You made it to the final but got booted off first, how are you feeling?
Good. Really, good. I knew I was going off first.
Watching the online reaction during Saturday's show there did seem to be a sudden Cher resurgence...
The thing is, the people that like me just say they like me. They didn't pick up the phone.
You seemed pretty calm when they read out your name.
Erm... (sounds thoughtful) This isn't a competition, this is a platform. I believe that (pauses thoughtfully again) things always happen for a reason and who says you have to win to be bigger than this whole thing? Who says that?
So what's next for you?
I've always said that I want to rule the world... see you're laughing now, but I tell you, if you put your mind to it, you can do whatever you want.
So what IS next?
I never like to say because I don't want to jinx it. I just like to let it happen. I think it's jinxed if you say it.
And what about Cheryl - do you think you'll keep in touch?
Proberly. You never know. We're all human beings. We're all very equal. If people decide to stay in touch with me I'm very, very happy. There's lots of people out there I want to stay in touch with.
Do you think the show "got" what you're about, musically?
No. Some weeks they did, some weeks they didn't . But I understand that it was a big risk them letting me on the show but I hope that The X Factor has broken out of being stereotypical. I hope to God that next year young girls pluck up the courage to go on and just do whatever their heart tells them to stay strong and thick skinned.
What's been your best bit?
Walking on stage with Will.i.am. I can't ever top that. Never, ever.
Was he nice to you backstage?
Of course he was. He wasn't going to be horrible just before we go on, was he?
We were hoping Nicki Minaj was going to come over and sing with you...
Watch this space. That's all I'm saying.
Good. Really, good. I knew I was going off first.
Watching the online reaction during Saturday's show there did seem to be a sudden Cher resurgence...
The thing is, the people that like me just say they like me. They didn't pick up the phone.
You seemed pretty calm when they read out your name.
Erm... (sounds thoughtful) This isn't a competition, this is a platform. I believe that (pauses thoughtfully again) things always happen for a reason and who says you have to win to be bigger than this whole thing? Who says that?
So what's next for you?
I've always said that I want to rule the world... see you're laughing now, but I tell you, if you put your mind to it, you can do whatever you want.
So what IS next?
I never like to say because I don't want to jinx it. I just like to let it happen. I think it's jinxed if you say it.
And what about Cheryl - do you think you'll keep in touch?
Proberly. You never know. We're all human beings. We're all very equal. If people decide to stay in touch with me I'm very, very happy. There's lots of people out there I want to stay in touch with.
Do you think the show "got" what you're about, musically?
No. Some weeks they did, some weeks they didn't . But I understand that it was a big risk them letting me on the show but I hope that The X Factor has broken out of being stereotypical. I hope to God that next year young girls pluck up the courage to go on and just do whatever their heart tells them to stay strong and thick skinned.
What's been your best bit?
Walking on stage with Will.i.am. I can't ever top that. Never, ever.
Was he nice to you backstage?
Of course he was. He wasn't going to be horrible just before we go on, was he?
We were hoping Nicki Minaj was going to come over and sing with you...
Watch this space. That's all I'm saying.