Beaten X Factor semi-finalist Misha Bryan has said that remarks from the judges about her alleged backstage behaviour "did have an effect" on viewers' voting.
Judge Tulisa Contostavlos had accused Bryan of being mean, while Louis Walsh later apologised for calling her a bully.
Bryan said: "I believe everything happens for a reason.
"That chapter of my life is now closed... Tulisa is amazing, she's inspirational."
Contostavlos was seen in tears during Bryan's last performance on the show.
Of her reaction, Bryan said: "I don't know why [she was crying]. Maybe she connected to the song."
On ITV1's Daybreak on Monday, Bryan said she had forgiven Contostavlos for her remark.
"Forgiving is the thing that I have done. I believe that in situations that occur in life, you shouldn't get bitter, you should just get better," she said.
Bryan said she did not speak to Contostavlos after her performance, but added that she would keep in contact with her own mentor on the show, Kelly Rowland.
She compared herself to former contestant Cher Lloyd, who fell foul of public opinion on last year's show.
She said: "When I was at home watching the show there were headlines about Cher Lloyd. I made judgments... But I met her and she was absolutely amazing, inside and outside."
Bryan, who wants Little Mix to win The X Factor, hopes to work with Missy Elliott in the future, having made contact with her.
"When one door closes, another opens," she said.
