Now Hayley, 17, has little time for anything else except her continuing appearance in Australian Idol on Channel Ten on Sunday nights.

From a hesitant start 17 weeks ago, Hayley has outstayed all but three contestants.

As episode 18 looms, is she nervous?

"No, not really'' she said. "Just determined.''

Hayley was 13 when she "discovered'' she could sing, but the concept of being on national television week after week was not something she even contemplated until earlier this year.

"I was at home and my manager rang and said: 'Do it', meaning put in an application for Idol, and so I set out to enrol with hardly any time left.

"I got there with just half an hour to spare.''

At home in Sutherland Shire, Hayley said she received tremendous support from her family from parents Gayle and Rick and big brother Josh, 22, and sister Britney, 21.

Are her brother and sister also musical?

"No,'' she said. "They don't have a musical bone in their bodies.''

Hayley also finds lots of support on the internet where fans have questions to ask for all the contestants.

One fan, ItsTash, asked: "Being the only girl left, do you think there is much pressure on?''

Hayley replied in part: "It's scary being the only girl, I guess, because there are a lot of expectations that surround you.

"You've got to hold the banner up for the girls now, and if you kind of lag it's not good enough. I really hope I'm at the Opera House [for the final] and I hope that every week I [can] step up.

"I'm stoked. I'm doing it for the girls.''

Click on the comment link below to leave Hayley a good luck message.