Competing in the Eurovision Song Contest was the "best thing" that could have happened to Jade Ewen, the budding star has said.
The 21-year-old Londoner came fifth in the music spectacular in Moscow on Saturday night - reversing the UK's recent poor record.
Speaking as she returned to Heathrow Airport, she said: "I'm really happy, I felt like I couldn't have done any more."
Ewen said she was "in shock" when she received high marks and praised Norway's contestant for winning the title with a record number of points.
"He deserved it," she said.
"It would have been amazing to win but I learnt that the experience was the best thing that could have happened to me."
Of her moment singing It's My Time, she said: "It was absolutely amazing - I've never seen an audience like that in my life. It has been an amazing platform for me. I have gone from no-one knowing me to this."
Ewen revealed her plans to release an album featuring more pop-style songs, which she hopes will come out in September. She said: "I am going to have a week's break and then I'm going to start work on my album."
Britain's song was co-written by musical giant Andrew Lloyd Webber but came far behind the winning entry from Norway, which received the contest's highest yet total of 387 points.
