Joanne Borgella 'American Idol' Interview
Are you sad to leave so soon?
I feel amazing to be part of Top 24 and to be part of the crop that's been the best that they've ever had. I know my vocal abilities, I know my performance strengths and I know that 23 of us are going to have to go home at the end of the day. I didn't know it was going to be the first week, but it just happened to be the first week. I seriously feel like a winner. It was just amazing to even be part of this experience.
What was the hardest part about leaving?
It's hard to say goodbye to my friends. And some people say, "Oh my God, I made lasting friends," and you think, "You just met." But when you're put in a situation and your dreams can come true within a few months -- it's pressure, it's anxiety, it's happiness, fatigue, it's all these things. You get these bonds that you would never think you could make. Anyone could see last night how hard it was for all of us to leave. Everybody was crying hysterically ... it was a beautiful moment.
You said your voice might not be what viewers expected. How so?
Usually, with a plus-size woman, you tend to think that they're gonna sing<br>neo-soul, that genre of music. love that music, but that's not the kind of performer I am. I listen to pop, R&B, <a href="http://music.aol.com/artist/celine-dion/4099/main" target="_blank'">Celine Dion, </a> <a href="http://music.aol.com/artist/whitney-houston/4519/main">Whitney Houston.</a> I love doing power ballads, but I also want to do the song that you would love to dance to in the club, and you don't usually put that with a plus-size woman.
How does 'Idol' compare to your previous reality TV experience?
I was on a show, a beauty pageant, called <a href="http://television.aol.com/show/moniques-fat-chance/429148/main" target="_blank">'Mo'Nique's F.A.T. Chance,'</a> which was amazing, and I won that show. But 'American Idol' in general ... nothing can prepare you for this. It's so amazing, it's such a whirlwind.
What's next for you -- singing, modeling or both?
'American Idol' is so huge. I know anything I want to do is going to be at my hands. Modeling, definitely. Singing, of course, number one -- I want to have an album and acting as well. I went to school for that. You're gonna see me dabbling in everything. I'm a multi-tasker. I think it's just opened like 80 billion more doors.
