'American Idol' eliminee Sonika Vaid: I didn't really feel like an underdog, I felt I belonged there

American Idol eliminated Sonika Vaid during Thursday night's broadcast on Fox, determining the Top 4 singers on the reality competition's farewell season.


After receiving the lowest amount of home viewer votes following last week's performance show, America sent Sonika home. Sonika had landed in the bottom two with Dalton Rapattoni, a 19-year-old vocal coach from Dallas TX. It marked Sonika's third time in the bottom but Dalton's first experience being in jeopardy of elimination.

The contestants who received the most votes were Mackenzie Bourg, a 23-year-old musician from Lafayette, LA; Trent Harmon, a 25-year-old waiter from Amory, MS; and La'Porsha Renae, a 22-year-old call representative from McComb, MS. These artists therefore automatically advanced into the Top 4.

On Friday, Sonika, a 20-year-old student from Martha's Vineyard, MA, talked to Reality TV World about her American Idol experience. Below is what she had to say. Be sure to check back with us soon for more.

Reality TV World: You got very emotional after your elimination, so it seemed like you weren't really prepared for that news. Was that the case? And also, where was that emotion coming from? The timing of your ouster meant you'd miss out on the big hometown hero welcome, so I'm wondering if that played a big role.


Sonika Vaid: No, you know, I think I was just so emotional because it wasn't so much that I didn't think I was going to get cut, because I always prepare myself for that every single time we go in there. I honestly thought -- it was some time around Hollywood Week -- that I was going home, for sure.

But I think I was just crying more for the fact that this experience of sharing, like, my whole entire day with people who share the same passion as me is kind of coming to an end. I mean, I'm still going to keep in touch with them, but I won't get to see some of my best friends every day, and that's sad.

Also, just being able to work with the band. In this show, you get to work with a lot of really amazing people, so I think it was just more sadness from that and I think it was just a very in-the-moment thing. I feel like I saw it coming, to say the least, because I had been in the bottom for the past two weeks with the Judges' Save. But I definitely was prepared for it; I always prepare myself for it.

Reality TV World: There are some contestants left on Idol who have never landed in the bottom. Did you feel like you were sort of the underdog? And, if so, did that stress or extra pressure make the competition a little less enjoyable for you than it's probably been for someone like La'Porsha or Trent, who glide through week to week?

Sonika Vaid: You know, I mean, I don't really have the biggest social media following at the moment. So, there's always that kind of thing. But the people who do follow me are very engaged and very supportive. So, I didn't really feel like an underdog. I felt like I belonged there.


And, you know, we all just get along so well, that it's just like, we don't really think like that. We're just like one big family and we treat each other equally. I felt like I was part of the gang! (Laughs)

Reality TV World: We saw a few different sides of you on American Idol -- one being that you're an amazing ballad singer and another being this rocker girl with attitude. (Laughs) What can we expect from you as an artist going forward? What type of music would you like to make?

Sonika Vaid: I would definitely like to do Disney. Disney is always something that I've dreamed of. I'm not sure if that would be an option, but that would be really awesome. And then also just, like, pop. I really like pop, maybe mixed with a little R&B. But now that I've sang rock on the show, like that's always an option. But pop is something that I'm really good at to just stick to.

Reality TV World: Based on how the voting has turned out every week, have you seen a bit of a pattern in that the girls have trouble getting as many votes as the cute guys? (Laughs)

Sonika Vaid: That's definitely -- everyone thinks that, I think. (Laughs) But the guys are very talented! They do deserve it, and so does La'Porsha. I mean, all four of them really deserve to be there. They're all so talented. Yeah, I wish them the best. But the cute-guy thing is a very funny concept. (Laughs)


Reality TV World: Yes! Because I was going to ask if that idea helped you take your elimination better, like less personally, when thinking it's more of a girls against guys issue than something you did or didn't do.

Sonika Vaid: I never thought of it like that! But hey! That's funny.

Reality TV World: I'd like some insight into the selection process for songs in terms of whether you ever felt conflicted between choosing a song you wanted to do vs. one the mentors or producers wanted you to do. Did you feel pressured at times?

Sonika Vaid: You know, we usually get like -- sometimes they will give us the liberty to choose our own song, and sometimes they will suggest songs for us. And I never really had a problem with any suggestions because they are so spot on with their suggestions.

[Mentor Scott Borchetta] is really smart at picking music for us. I feel like he knows us really well, and he also knows this business very well. He's very, very intelligent. And for "Judges' Choice," the song I would've sang next week [Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You"] is also very smart too. It's right in the ballpark I would be singing in.


Reality TV World: Is there one contestant in particular you're rooting for to win, and if you're going to say all of them -- which I have a feeling you are (laughs) -- do you have a prediction of who will win? Could you take a guess?

Sonika Vaid: You know, it's funny because I couldn't answer that even if I wanted to. I genuinely think they are all so different and so talented that it's like, America has a really hard decision. I think anyone there deserves to win. They are really great.

Check back with Reality TV World soon for more from Sonika Vaid's post-American Idol interview.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski