I always had an idea for what I wanted to do in the future and throughout my career. This wasn't, like, me figuring out what to do after Idol. I've always known the steps in what I had to do to get where I was.

A lot of people who wanted to audition for Idol have asked me: “What should I do?” or “How to I prepare myself?” I always told them: “Just go in and believe in yourself.”

Do not let anything get in your way of chasing your dreams.

I was born in America, but I consider myself a Filipino.

I always had an idea for what I wanted to do in the future and throughout my career. This wasn't, like, me figuring out what to do after Idol. I've always known the steps in what I had to do to get where I was.

I used to have hair so long, my nickname was Pocahontas.

The thing that I did not like about being signed to a label was I unable to have control over what I wanted to do.