Alex & Sierra Say ‘The X Factor’ Made Their Love Even Stronger.

When Alex & Sierra won "The X Factor" Season 3 Thursday night, they appeared to have a delayed reaction. They were almost out-of-bodily calm upon hearing the good news from host Mario Lopez, and the realization that they'd just been awarded a $1 million contract with Sony only seemed to sink in when they started singing their signature song, A Great Big World's "Say Something." That's when the tears came.

"At first it was kind of a shock. It just felt like we'd made it through another week," the duo's Alex Kinsey told Yahoo's Reality Rocks after the finale, welling up again as he remembered their winning moment. "But that stage has kind of become home for us in the past few weeks, and knowing that that's the last time we're going to sing on it, that was emotional. And then when all the contestants ran out, I lost it. I lost my mind. I don't know how we were able to sing anything."

"I was holding it together really, really well. I was like, 'Wow, I'm not crying!' Because I'd cried for the entire episode," laughed Sierra Deaton. "And tIt's ironic that Alex & Sierra, a very-much-in-love couple in real life, had their biggest iTunes success with "Say Something," a depressing breakup ballad. Their weepy performances of that song, and of songs like Sara Bareilles's "Gravity," actually had concerned fans speculating that the two were dealing with on-the-set relationship problems. But Alex & Sierra insisted that their "X Factor" journey only made them closer, and that any breakup rumors are just that: rumors.

"It 100 percent strengthened our relationship. It didn't change it. It's not like we were ever going to break up," said Sierra. "We were best friends first, and we've been dating for two years, so we already knew how to get through life and hard times together. We've just stayed best friends and made sure to remind each other that we're here to have fun and this is an amazing experience, and we're so grateful to be here. So it was easy to not get into stuff with each other and get angry with each other."

"We just made sure we were taking care of each other, that we were both vocal about things and didn't keep things from each other," said Alex. "And if we needed time apart, I'd go hang out with Restless Road, and she'd go hang out with Rachel [Potter]. Honestly, we still feel like two people hanging out, having fun."

Interestingly, this wasn't the first time that Alex & Sierra had embarked on a talent-show journey together: They both auditioned for "American Idol" Season 12, with Alex making it to Hollywood Week. ("They hated me," Sierra revealed.) But clearly these two were lucky to make it onto "The X Factor," a show that would allow them to perform together, instead. "It's all good. We're here now," Alex smiled.

Check out Alex & Sierra's finale interview above, and interviews with runner-up Jeff Gutt and third-place finalist Carlito Olivero below!hen as soon as the other contestants came out…"