As much as TV DivaGal is thrilled that The Glee Project winner Blake Jenner will be joining the cast of Glee for a special seven episodes arc, there were two talented young ladies who didn’t make the cut: Ali Stroker and my personal fave, Aylin Bayramoglu.

I got a super exclusive interview with the runners-up who shared with me their feelings on not snagging the coveted spot, future plans, and of course, what’s the romance sitch with Aylin and fellow contestant Charlie Lubeck now!

I really thought a lady was going to take it this season! How did you deal with the emotion of not winning?

Ali: I was really thrilled for Blake. We had been through this entire competition together and I’d seen how hard he had worked. But at the same time, Aylin and I were in that same exact position as Blake getting through the competition. So I really tried to focus on all the things I had gained through the show, and I’m looking forward to all the positive opportunities that are going to be coming my way.

Aylin: I was really proud of Blake. He deserves it. He’s such a great friend of mine that I can’t help but be excited for him. But I think, even if a girl didn’t win, it was definitely a girl’s season. We beat out the boys – until the end. We’d tried our best.

If you had gotten on the show – and maybe it will still happen – what type of roles would you have wanted to play? Aylin, I know Glee honcho Ryan Murphy wanted to explore your Muslim heritage. Would you have been comfortable with that?

Aylin: Absolutely. I think Glee is about breaking stereotypes, so I would have loved to be that. I loved what Ryan envisioned for me and I think that it would have been really cool.

Ali: I would have loved to play a girl in a wheelchair who comes to McKinley High and is a little more timid at first, but then the personality comes out and she’s flirty and definitely sassier, and I think it would be really fun to play the bitch on Glee. I just think it’s a neat way to change people’s mind about what someone in a wheelchair is really like.

What was your favorite challenge in the competition?

Aylin: My favorite was “Sexuality” week. I don’t know. I just felt at home that week. That was a good week for me. (Laughs) It was fun.

Ali: I definitely enjoyed “Theatricality” because those are my roots. I really got to let my musical theater Gleek flag fly.

So Aylin, everyone wants to know, where does your relationship stand with Charlie? He made such a wonderful speech for you during the finale. Are you together now?

Aylin: Well… he’s sitting right next to me. Clearly we hang out often. It’s a bit of a complicated situation. I think that a lot of factors go into being in a relationship with people, and I don’t think either of us have a label for anything, yet. I don’t know. But we do hang out a lot. I think that’s how I can describe this.

Well, you’re together now, so that’s probably a good sign. So Ali and Aylin, what are your next steps now that the show has ended?

Ali: I am working on a one-woman show for on stage, and I am going to London at the end of the month to go to the Paralympics and do a concert there. And I’m also part of an anti-bullying pro-compassion campaign called “Be More Heroic.”

Aylin: I, on the other hand, am definitely going to be taking some acting classes very soon. And I want to dabble in television – hopefully have some meetings with agencies and just be auditioning for everything. I’ll hopefully come out with an album eventually, because that’s always been my dream since I was a little kid.

photo credits: Oxygen Media

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