Idol winner not fazed by Sir Howard's comments

Rosita Vai

New Zealand Idol winner Rosita Vai says she can't wait to meet Sir Howard Morrison, despite his scathing comments earlier this week that she was too fat to have a career in music.

"He's already apologised and I'm sweet with that. His comments didn't faze me. He's entitled to his own opinion so it's cool. He's a great figure in New Zealand history and I can't wait to meet him."

However, Vai said it was a shock to see her face on the front page of a Sunday newspaper after Sir Howard Morrison's comments were made.

"I thought they would have had something about terrorists on the front page, you know the bigger things in life. There's greater news than that."

Vai said she wouldn't bring up Sir Howard Morrison's comments if she did meet him.

"It's old news now. All gone."

Soul diva Vai said she didn't think her life would change due to her new found fame.

"My mum said to me last night 'You are New Zealand Idol Rosita, but at home you can still do the dishes,"' Vai said.

The fame could be "crazy" at times, but Vai said she was coping well with it.

"It's never been about the fame anyway. It's always been about getting out there and doing what I love - singing and writing my own music and I can't wait for that." And did she ever vote for herself? "No way!" Vai said bursting out laughing.

"I was never tempted to and I left it to the nation to decide. Nik and I had decided to leave it to the public."

The most challenging part of being on Idol was being away from her friends and family.

"The hardest thing was being away from my own reality. I missed home a lot and only got to see my friends and family briefly."

If Vai could have chosen a winner other than herself, she would have chosen Carlson.

"Nik definitely, but you know all the idols were great. Even in the top 24 there was so much great talent and it just shows you need more competitions like this to enhance the talent of New Zealand because there is so much talent out there."

Vai isn't concerned about fading into obscurity after the hype of Idol dies down.

"I'm just gonna leave it in God's hands and ride the wave," said Vai, whose favourite book is the Bible.

As for returning to her job as a debt collector, Vai said she still hadn't spoken to her boss.

"I don't know. I need to talk to my boss and see what's gonna happen. It could be difficult trying to sort out my priorities now," she said.

Vai will start recording her new album in the next few days.

- NZPA