by Todd Betzold

 

If you've been keeping up on The X Factor Season 2, you have noticed some pretty good auditions so far this season. One that happens to stand out is the audition by Panda Ross. She was so over-the-top and had a huge personality that I thought for sure she was not going to sing well. After admitting her love for Simon Cowell, Panda went on to shock everyone with her amazing voice and the judges all voted for her to move on. Today, she talked with RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about her health, her love for Simon and much more.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: How are you feeling? Last time we saw you, you were headed to the hospital in an ambulance.
A. Panda: I am 89-90% feeling great. I'm almost 100%. I recently had some surgery, so on top of that and with the pneumonia, I'm feeling great.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What made you initially try out for The X Factor?
A. Panda: Of course to meet Simon. I've always loved him since American Idol and always wanted the opportunity to meet him. I love singing and waking people up and making people's day. I thought I live in a world that needs a lot of joy and a little bit of Panda, so here I go. I'm going to take my opportunity and do my thing.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What made you choose "Bring It On Home" as your audition song?
A. Panda: I have a connection with Sam Cooke. I don't know what it is about Sam Cooke. I work at Starbucks and they play a lot of his music. I didn't really know who was singing, but I remember one day leaving the register and going back and seeing who was singing and I saw who was singing and I started singing along with all of his songs. I began to do a little research on him and I found that he, like me, started out in the church singing in the choir. I also found out that he, like me, had a drug addiction. I was born December 11, 1969 and he died December 11, 1967. I don't know what it is about this man or his music, but the words always seem to connect with me. All the songs that he sings somehow connect with my spirit.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What was it like seeing your audition on TV?
A. Panda: Because of the lifestyles that I tried and I've had a lot of hardships and drugs, alcohol and jail, but God delivered me January 25, 1997 and because of what he has done in my life, he continues to do amazing and every time something amazing happens I just can't believe it. Somebody that didn't even believe in themselves and family didn't believe in. I see him creating miracles everyday and opening doors every day for me. As he continues to open those doors, I just continue to walk through them gracefully. When I saw myself on that TV, this is a miracle. If people knew the full story behind Panda Ross, they would be just as amazed and in awe as I am.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: You have a huge personality and are so lovable and you seemed very confident and happy on stage. What was going through your mind when you were up there?
A. Panda: To be honest with you, I was thinking Lord please don't let me pass out because I feel like I am burning up with fever. I feel like I want to throw up, but Lord just keep me going (laughs). In the beginning, I was really, really nervous and I just wanted to make it through it. I was thinking please don't let them ask me for one more song because I don't think I have enough wind (laughs). When I seen Simon and I felt like he was feeling me and I was already feeling him, I thought yeah, it's going to be alright. That's when I got into the song and doing my extra little stuff.

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: If you were to make it past Boot Camp, what mentor would you like to work with and why them?
A. Panda: It's kind of hard between L.A. Reid and Simon. I guess I would like to say L.A. Reid because of all the artists that he has gotten out there. There is just something about L.A. I know I used to be into Boyz II Men and all of their music and I've seen a few names that he has really helped kick off their career and I just feel he could help me get to where I want to go.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: You are getting a lot of love from your fans and Ellen even talked about you on her show yesterday. What has this whole experience been like for you?
A. Panda: It has been crazy. I have always said I want to go on the Wendy Williams Show or the Ellen DeGeneres show or The Talk. I have always said I wanted to go on these shows. Sheryl Underwood, I feel is my long lost sister (laughs). She's just as crazy as me (laughs). I didn't know I was on Ellen and was laying there and a friend called me. When I looked on Ellen and seen the things she said about me, I was swept off my feet. I don't think I felt anything until then. Even the other day when I was on the front of the Yahoo page, everyone was calling me and telling me and in my mind, I was like okay, what does that mean? Then I started to get hundreds and hundreds of friend requests from across seas. People were writing me from China in Chinese. I have no idea what they are saying, but I hope its good (laughs). I went outside the other day to eat downtown and I got mobbed and everywhere I go people want my autograph and pictures. They are Panda crazy. It's exciting, but I'm humbled in the process because I never want to forget this has nothing o do with me. This is only God and this is another door that he has opened up and I just pray through the whole thing I am able to keep him in the front and whatever happens, happens and bring some joy to a few people's lives.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Anything to say to those fans?
A. Panda: Everything that I want to say to my friends, I have made a few videos. I posted them on Youtube and they are thank you videos. I basically can't get back to everybody, so I put messages on Youtube for all the Panda fans. I just to tell you I love you with all my heart and thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Anything to add?
A. Panda: Hit me up. Become my friend on Facebook, follow me because this is just the beginning of a long journey and I need all the friends and fans I can get and I want to keep them in my life forever (laughs). The X Factor will end, but our friendship never will.

 

The X Factor airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

Follow Todd on Twitter @tbetzold