By: Angela Zhu

Monet Monico (Getty Images)

Monet Monico is the youngest female contestant on MTV’s new reality show, P. Diddy’s StarMaker. Contestants on StarMaker will perform weekly and get the opportunity to work with seasoned professionals like P. Diddy himself, music producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins, choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson, and industry executive Tamara Conniff.

Angela Zhu: How did you get on the show?

Monet Monico: I was doing a live chat, and one of my webmasters, Traci, told me that one of the casting people from the show saw me and wanted to know if I would like to audition. They set up a meeting for me. We went through a bunch of different processes, including going to New York and auditioning for Diddy himself! I guess they liked me, and I’m happy to say I am a part of P.Diddy’s StarMaker!

AZ: Why were you interested in being on StarMaker?

MM: I’ve been doing the music since I was three years old. I started in church musicals and couldn’t get enough! At the age of eight, I wrote my first song. At age 11, I professionally recorded my first song, and I’ve been into music and acting ever since. I wouldn’t be doing anything else. It’s my life! The funny thing is I never thought I would be on a reality show, ever. That was the last thing I wanted to do. StarMaker is different, though. It involves some of my favorite people in the music business, such as Diddy himself, [music manager] Johnny Wright, [choreographer] Laurie Ann Gibson, [musician] Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, and ["Billboard" magazine editor] Tamara Conniff, so coming on StarMaker was actually a great honor for me. It’s always been my dream to work with these people, and my dreams are finally coming true!

AZ: How do you feel about being the youngest female on the show? Do you think it’ll work to your advantage or against you?

MM: I feel awesome being the youngest on the show! It’s neutral; the judges treat me the same as everyone else.

AZ: What are you the most excited to do on the show? Least excited?

MM: I’m so excited that we get to perform every week to new songs! It’s so cool! I’m least excited about never knowing if you’ll be the one to go home each week… It’s scary!

AZ: What are you hoping to bring to StarMaker and to show America?

MM: I’m hoping my time on StarMaker will show America, and hopefully the world, that all of our dreams can come true — you just have to work for it! It doesn’t matter how many times people tell you “You can’t do it” or “You’re not good enough” — you have to get up and try try try again, and never stop. I say, “If a dream is running away, go catch it!” I also want to bring my originality and show everyone that being yourself can go a long way.

Monet Monico (Getty Images)

AZ: What are you hoping to get out of your time on StarMaker? What’s your biggest goal as a musical artist?

MM: StarMaker is a great stepping stone for me. Getting my name and face out there, hopefully getting a recording contract with Bad Boy Records, and new fans…you can’t get better than that. My biggest goal as a musical artist is to take over the world! No, but seriously. It’s my goal to spread my music and myself around the whole entire world; to have messages and meaning in my music that the whole world can relate to.

AZ: What do you think are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a musical artist and performer?

MM: Rodney told me, in the first episode, that I’m “fearless.” I think that is a pretty big compliment and one of my strengths. I think all artists go through their strengths and weaknesses, but sometimes we can use both as an advantage.

AZ: What’s your musical background? Are you self-taught or formally trained? When did you become interested in music and a career as a musician?

MM: My dad’s side of the family was really into music, so I think I was born with the natural gene. I have been blessed to have formal training in my life, but StarMaker is just going to make me better as an artist. I became interested in music and a career as a musician right when I popped out of my mom. I guess I was screaming so loud that the doctors across the hall came running in, commenting on how strong my lungs are and exclaiming, “Wow! That baby will either be a singer or a lawyer!” I guess we all know what happened.

AZ: How have your family and friends influenced your career?

MM: My father recently passed away — about a month ago. He has been one of the biggest influences on my career, always telling me that if you work hard enough, it can be yours. My mom, family, and friends have also been a tremendous influence, because without their support and love, I wouldn’t have anyone to fall back on. I am so thankful.

AZ: If you couldn’t make music, what would you be doing?

MM: Lady Gaga once told me, “If someone asks you what you would rather be doing than music, you tell them that if you weren’t doing music, you wouldn’t be alive.”  I go by that motto every single day.

AZ: Where do you see yourself in five years?

MM: It doesn’t matter if I’m 120 years old — I’ll still be doing music somewhere. I want to tour, be in major motion picture movies, have my own clothing line… No really, you’ll see! I have faith! And hopefully, by the time I’m 39, I will have an amazing, supportive husband and a family as well. They’ll be on the road with me!

AZ: What other interests do you have besides music? What are your hobbies and what kinds of things do you like to do for fun?

MM: I love to watch movies: old movies, new movies, comedies, dramas… I guess that’s part of the artist in me. I love hiking, dancing, and shopping (what girl doesn’t?) and hanging out with my friends and family… But they’ll tell you I’m mostly working on music all the time. When I went to a regular school before I started homeschooling, I would just be in the back of the class writing songs and poems.

AZ: Who are you influenced by musically? Who are you inspired by?

MM: My inspirations vary. I like to say I am my own person, but I am influenced by Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, P!nk, and some oldies, such as Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, and Janis Joplin.

AZ: Favorite song, album, musical artist, food, guilty pleasure, movie, and color?

MM: I have too many favorite songs, but if I had to choose my favorite song at the moment, the song that is on my iPod right now is “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova from the Once Soundtrack. My favorite album at the moment is The Fame by Lady Gaga. I literally can’t name my favorite musical artist because it would probably take up five pages of people’s names… Food is my guilty pleasure, and my favorite foods are sushi and Italian food. My favorite movies at the moment are Anchorman and American Gangster, and my favorite color is purple.

AZ: If you were an animal, what would you be?

MM: I’d be a songbird because then I can sing and fly — two of my favorite things.

AZ: Lastly, reality shows are full of clichés these days. What will you do to stand out from the crowd?

MM: I absolutely agree that reality shows are full of clichés. I am just going to be myself, and if that makes me stand out, then great. I want America to view me for who I am. I’m not going to be hiding anything from you, America. What you’ll see on StarMaker is all me. Hope you enjoy!

Check out Monet’s MySpace and Twitter for more about her! P. Diddy’s StarMaker airs on Sundays at 10:00 p.m. EST on MTV.