Carly Rose Sonenclar on 'X Factor': Fans turn out in support

Tuesday December 18, 2012 4:48 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: Getty Images | "The X Factor" contestant Carly Rose Sonenclar attends Fox's "The X Factor" season finale news conference at CBS Television City in Los Angeles. (Dec. 17, 2012)

Carly Rose Sonenclar, a 13-year-old from Mamaroneck, will compete in this week's "X Factor" finale for the chance to win a $5 million recording contract. And in honor of the local star, Archbishop Stepanic High School in White Plains will host a viewing party during the Wednesday night performance episode (950 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains; 914-946-4800 www.stepinac.org).

Although "The X Factor" starts at 8 p.m., the doors for the party open at 6 p.m. and the first 1,000 people to arrive will be allowed in. Considering Carly Rose’s popularity, it might be a good idea to arrive early. A DJ will get the party started by spinning tunes between 6 and 7 p.m. After 7 p.m., an "X Factor" camera crew will film the audience, and air the footage on that night's episode as a surprise for Carly Rose.

Fans are encouraged to bring posters and signs to show their support for the reality TV star, and local businesses, including Mamaroneck-based ABC Cakes and Balloon World, as well as Trotta's West Street Pharmacy in Harrison, are donating supplies.

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In addition, Molly Spillane’s Pub in Mamaroneck (211 Mamaroneck Ave.; 914-899-3130; www.mollyspillanespub.com) is also hosting a viewing party from 8 to 10 p.m.

Carly Rose’s popularity isn’t just limited to the Hudson Valley. Twitter fan clubs have sprung up across the country and even around the world. Online fan clubs call themselves “Carly’s Angels,” and can be found in such far-flung places as Brazil, Venezuela and Japan. In November, one fan posted a photo of the teen’s image on a Japanese video billboard, and tweeted Carly Rose that “your pics are all over the world! Even the [J]apanese love u [sic].” 

Eighteen-year-old Randi from Florida has one of the most popular online Carly Rose fan clubs. Her Twitter account, @CarlyRoseFnClub, has more than 12,000 followers, including Carly Rose herself. In an email interview with Newsday Westchester, Randi said she was inspired to start the Twitter account after seeing the Mamaroneck teen’s audition, which turned her into an “instant fan.”

The self-described “#1 fan” said that after Carly Rose made the finals, “she cried for 15 minutes in joy.” Randi, who often urges her followers to vote for Carly Rose via her Twitter account, sharing tutorials and strategies on how to get her the most votes possible, said that she herself votes with three cellphones and two Skype accounts.

Other Carly Rose fans are also intent on voting as often as possible to see their favorite singer win “X Factor.” A Carly Rose fan with the Twitter handle @horrify12 said that she and her friend voted “over 300 times...early in the morning … we voted 2 hours [straight] even in class (math).”

Another online Twitter fan, @shashee1313, said she voted a staggering “15k times last [week]. Now that’s dedication!”

This week Randi is focused on getting the word out about voting for Carly Rose to win the show, but said she plans to continue her Twitter account even after the reality TV competition concludes.

“‘X Factor’ is just the start of her career,” she said. “I will follow it as a fan.”

On Wednesday night’s show, fans near and far can look forward to seeing Carly Rose perform a duet with country music star LeAnn Rimes. The pairing is worth noting considering that Rimes won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist at age 14. With the support of her community and fans, Carly Rose Sonenclar could be on the same path to stardom, no matter who’s crowned the winner on Thursday.

The “X Factor” two-part finale airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday on FOX. 

Tags: Mamaroneck , Carly Rose Sonenclar , X Factor , Carly's Angels , LeAnn Rimes , reality TV , TV , White Plains , Westchester