EXCLUSIVE: Ricki-Lee spills on what makes this year’s contestants so different.

Australian Idol's Ricki-Lee / Ricki-Lee on Australian Idol in 2004.
Ricki-Lee spills on how Australian Idol has changed since she was a contestant in 2004. Photos: Channel Seven / Channel 10

Although she didn’t win her season of Australian Idol, Ricki-Lee is arguably one of the biggest success stories to come from the reality show. The singer-songwriter, who finished in seventh place in 2004, has gone on to release five best-selling albums, establish a radio career, and even return to the series as the host.

She first took on the role in 2008 alongside Osher Günsberg (then known as Andrew G), and returned for the Channel Seven reboot in 2023 with Scott Tweedie. While many things haven’t changed about Australian Idol since she competed almost 21 years ago – including the format and the fact that Marcia Hines is still on the judging panel – Ricki-Lee tells Yahoo Lifestyle the biggest difference is the contestants.

“For me, what’s so shocking is these young kids are just so talented and they have their s**t together. Like, at 16 and 17, they know exactly who they are, they know exactly what they want to say, and they know exactly what kind of artist they want to be,” she details.

Ricki-Lee jokes that she also can’t believe how confident the contestants are with their sense of style compared to her fashion sense on season two.

“I was dressing like a 48-year-old woman when I was competing on the show. I was dressing like my mum!” she laughs. “I feel so old watching these – I call them kids, they’re so not kids but so they’re kids to me. They’re just so put together and so perfect, and it freaks me out a little bit.

“I guess that’s social media and fashion and everything changes. We can’t expect everything to say the same, but it freaks me out every time I see them.”

Australian Idol's Ricki-Lee.

Ricki-Lee says she is the “perfect example” that you don’t have to win Australian Idol to have a career after the show. Photo: Channel Seven

With the Australian Idol finale fast approaching and the 2025 champion soon to be announced, Ricki-Lee says she is the “perfect example” that you don’t have to win to have a career after the show.

“What separates you from the rest is how hard you’re willing to work. Your work ethic and your drive and your ambition and what you’re willing to put into it, that’s how far you’re going to go,” she remarks.

“I guess it’s with anything, right? With athletes, musicians and artists, you can be naturally talented, but if you have a s**t work ethic, you’re not going anywhere.”

She shares that her biggest piece of advice for anyone hoping to achieve a career in the music industry after Australian Idol is to “work hard and never stop”.

“No matter what happens, I just always encourage these guys to put their head down. Everything is always about the music. Focus and work your a** off until maybe one day you look up and come up to the surface and take a breath and you’re like, ‘Oh wow, I did that’,” she says.

“Being a music artist, you’re not stopping and smelling the roses very often. You are constantly hustling, you are constantly working, you are constantly fighting to swim against the tide and create something that people care about. It’s non-stop and it’s never ending and it’s for the rest of your life, and if that’s the life you want then welcome.”