Following her elimination from American Idol this week, Syesha Mercado sat down with People Magazine. Here are highlights from the interview:

Paula Abdul said you sang songs that didn't really define who you were. In your mind, who are you exactly as an artist?
I'm a mix of a lot of things … I'm like a black Christina Aguilera [or] Alicia Keys. I definitely can see myself putting together a Christina Aguilera album, the one that she just recently did and an Alicia Keys album like The Diary of Alicia Keys. I like Pop and I like R&B and I like the old school, new school thing so I'm growing as an artist, I'm evolving … You'll know who I am once I put out that album.

What are your plans after the American Idol tour?
I want to make an album. I want to star in a film. I want to do Broadway. I want to open up an organic restaurant. It just depends on what comes first but I have goals that I want to do and I write them down and I'm going to continue to look at them. Whatever opportunity comes first, what's the best career move for me, that's pretty much what's going to happen.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.