Kelly McGarry may have come in second place on I WANNA BE A SOAP STAR, but for Soap Opera Digest voters, she's No. 1. The aspiring actress, who was in the final two for a contract role on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, won six consecutive Digest polls. But in the end, Mike Jerome walked away with the gig as Ted on OLTL.

Fan enthusiasm cushioned the blow. In the prior Digest poll, McGarry was favored by 61 percent of the voters. "I'm so, so happy about that," says McGarry. "One of the biggest blessings for me was to see how many people e-mailed me and supported me to 'put on another pair of boots and keep walking,' as one of the fans put it."

And that support includes SOAP STAR judge and talent manager Michael Bruno. McGarry notes, "Michael Bruno, who I love, love, love, love, love, is going in with a couple of executives for other shows. I just spoke to Michael one minute before I got on the phone with you...."

McGarry, who judge Debbi Morgan openly acknowledged was the more talented, admits that she was stunned by the finale. "I was waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out and say I'd been punk'd."

But the actress is proud of her performance. "I still feel like a winner," she says. "I did the best possible scene and I really put a lot of love and heart in my work. I feel like I'm the winner because I was able to express myself fully and creatively and do the work, and that's the most important thing."

And there is a silver lining. "This leaves me open to other opportunities, and that to me is more expansive than just the 13-week contract.... I have no hard feelings. Everything is meant to be. This is obviously Mikey's part; this is meant for him and another opportunity will come up for me. I have only a bright future ahead of me."

And she'd be pleased if the future brought with it another soap role. Her dream co-star? "Kelly Monaco [Sam, GENERAL HOSPITAL]. I definitely feel like she and I could be a great team. I like the depth she brings to her character. I'd love a sexy villain role; that's fun to play.... The bitch with the broken heart."

Hey, maybe Sam has a long-lost sister out there.

Did you agree with the judges' decision to pick Mikey over Kelly?