Age: 21
Hometown: Miami, FL
Musical Favorites: Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keyes
Idol Pursuits: Acting, Dancing

Audition Song: Think

Early Start: Syesha has been singing since she was three years old.

Commerical Queen: Before she was on Idol, Syesha had a prolific career appearing in commericals. Products included Ford Sync trucks, Florida tourism, Nigerian beer, the Winn Dixie grocery store and a medical college.

Steamy Reading: On her personal Facebook page, Syesha admits that one of her favorite authors is Zane, the "queen of erotic fiction" who has penned such works as Getting Buck Wild, Caramel Flava, Dear G Spot and Love Is Never Painless!

Syesha's Secret: Syesha claims to be a devotee of "The Secret", the controversial "New Thought" philosophy, teaching that you can achieve your goals simply by believing that you will.

The Day Job: She is a student at Florida International University.

Sy And The Family's Tones: Syesha's mother, Zelda, was a Motown backing singer.

Highlights: Pre-Idol highlights include performing the national anthem at a Pittsburgh Pirates ball game and singing for the Florida Govenor (and President's brother), Jeb Bush.

Stuggles: The Mercado family lost their home in a fire while Syesha was in high school and her father, Jose, has battled with a drug and alcohol problem for many years. At one point, the family were forced to live in their car and both her parents have served time in jail.

Reality Veteran: Syesha appear on the doomed TV singing contest The One in 2005 before it was cancelled due to low ratings.

 

SONGS
Semifinals Week 1: "Tobacco Road" (The Nashville Teens)
Semifinals Week 2: "Me & Mrs. Jones" (Billy Paul)

Semifinals Week 3: "Saving All My Love For You" (Whitney Houston)

Finals Week 1: "Got To Get You Into My Life" (The Beatles)

Finals Week 2: "Yesterday" (The Beatles)

Finals Week 3: "If I Were Your Woman" (Gladys Knight)

Finals Week 4: "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton)

Finals Week 5: "I Believe" (Fantasia)

Finals Week 6: "Vanishing" (Mariah Carey)

Finals Week 7: "One Rock and Roll Too Many" (Andrew Lloyd Webber)

Finals Week 8: 1. " Hello Again" 2. "Thank The Lord For Night Time" (Neil Diamond)

Finals Week 9: 1. "Proud Mary" (Tine Turner) 2. "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)

Finals Week 10: 1. "If I Ain't Got You Baby" (Alicia Keys) 2. " Fever" (Peggy Lee) 3. "Hit It Up" (Gia Farrell)