Carly Rose Afterparty: An Interview

Despite the fact that the temperature dipped below freezing yesterday, friends, family and fans braved the cold to watch X Factor star and Mamaroneck resident Carly Rose Sonenclar led a parade in her honor down Mamaroneck Avenue. 

The teenaged singer already has a growing fan base who refer to themselves as "Carly's Angels" in honor of her almost preternatural singing abilities, which were put to the test on the second season of X Factor.

At a press conference after the parade, Carly said the parade was not something she ever expected to occur.

"I never imagined that, it's amazing," she said. She also received an honorary "key" to the village from Mayor Norman Rosenblum.

Not winning X Factor hasn't kept Carly out of the spotlight though, as many of her fans predicted. She's currently negotiating a contract with Syco Music, a company co-owned by Simon Cowell and Sony Music. The contract is expected to be finalized by the end of January, she said.

According to Carly, the coolest part about being on the reality show was, "being able to perform on that stage and being able to meet amazing people."

Her friends from home, however, seemed unsurprised by her rise to the top.

"She's really talented...She's a normal person to me though," said Alison Cohen, 13, who's known Carly since third grade.

Marisa Nakagama, 14, who attends Rye Neck Middle School, said, "I'm definitely not surprised she's gotten so far. I'm really proud of her."

Aliya Glattstein, 14, has known Carly since she was in second grade and remembers when she was cast in Les Miserables on Broadway, said, "Everyone would say 'she's so good'."

She didn't see Carly's loss on X Factor as a deterrant to her career, because "People still want to sign her."

But one of Carly's biggest fans is Kassandra Rivera, 11, who is part of the Starlight Children's Foundation, a charity that grants helps grant wishes to seriously ill children. Carly is closely involved with Starlight as an ambassador.

Asked if she supported Carly during X Factor, Kassandra quickly said, "I voted every day."