Allison Iraheta talks beauty, fitness, singing, and how she connects with her fans

Allison Iraheta was a fan favorite on the 8th season of American Idol. Since then, she's released an album and started living her dream of being a successful artist. In this interview, the humble artist talks about her beauty and fitness regimen, and of course, how she's living her dream!

What beauty products do you use on a regular basis?

Allison: I use MAC powder foundation and my liquid foundation is oil-free Lorac. I need oil-free since my skin is way oily already, and I have to use it because I sweat like crazy also. MAC eyeliner, MAC lipstick in "Diva," I love dark, burgundy-ish, bloody color. *laughs* My blush as well is MAC. I'm a MAC girl. I also use Lancome mascara. I love lashes.

Do you have any favorite skin cleansers or moisturizer?

Allison: I use Neutrogena face wash and makeup remover every night and after I get off stage and my face is all melted off.

What do you use for your hair?

Allison: I use BedHead. I actually use pretty much anything on my hair, which I know is bad since I have so much color in it. I use the red John Frieda color base shampoo for the color. I use a lot of dry shampoo too since I can't wash my hair every day. It's my savior. I have oily hair, so it lifts up all the oils and makes it look clean, which is isn't. *laughs*

What is your fitness regimen like?

Allison: Lately, I've been doing a 45-minute workout every morning with my tour manager and my bass player. If we don't have a gym, we do stairs. She kicks our butt though. We do sets of sit-ups and crazy jumping jacks. I also run and sing at the same time in the mornings. It's hard.

When it came to American Idol, did you decide to audition or did someone have to convince you?

Allison: I'd been watching the show since I was around 9, and I really loved the idea of being able to sing in front of people and the opportunities to meet people like Madonna, Paula Abdul, Slash and Cyndi Lauper and stuff. Just getting those opportunities. I was a really big fan since it came out. When I was 16, I was like, "I'm gonna do it!" I did not think it was fair to wait. I was like, "I wanna go now!" *laughs*

How has life been since then?

Allison: It's been a whirlwind. It's been so crazy and amazing. I'm living my dream, I released an album. I've worked with top writers, I've traveled, I've sung in front of thousands of people in arenas. I've pretty much done everything I've wanted to do. Now that I've gotten past that goal, my next goal is to headline my own tour. Write more of my music, maybe write for other people. Collaborate with more artists. It's been amazing, it's opened so many doors. I'm so grateful for where I am.

You're so young, and you've already achieved pretty much everything you've ever wanted. Do you ever think "what now?" Do you have any other goals?

Allison: This is what I feel like I was born to do. I've definitely thought about the Plan B, something to fall back on. So school, for sure. Yes. And also, even if this doesn't work out, the writing or working in the music somehow. The music industry is so big. Where I am right now, I feel like I have a chance at really making it.

What do you do on your downtime?

Allison: I've been reading lately. I write, a lot. And I sleep. Because I rarely sleep.

How is the tour with Adam Lambert going?

Allison: Amazing. The crowd is incredible. I'm able to be on the road with my boy again. And now, sharing the stage with Orianthi is amazing. Coming out to do "Don't Waste the Pretty" with her, and everyone goes crazy. It's been amazing getting to do all of this.

Who is your dream collaborator?

Allison: Pink. Even her old stuff, what I grew up on. I'm a big fan of her music and the way she performs.

Have you ever been compared to Janis Joplin?

Allison: Yes, I get that a lot. *laughs* She's another artist I grew up listening to and I look up to so much because of the way she performs and sings. It's not choreographed and it's so natural. Every performance was 100 percent her.

Are you into social networking?

Allison: I haven't been on Twitter that much, and I miss connecting with the fans. Actually, I'm going to go on a Twitter party today. I love Twitter. I thinks it's the only way for me. It's the best way to communicate. So easy. I don't Facebook and I don't do MySpace. There are official ones for me, but I don't handle those. I do handle my Twitter, though.

Would you like to send a personal message to your fans?

Allison: Yes. It's always going to be thank you, so much, to all of my fans that have been with me through the whole ride. Thank you so much, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.