Ousted 'Idol' Camile tells of life backstage

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Camile Velasco saw a different side of "Idol" judge Simon Cowell off camera. Advertiser library photo

During an extended conference call with local and national reporters yesterday, the 18-year-old from Maui said abrasive judge Simon Cowell isn't quite the heavy he appears to be, red-headed smoothy John Stevenson isn't 100 percent unflappable, and — for the record — she was not the jumble of nerves people seem to think she was.

"I actually was not that nervous," she said. "I've been performing since I was 3 years old. I've been on stage 15 times."

Asked if the judges' tepid assessment of her performances and Cowell's pointed prediction that she would soon be off the show hastened her ouster, Velasco said it "probably did."

"I did take a beating," she said. "I was too ashamed to say anything back. I just tried to take it and go back and do better the next week if I survived.

Still, Velasco said she found Cowell a much more sympathetic figure when the cameras were off.

"He said I was special," Velasco said. "He told me to move out (to Los Angeles) and go for it.

"Simon off camera is totally different," she said.

Velasco wasn't the only one who had to deal with criticism. While her fellow finalists kept up their smiles on stage, Velasco said it wasn't uncommon for them to break down backstage after a tough critique.

"John Stevens got really upset once (about the judge's comments) and they had to take him to the side and give him some tissues," she said. "A lot of people get teary-eyed backstage."

While her exit from the show may have been earlier than she had hoped, Velasco said it also frees her from the demanding schedule she and the other finalists were obliged to keep.

Velasco said finalists rehearsed all day, every day, often beginning at 8 a.m. and ending well into the evening. That left little time for hanging out at the plush "American Idol" mansion.

"People think we swim at the pool, eat and cruise all day, but we're never there (at the mansion)," she said. "We're too busy."

Velasco said she didn't know that she would be voted off this week, but wanted to be sure she had fun and recognized the support she has had from her hometown. To that end, she improvised the line "Back to Maui and home" in what was to be her final performance, a rendition of Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."

"I tried to prepare myself for the worst and whatever happened would happen," she said. "I'm happy. It was a wonderful ride, and I couldn't ask for more."

Before she bowed out, Velasco offered her encouragement to fellow Hawai'i finalist Jasmine Trias as the two embraced at the end of Wednesday's show.

"I just told her to hold it down for Hawai'i," Velasco said. "I told her to do her best because there's only one of us left now."

Next up for Velasco is some well-deserved rest and relaxation with her father in Las Vegas, followed by a Maui homecoming and some serious career planning.

"I'm definitely going to move out here (to Los Angeles) in the next couple of months and try to get some gigs and finish an album," she said.

Velasco will also participate in an "American Idol" finalist tour and album.

There have been rumors that Velasco has been offered a record deal, but she declined to comment because of contractual obligations with "American Idol."

Whenever and wherever Velasco does resurface, she promises to show a lot more of the real Camile.

"Paula (Abdul) said this competition wasn't for me," Velasco said. "I definitely have more of a hip-hop, urban flow."