life before AI. So the only ones I read were the ones on the main website.

Can you tell us anything about the producers you met with in LA?
I could, but I don’t really want to say anything before it actually happens. It isn’t final yet, so I don’t wanna spill any beans, so to speak. I’ll just say that they are very nice and excited to work with me, and I am with them. I hope everything works out. Keep me in your prayers.

Have you written any songs of your own?
No. I don’t really write. I haven’t quite worked on that area yet. I really want to learn, and I know I have the ability to and I will one day real soon. I can play the piano, so I’m going to re-visit that and learn how to play by ear and I also want to learn how to play the acoustic guitar so I can use that as well.

Do you have a recording contract?
No… But, I will really soon. I believe the Lord is working in mysterious ways and He has a plan. Believe me. As of right now, I do not have a contract. In reality, it takes time to get there.

When are you going to have a CD?
I will have a CD as soon as I get my contract and make it happen. I’m still in contract with AI so I’m waiting until that goes away for me to work things out. It ends in August.

What was the happiest experience you had on AI?
The happiest experience that I had on AI was being able to get a taste of what it’s like to be in the spotlight and do what I love to do. I got a small sample of the fame and the excitement that comes along with being a performer and I am so blessed that I got to see what it was like. I figure this was a test to see how much I really want this and if it’s something I really want to do with my life. My answer is YES. It was amazing. I had the best time being on stage, singing, performing, getting all glammed up haha. No, but really! It was amazing and so much fun. Plus I met some great people in process and these are life long friends that I will have forever!

What is the biggest lesson you learned on AI?
This one is a true lesson that I have no problem answering. The biggest lesson I learned was to always listen to yourself first. Listen to your heart and your soul. Nobody knows you better than yourself and nobody can tell you how to act or what to do or anything but yourself. People may think they know, but they don’t. No matter how superior they are or how much older or wiser they may think they are, only I know what’s best for me and they may give their input and try to help, but in the end I have to do what’s in my heart and what I know is right. Always stick to your gut feeling, because in the end that’s what will get you the farthest. That’s always what ends up being right!

Now that you are home in Seattle , are you singing in the choir again?
No, I have stopped singing in the choir. It was very time consuming and I really didn’t have much time for myself or for my career. But don’t get me wrong, some of the best times of my life were spent with the choir. And I still keep in touch with the members.

Have you read the story “Lady Leah of Idolnia?”
No, I haven’t yet, but I should get on that. I really don’t spend much time on the Internet. I check my email and that’s about it. I also go there if I have to do homework. But I’ll have to go and check it out the story…

Have you played your web video game?
This would be the same as above. Also, my computer is really slow, so the game might not work so well!!!

Do you think that your Bulgarian background was of advantage or disadvantage to you on AI?
Definitely disadvantage. I really didn’t mean for it to get as blown up as it was. I only mentioned it at first because before we auditioned we were asked what was something unique and different about us, so I chose that. Then the producers chose to show it on television over and over after that. They thought that it was interesting. Every interview and question had to be connected to that and everybody started getting some sort of hatred towards me because I wasn’t “American” which isn’t true. I definitely am, but the way it was portrayed on TV was that I was a foreigner and an immigrant. I honestly think that’s why some people didn’t vote for me. It’s kind of sad actually.

What did you guys do and how did you feel on the first reunion rehearsal and how did everyone react to it and each other?
The first reunion rehearsal when we came back for the finale was the best!!!! We acted as though we never even left each other. We are one big happy family. In fact, we were so excited to be back together that we kept getting in trouble and getting yelled at because we were talking all the time, joking around and laughing because we missed each other so much. It was great! I loved it.

You go to a high school with predominantly African-American students. You also sing in a gospel choir. How do you relate to the Black experience in the U.S. and the problem of racism?
Wow, this is a deep question. A good one at that. I actually don’t hang out with or have very many close white friends. Most of my friends are African-American and those are the people I feel most accepted and comfortable with. I am a very outgoing person and I know most everybody in my school and I love them all, but I just relate and associate with African-Americans more that with Whites. All of our close family friends are white and so I am very happy to have a side of both worlds rather than just one and be blind to the culture and ways of other races. As far as relating to the black experience in the U.S. and the problem with racism I see a lot of it hands on because of the people I’m with all the time. Whites tend to be blind by the fact that racism still exists in our country. A lot of white people think that everything is fine, when in fact it’s not. I have been with my friends out and they will get treated much differently because they are black and that’s not fair. Whether it would be at restaurants, shopping malls, movie theatres or anywhere we might go, somebody will do something that is inappropriate. I myself have been subject to this because I would be with them. Also, with my choir, many times my choir director would tell us about how people won’t want us to sing somewhere or go anywhere because we have too many black people and we need to bring more whites. Many, many other conflicts and occurrences have happened. It’s actually really sad, and I wish it would stop rather than having children grow up in this world and following the example of their parents and it will keep going on forever. I am glad that my eyes are open to it and I can appreciate people from all different backgrounds. I am happy with who I am as a persona and I am very happy with my lifestyle and my friends, as well as the people who we have chose to surround us as family.

Do you have any successful immigrant as a role model?
No. I don’t really know any immigrants that are successful. I guess my mother. She would have to be my role model and source of strength and I owe her the world and more.

Can you sing any Bulgarian songs?
No. I can’t speak Bulgarian, I can only understand it. Although when I was little my mom and I went back to Bulgaria for her to have a reunion concert with her group and I learned all the songs she sang without having a clue what they meant. haha. I know a lullaby in Bulgarian actually.

What do you think about the current political, social, and economic situation in Bulgaria ?
I know this probably sounds very ignorant, but I don’t’ really know what’s going on in Bulgaria right now. I know a little bit that it’s a economically struggling country. I’m not into politics or economics at all, and I have no clue. I only know what it was like for my parents when they were growing up.

What are your plans for the future? Are you going to pursue music, or are you going to college? And if so, what are you going to study?
As of right now, I don’t know what my future holds. I am hoping that my career will jump off really soon. I am so hungry to make a career and sing and perform and make records and entertain. Now that my name is known and people know who I am more or less I would love to move on to the next step. So, with that said, I am hoping to start my career. I will still be applying to colleges though because my senior year is starting soon and I need to be safe. I can always go to school and pursue the career at the same time. If I do get to go I would love to attend a music college somewhere on the East Coast, preferably New York. That is my favorite city and I would love to live and be in that amazing and artistic, enriching, intellectual city. If not New York, then I want to attend Berkelee College of Music in Boston. I will study voice and performance.

How come we don't see or hear about your dad?
I’d rather not discuss that right now. Maybe someday when I get famous and I have my in depth interview with Barbara Walters, then I’ll talk about it. Right now is not the time.

I heard somewhere that you might be moving to LA... what are you going to pursue?
My mom was thinking about moving there. Honestly, I don’t really want to, I’d much rather move to NYC. If we did move to L.A. it would be to pursue my career, because nothing happens in Seattle.

Can you tell us what you alluded to in your message on the AI/prospero board concerning song choices and not following your heart?
I would love to answer that question but I don’t feel it’s appropriate right now. Again, that will be for my Barbara Walters interview.

Is “jasminetay7” really a friend of yours that ate Easter dinner with you?
Yes, she is. She is a relative of one of my close friends.

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