Quick-fire questions with Diana Vickers
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Diana Vickers burst onto the scene in 2008's X Factor and has just won Best Newcomer at the Whatsonstage Awards for her West End role in Little Voice. She spoke to iVillage.co.uk about her latest accolade and why she was happy to leave reality TV behind
How does it feel to have been named Best Newcomer?
Diana Vickers: I feel so thrilled and really overwhelmed. To get nominated was such an honour, let alone win the award! I really thank all the public who voted for me. It's wonderful to be recognised for something I put so much effort into.
Do you think the fact that you didn't win the X Factor actually helped your career?
Diana Vickers: Definitely. I've had time to grow, write my own music, work with such an incredible array of artists and producers.
It suited me to take the alternative route that I seemed to find myself on after coming out of the X Factor, at the stage that I did. I mean, if I had won, I probably wouldn't have been able to do Little Voice. By not winning, it meant I could step back and find my sound, which took a bit of time and paid off, I hope!
Simon Cowell famously described your style as 'marmite' - i.e. people will either love you or hate you. Do you think that was a fair assessment?
Diana Vickers: I think that's one person's opinion but I do like the idea of being like marmite. I'd rather some people be so incredibly enthusiastic about me and my music, and some people passionately hate me, then for everyone to just think 'ah, she's alright.' That's why my fans are so amazingly loyal!
Why do you think the general public seems willing to vote on shows such as the X Factor in their droves but often don't feel compelled to vote in a General Election?
Diana Vickers: I think the public can relate a lot to the contestants and enjoy following the journey through the show and feel like they really know them and get really passionate about it all.
Plus people get so drawn into the X Factor - it's so entertaining and emotional. You feel like you're all in it together in a way. In contrast, the General Election can be quite a dry subject and it's hard to connect to the politicians. With young people especially, I don't think they understand politics much or aren't particularly interested at this stage of their lives.
Do you see your future more as a stage performer or as a recording artist?
Diana Vickers: Who knows what the future holds? But for the next few years my full concentration is on my music and eventually, when the time is right, I would love to do another play.
In an ideal world, where would you be and what would you be doing this time next year?
Diana Vickers: I would love to be over the moon about the success of my first album and ready to start knuckling down to creating my second album. And I'd be at my mum's house in Accrington, in the kitchen with a brew and a biscuit, relaxing before the madness starts all over again!
If you had one beauty tip that you swear by, what would it be?
Diana Vickers: After a hot shower, lock in the moisture with Body Shop's Strawberry Body Butter. You smell good enough to eat and your as smooth as a baby's bum!
Diana Vickers releases her debut single, Once, on April 19th through RCA Records
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