So, I've started a trend within my blog where I conduct Q&A sessions with The Glee Project contestants, because of their
overwhelming popularity. Last week was Lily Mae, and this week I present you with the fabulous Aylin! Enjoy!
Q:
Since TGP is more of an “inspiration” competition, rather than a singing/acting competition, how do you think you could inspire people through a character on Glee?
A: When I was younger, I would always watch movies and television and I realized that there was never anybody that looked like me! I look pretty exotic, so I definitely had a lot of insecurities about myself and the way I looked because, like I said, there was never anyone that looked quite like me. I think that if I were to be on Glee, a whole new part of the world would be represented! I think that I could be an inspiration to the population that do not look like the typical teenager. No matter what anyone looks like, they are beautiful and I think I could send that message across to people!
Q:
Who on Glee inspires you the most?
A: I think that Kurt probably inspires me the most. Although he is not my favorite character, he isn't afraid to show the world who he is. I think it is very important to be comfortable in your own skin, and he has struggled with it, but has learned to love and accept the person that he is.
Q:
What song would you want your potential character to sing as your introduction into the show?
A: I think I would want to sing 'Wild Ones' by Flo-Rida featuring Sia because my voice would fit that song and I feel like that song would introduce me to the show with a bang!!
Q:
If given the opportunity, who would you like to sing a duet with on Glee? What song?
A: I would love to sing with Darren Criss! I am a big fan of his and it would make my life if I got to sing a song with him. If I could sing any song with him, it would probably be "C'est La Mort" by The Civil Wars. My TGP family actually introduced me to this song and I know a lot of them want to do covers of it, but I fell in love with it the first time I heard it!
Q:
What is your dream role on Glee?
A: My dream role on Glee would have to be coming into the choir room and stirring things up with my flirtatious personality. I think that would be really fun. I want the New Directions to judge me and pretend like they know everything about me, but then they would learn about my religion and how I've been bullied in the past and would finally accept me! I think that people like me have never been represented on television and I think that Glee is the perfect show to have a story line like this one.
Q:
Who would you like to see your potential Glee character “date” or “hook-up” with?
A: I honestly think that it would be very interesting if me and Joe Hart were to date or hookup. Not because he is played by Samuel Larsen, but because he is Christian and I am Muslim. I think that it would be really cool to see how that would work... I would have said Blaine, but unfortunately, he wouldn't be attracted to me. Haha.
Q:
Who do you think your character would rival with?
A: I think that my character would definitely rival with Sanata. We both have very strong personalities and are very comfortable with our sexuality. So I don't think she would like me very much! But, I do really love Naya Rivera!
Q:
Who/what is your favorite singer/band?
A: My favorite singers are Adele and Amy Winehouse. I use both as inspirations!
Q:
Do you have any original music?
A: I need to get better at writing. I have so many ideas and I start to write, but I never finish!
Q:
Other than singing and performing, what are your hobbies?
A: I love watching movies!! I also love writing. I go to the beach a lot and just write. Now if I could find a way to turn my writing into songs, I will be very happy!
Q:
What acting or theatre experience do you have before The Glee Project?
A: NONE!! I did plays in grade school, but I don't count those. I also did take a musical theatre class once, but other than that, I really don't have any acting experience. The Glee Project was my training ground to acting. I learned a lot!!
Q:
What was your initial reaction for being cast on The Glee Project?
A: I thought I was in a dream! I didn't know what they saw in me to cast me on The Glee Project. It was definitely a shock. I started realizing that my dreams were coming true and had a minor freak out moment! Haha! But, I was beyond ecstatic!!
Q:
It must be difficult being in the throes of a reality television competition. Explain how you, personally, maintained relationships with the other contenders, while competing against them.
A: It actually wasn't hard to maintain relationships on the show. We all competed when we needed to, but off camera we were a family! It was really hard to say goodbye to people. And it was horrible when one of the people you are closest to in the house has to leave (i.e Charlie).
Q:
Out of the mentors, who did you find it easiest to connect with?
A: Out of the mentors, I would say that Robert and Zach were the easiest to connect to. Zach and I have a very special relationship and I adore him so much! Robert is also an amazing human being! You can tell that he is a genuine person that wants all of us to do well!
Q:
From the very beginning, you made it clear that you are a Turkish-Muslim, and that your mother has very strict and conservative views/opinions. Now that the show has aired, how does she feel about the choices you have made regarding your outspoken and “flirty” nature?
