American Idol

The sixth season of American Idol was not without its own share of scandals, and this year, it was brought about by Antonella Barba, a 21 year-old aspiring singer from Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Barba became the center of attention when pictures of her posing provocatively spread through the internet. At the time, Barba was a semifinalist on American Idol and was struggling to get a spot on the Final 12.

Since American Idol decided not to disqualify her from the show, Barba was compelled to keep performing, and although British judge Simon Cowell praised her for the way she was handling the issue, Barba was not spared from Cowell’s brutally honest remarks. Ultimately, Barba failed to make it to the finals, but her elimination gave her the opportunity to finally bring herself out of the limelight.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Barba said that she “just wanted to stay out of the public eye a bit,” and that her plans for the summer do not include a vacation. Rather, Barba, an architecture major at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., intends to sign up for some classes in order to make up for the work she missed while she was on the reality competition. She hopes to acquire her degree by next spring, and despite the controversy she faced, Barba is “thankful for the opportunities” the show brought her. Furthermore, she remarked that “everything happens for a reason” and that no decision should be regrettable because one can always “learn from them.”

Despite wanting to keep a low profile, Barba has not closed the door on establishing her career in the entertainment industry. Before her departure from American Idol, she was pursued by Girls Gone Wild and SugarDVD, but Barba turned down their offers, feeling that the projects were not right for her.

-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

Source: Washington Post

(Photo Courtesy of FOX)