By Jackie Brygel
She may have been the first of the top 12 to be eliminated from Australian Idol, but talented 18-year-old singer Ashleigh Toole promises we certainly haven’t seen the last of her.
How are you feeling? You must be more than a little disappointed.
Yes, I definitely am very upset, but these things happen and I just have to get back up on the horse and keep going.
All of the judges hailed you as the one to watch. Did their feedback make it even more of a shock when your name was called?
It was hard. I just thought ‘I really wanted to be there a bit longer’. But it goes to show that anything can happen and if you do get positive comments from the judges, that doesn’t mean that people at home are going to enjoy it. You just have to be ready for anything.
You seem to have such a mature attitude for someone who’s only 18…
Well, it’s not easy and sometimes it has become a bit too much. We’re only human and sometimes you just have to let go and have a cry. I think when you get this close to your dream and then it gets ripped out from underneath you, it is hard – not that you’re not still going to get there.
Are you still at school?
I was, but I actually dropped out last week just as I got into the top 12. I was supposed to be doing my HSC.
Will you return to school now?
I really believe that I’ve had a great opportunity to get out there on television and get some exposure, so I’m going to try and use it as best I can. If I have to go and start doing gigs and getting known again, then that’s what I’m going to do. I think it’s really important for me to focus on that. Education is important, but it’s always there, whereas something like this only comes once, so you have to run with it.
When the competition kicked off, you were quoted as saying you were the only one deep down who really wanted this. Do you stand by those words?
I think I feel that I’ve always been so determined and I’ve never wanted to put one foot wrong. I wanted it so much that I would really do everything I could to get there. I want to be professional and taken seriously and not waste people’s time. That’s what I felt – that I wouldn’t let anything jeopardise my chances of living my dream. But I never wanted to come across as big-headed or thinking I’m better than anyone else, because that’s not the case at all.
There’s a special guy in your life. Tell us about him.
His name’s Marcus. He came to all the shows and he’s been really supportive and this week he was going to Japan for a holiday. He didn’t really want to go, but I said ‘No, no, you go, you go’. He didn’t know when I got voted off and he actually looked it up on Google a few hours later, and he was trying to get in contact with me. I ended up getting a phone call from someone that had got in contact with him and he said to tell them that he loves me.
Was Marcus at school with you?
No, he’s a bit older than me. I met him through part-time work. He’s 24.
It sounds quite serious?
It’s only been about two months, but we’ve known each for about five or six months. I’m very lucky to have him.
How will you remember your Australian Idol experience?
My Idol experience was probably one of the most amazing and challenging experiences I think I’ll ever come across. It really did change my life – I’ve come out a different person.
What are your plans now?
First of all, to get a bit of sleep! I want to look back on my performances and see what I can improve on. I want to hear the feedback and write down my goals of where I want to be.
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