A: She is more traditional old school Turkish than she is religious. She grew up in Turkey and is more conservative than I am. It has definitely taken a lot for her to try to understand that I follow both the American culture and the Turkish culture. She has been super supportive, even though it has been hard for her at times. Not everybody in the family is as supportive as she is, but I am her daughter and she is proud of me!
Q:
The first week was Individuality. What do you think you have as a performer/individual that the other contenders don’t already have?
A: I think that I am a fearless performer. I leave everything out on the stage and am not afraid of giving it all I've got. In this business, you have to be fearless and I kind of just like diving into things!
Q:
Explain how you felt being placed in the bottom three the very first week.
A: Not gonna lie, being in the bottom three the first week was so scary!! I didn't really understand why I was in the bottom until I watched the episode! I was like, "Aylin, what are you doing?!?!?!?!" It was a blessing to be in the bottom the first week! I got to see Ryan, and the mentors really lit a fire in me and I decided that I had to kick my own butt some more!
Q:
Adaptability was your best week so far in terms of what you’ve accomplished; you won the homework assignment, and you were the first to be called back. What would you say that you did that week that made you stand out?
A: I love the song 'You Oughta Know' by Alanis Morisette. So I was really excited about singing that song! Adapting to curve balls is definitely scary and I could have either collapsed under pressure or taken each challenge head on. The minute I heard the theme of the week, I decided to take the challenges head on and that is why I think I stood out!
Q:
You and Charlie’s relationship became a story-line on the show. Do you think that this relationship was depicted properly on television?
A: I think that they showed what they could. There was definitely a lot more that went on off camera. Off camera is where our relationship really began and continued to grow. It makes me sad that some people think that I was just using Charlie and that I was playing him. I genuinely liked Charlie a lot, and I would never lead him on. We were both focused on the competition and I think that the show showed more of that coming from me than from him. I liked him as much as he liked me and I think that it's pretty clear that I adore him from last week's episode. You can't fake a moment like that...
Q:
What was it like directly competing against Charlie in the bottom three, and how did you feel when he was sent home during Fearlessness week?
A: It was such a conflicting feeling competing against Charlie in the bottom three! Part of me was ready to blow my performance out of the water and the other part of me was scared to death that either Charlie or I would get sent home! It was a difficult week because I didn't want any of the three of us to go home. Charlie being sent home was really a feeling that I find hard to describe. I felt like the one person I relied on the most was leaving me. There was a sense of loneliness and abandonment when he left. It was a very difficult day for the both of us and it was really hard to know that he wouldn't be coming back to our house. I cried a lot. There were so many unresolved things between us and we just had to put everything on pause. The one thing that got me through was knowing that he didn't want me to be sad. He wanted me to be strong and do everything that I could to stay in that house! So I promised him I would try my best...
Q:
What would you say is the hardest part of doing a last chance performance?
A: Memorizing lyrics in two hours is a lot harder than people think. Once the nerves kick in, the words leave your mind!! That was definitely my biggest concern with my LCP's.
Q:
When Jane Lynch chose Lily as the homework winner in the Fearlessness episode, did you truly think you should have won, or was it more of a jealousy issue?
A: I think it was a jealousy issue. Hahaha I'm not afraid to admit that I was jealous! I mean, who wouldn't be?!?!?! IT'S JANE LYNCH!!
Q:
Which week did you feel like you had the strongest advantage?
A: I think that I had the strongest advantage in either Adaptability or Sexuality. Sexuality because that was kind of my week! Hahaha and Adaptability because I won the HW assignment!
Q:
Ryan Murphy referred to you as a “game changer” after your last chance performance in Fearlessness; how do you feel about being the first to represent a group of young people that have yet to be represented on television as a leading role?
A: It is definitely a lot of weight to carry on my shoulders, but I can handle it. I was in shock when Ryan said all of that! I never really thought of myself as a leading lady or a game changer, but after he said it I was like, "You know what? I can do this! I AM a game changer and I AM a leading lady!" It was nice to know that the mentors and Ryan believed in me. They made me see something in myself that I never saw before.
Q:
Thank you so much, Aylin! Do you have any final words to your fans?
A: I love each and every single one of my fans! You guys are the reason I love to sing. It really means a lot to me that I have a group of fans that accept me the way that I am. Never stop following your dreams!! =)
So much love to Aylin for taking part in this with me! It's a huge honor and privilege, and I will be forever grateful! I really hope everyone enjoyed reading this as much as I did! This girl is HILARIOUS! So, do us all a favor Aylin, and get yourself on Glee so you can change the world, babe!
