"The Only Thing I'm Being Best At is At Being Me": Interviews with Melissa O'Neil and Rex Goudie of Canadian Idol 3.

Melissa and Rex finished in the number one and two positions in this season of Canadian Idol. Both of them should be extremely proud of themselves for what they accomplished this summer. I spoke to each of them after the finale, and instead of doing a question and answer interview - which they do about 30 of following the show, we just casually talked.

Rex was the most down-to-earth person I think I've ever run into. I was a little worried, at first, that I may have trouble understanding his accent but it wasn't a problem.

Thinking back to what Jake said at the finale (hoping Rex didn't go back home and forget about a music career), I asked Rex if he was planning on going back to Newfoundland or if he was going to stick around in Toronto for a bit. He enthusiastically told me that he's heading back to Newfoundland. "I need to go home and get my hands dirty!" He did say, however, that "many doors have been kicked open" for him.

Rex's family is an incredibly tight-knit group and he misses them quite a bit. He was thrilled to see his father after the finale. He said both of his parents are elated with his finish in the show. Considering it started out as a dare from his cousin, I think he's done really well! When Rex did get a chance to see his father, he told me his dad grabbed him and held him and picked him up in the air and said, "Now you need to come home, I need some trucks greased!"

While Rex is ready to go home and get back to working on trucks, he also said he wants to relax a bit. It's been a whirlwind of a summer. Rex and I also discussed sports quite a bit - we share a crazy love of hockey. His favourite team is The Toronto Maple Leafs (hence his Leafs' jersey at the finale) and his favourite player is Gary Roberts. Felix Potvin is up there as well.

Rex and I talked about his journey through the Top 10 and how he seemed to falter a bit. He thanked me for being honest enough to actually tell him that he didn't do well at times. He also said that he hopes that he didn't get to the end because of his looks and that people weren't voting for him just because of that. It bothered him that he kept hearing that. He hoped it was based on his talent yet humbly added, "The only thing I'm best at is at being me."

He gave a heartfelt thank you to everyone out there that watched and voted. Rex sounded like he was on top of the world but didn't seem to have changed one tiny bit from who he really is and who he was walking into the competition. His advice to future Idols should surprise no one. He adjusted his lucky white hat and said, "Be true to who you are."

Melissa, our winner, was just as endearing and down-to-earth as Rex. And, even though Melissa is barely 17, her maturity is astounding. It came through just as clearly as when she was singing on stage. The girl that has won Canadian Idol 3 and the hearts of all Canadians just started singing a few years ago. Since then, she has been involved in several musicals in school along with playing basketball and rugby. She also works at a daycare centre. She's one busy girl! And it's only going to get busier.

Being the smart, level-headed girl that she is, Melissa is not taking any time off from school. Heading into her last year of high school but not able to return home for quite some time, Melissa will study through correspondence courses while working on her album. She said she is feeling "fanastic!" and is anxious to get started on everything. She said she has a few more appearances to make but would be able to get to work in a couple of days.

In the long run, or as Melissa puts it "in fifty years from now, I want to be a teacher." For now, she's going with the flow of everything that is happening in her life and is thrilled to be in such a great position; but, her ultimate goal is to become a teacher. Let's hope it's a music teacher.

Melissa is an adorable girl who, before Idol says she would "pretend I'm a superstar with my little brother as my bodyguard." Melissa did sound a little worn out when I spoke to her but she said it was just from all the screaming and talking the night before. Her enthusiasm was in high gear and she has a great sense of humour that I wish would have come out a little more in the editing of the show.

Like Rex, Melissa couldn't thank the public enough for watching and voting her as this year's Canadian Idol. "Thank you following along and thank you for everything." She also wanted her fans to know "Christmas is coming! I'm gonna have presents!"

I want to thank Melissa and Rex for taking the time to talk to us here at FoxesonIdol. I wish them both the best of luck for the future.

You can send Paris your comments to pariscosby@hotmail.com.

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