She’s been described as musical marmite, she missed a week of live shows due to laryngitis, and on Saturday, Diana Vickers left the X Factor after losing out in the public vote.

You’d think she’d be devastated: getting to the semi-final and being in her strongest form in weeks, but Diana is every bit as positive as we’ve been told repeatedly by her admirers throughout this competition.

Hi Diana! How are you feeling this morning?

Heeeyyyy! You know, I’m feeling fine, I’m quite content, and I’m just excited about starting my new life basically.

We’ve been watching every week, and everything seemed to be going so well for you until the week you got laryngitis. Then for a few weeks, things didn’t go so well for you.

Well, you know, it knocked my confidence a lot and it took me a while to build it back up. And I was never the most confident girl anyway – it took a lot of guts, because everybody had an opinion on it. But people did support me, and thanks so much to them, because they really had faith in me.

I mean, I stayed for so many weeks after that and it just showed that people were behind me and backing me. It was my fate – it happened, and I believe everything happens for a reason, and I believe I’ve dealt with it well. Obviously it knocked my confidence a bit, but that’s just the way it goes.

Were you aware that there was a tabloid controversy at the time?

Yeah, but I knew that was gonna happen. But it was obvious I wanted to go out there that Saturday night and I cried my heart out when I couldn’t. But the littlest thing goes in the tabloids, and I knew this was quite a big deal and it was going to be everywhere. The people that loved stuck by me, and the folk who didn’t like me criticised me.

For me, although you were one of the youngest contestants, you probably had the most unique singing style in the competition. Was that something you developed consciously?

You know, when I was younger, I was singing that way, and then listening to various artists who influenced me and everything. I was just being me, and I was afraid a lot of people would judge me, but a lot of people liked it and appreciated me.

What singers influenced that style of singing?

I’m into male singers – I love James Blunt, James Morrison and bands like Snow Patrol and Coldplay, things like that. I’ve only recently got into The Cranberries and Blondie. I love various types of artists, but mostly males.

You also had Gary Barlow in the Take That week making hints about signing you…

Yeah, I think Gary was having a giggle, but you know it was fun and he’s a lovely guy. You never know, fingers crossed!

Buy you know Gary has A&R responsibilities now, he’s actually out signing new talent…

Oh, really? Wow! You can never take anything too seriously, though. I’m just excited and looking forward to what’s to come. It’s so exciting.

Some people are devastated at you being voted off, but I think in reality this could be a good opportunity for you.

Yeah, you know, the other day they told us there could only be one winner and we’d all have to come off. You’ve just got to see what happens – X Factor gets you out there and it’s made me realise what I love and what I want to do. It’s given me exposure, which is great and I’ve got people behind me now. And it’s great, I just want to see what happens.

What have been your favourite songs from the series that you’ve sung, and which didn’t you like?

I loved singing White Flag and I enjoyed singing Call Me. I loved the first live show when I sang With or Without You and when I did Man In The Mirror. The best songs are the ones that you get lost in, that you don’t even have to think about singing. I got lost in those ones.

I think the week I got back from having laryngitis and had to sing Yellow was a bad week.

Was Coldplay a bad song choice for you?

I wasn’t going to sing a song I wasn’t comfortable with, and we chose the Coldplay song the night before the live show. But it was something that I enjoyed and I liked that song, and I survived until the next week, and that’s all that matters really.

Yeah, I suppose that’s one thing to remember – even though you had a couple of bad weeks, people were still behind you and still voting for you.

Yeah, I mean, even now people are adding to my fan page and it’s over! Honestly, everyone supporting me has been incredible, and people coming up to me saying “I voted for you!” I say, thank you, because it’s a fact that I wouldn’t have got so far without people’s votes.

One of the first things we noticed about you were your barefoot performances. How did that come about?

I do that because I always run around with no shoes on. In the studio, people are always going “Diana, put your shoes on.” but I hate having shoes on. I’d rather be free! When I’m onstage wearing big stillettoes, it’s something to worry about, you feel awkward. I like just moving the way I do and being natural and being comfortable onstage.

I’d hate to feel wooden because I was worried about falling over when I’m walking.

Were you happy about how you were styled on the show?

Yeah, I loved it. I think they got me down to a “T”. Every outfit I loved. When you’re on that show, you need all the confidence you can get, and the stylist Faye really worked with me. And when you feel your best, you really perform your best. That’s how she made me feel.

OK, I can’t let this interview pass without telling you that a couple of the guys on our forum are head over heels in love with you…

Awwwww, really? Send them my love, would you?

Did it ever cross your mind that you’d have a male fanbase?

Never! Ever, ever, ever! Not at all! It’s very strange! You forget what audiences you appeal to and stuff. It’s just so strange, and there are people who come and see us and they’re lovely.

I know it’s early days for you, and you don’t know what’s around the corner. I’d imagine you’re hoping to get signed?

Yeah, definitely. It’s all down to me now, but hopefully with the help of the people around me, I can do really, really well.

And you’re off on the X Factor tour?

Yeah, I’m so excited. I’m coming to Ireland, and I’ve never been to Ireland and I’m so excited about being with the guys, honestly. I can’t wait.

You’ve been living in the house with everyone for about three months now – you must all be very close-knit.

Yeah, we’re just like a family, we know each other really well, and everyone knows each other’s bad habits. We just know each other inside-out. It’s amazing.

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So, we wish Diana all the best for the future. I know you guys always ask what the person was like to talk to – well, Diana is every bit as kooky and excitable and friendly as she was on X Factor. It was lovely to chat with her, and I seriously expect her to be gracing our pop charts within the year!