The worst part would have to be when I got sick in week two. My voice was just not there and I couldn’t sing. I couldn’t rehearse or do anything. So I just had to save my voice for the performance. Luckily, I managed to get through it.
Tell me about your new album.
The album has most of the songs I sang during The X Factor live shows. It also includes my single Stand By You and my audition song, Yesterday, by The Beatles. It really means a lot to me because it’s my journey of how I got here, and just remembering it makes me really happy and reminds me of the improvement … It’s No. 1 in a lot of countries so I’m so happy.
Who do you admire and look up to in the music industry?
I admire Jessica Mauboy. I still can’t believe I got to duet with her. Celine Dion is my other inspiration because her voice is really, really cool and some people are saying that we have similar tone in our voices. Taylor Swift is really cool.
What was it like to work with Ronan Keating?
He’s so amazing. Like, every week we had so much fun together. He’s really funny … He is really knowledgeable in singing. If there is one note that wasn’t there, he would notice straight away. He has the ear and you can’t fool him. But he’s always there for me and he just supported me all the way.
What was the best advice he gave you?
I get a lot of [marriage] proposals online. But I don’t take them seriously or I don’t answer them. They’re like: “Marry me, please. I love you so much. I think I just fell in love with you.” I’m just like “What the heck? I’m only 15.”
Do you have a boyfriend?
No [laughs]. I just want to focus on my music now. I don’t want to get distracted.
What are your hobbies outside singing?
Tennis. I love tennis so much. I love Rafael Nadal. He’s amazing. I dance, but I didn’t get to show it much on The X Factor. And I also love to draw and cook.
What’s your signature dish?
Oh, it has to be brownies.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Hopefully I can see myself as an international star. It’s my dream. Hopefully I’ll be touring around the world as well … I just want to sell a lot of my music and make others happy and inspire them as well.
Winning The X Factor will open so many other doors. Do you have any aspirations aside from singing?
Yeah. I’m not sure if I’m good at acting, but I’d like to try it one day. Hopefully, I can do a career in the Philippines as well because most of the Filipino singers are actors as well. Yeah, I’d like to try that.
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