Her real X Factor: nursing

Associated Press

NEW YORK

She’s got a $5 million recording contract, but Melanie Amaro still sees herself as a nurse someday.

The 19-year-old was studying nursing in college before her winning run on Fox’s “The X Factor.” Although she’s just signed a deal with Epic Records and is about to start working on her debut album, she said she still wants to pursue the field of nursing at some point.

“To be honest, I still do want to do nursing because I want to help people,” she said in an interview. “But I think as of right now I want to pursue what I absolutely love, which is my singing first. ... I’ll just probably take classes while I’m on the road or something. I don’t know. Whatever comes my way.”

If her singing career takes off like she did on “The X Factor,” she’ll likely never get the chance. Her album will be released this year.