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Antonella Barba
Background information
Birth name Antonella Maria Barba
Born November 22, 1986 (1986-11-22) (age 20)
Flag of United States Point Pleasant, NJ USA
Genre(s) R&B
Pop
Soul
Hip-Hop
Years active 2007—present
Antonella Maria Barba (born November 22, 1986) is an American singer who
placed fifteenth on the sixth season of American Idol. She was eliminated
before the top 12 were chosen. However Barba and fellow contestant Sanjaya
Malakar achieved cult status, the two achieved worldwide popularity on the
internet and gossip magazines.
Barba was born in California to parents Vincenzo and Valerie, and raised in
Point Pleasant, New Jersey. She went to high school at Red Bank Catholic
High School in nearby Red Bank, New Jersey. Barba is currently in the class
of 2008 at The Catholic University of America, and studying architecture.
She has three younger siblings (one brother and two sisters).
American Idol
Antonella Barba was first seen on television at the New York auditions of
idol in a January 2007 episode. She auditioned with her friend Amanda
Collucio, after Collucio sang her rendition of Patsy Cline's "Crazy" Barba
took center stage and belted out a smooth performance of Chanté Moore's
"Free." Paula dubbed Antonella "fantastic" and Simon advised her "when
someone is down on the floor kick them". Nevertheless, the judges praised
her performance and liked it better than her friend's who had claimed she
had vocal lessons, eventually both received golden ticket passes to
Hollywood. Barba made it into the top 24 but her friend was cut before the
top 40.
Controversy
Barba received notoriety beyond the show when a series of racy photographs
surfaced on the Internet prior to the final twelve contestants being chosen.
She was quoted as saying that they "were photos of my personal life that got
exploited without my consent." These pictures have received mainstream
attention including a February 27, 2007 featured article in USA Today,[1] a
full segment on the February 26, 2007 edition of FOX News' The O'Reilly
Factor, and also on multiple episodes of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith
Olbermann, both of which showed images of the Vote for the Worst pages
featuring the images.[2] Photos of Barba posing in a wet t-shirt in the
fountain of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. also
surfaced.[3] Barba's friend Coluccio has stated that the "really bad" (i.e.,
sexually explicit) photos were fakes.[4] Following Barba's being voted off
of the show, she has allegedly received offers from a number of adult
entertainment outfits, including Girls Gone Wild and Playboy. She claims to
have never been contacted by Playboy but made it clear that she would not
pose for the magazine. Barba explains, "The pictures that actually are of me
are very personal. That is not how I intended to portray myself nor do I
intend to portray myself in the future. That was personal, private and not
for the public." Barba is currently contemplating the future of her career
and said she would be willing to consider modeling or acting jobs. "I want
to strike while the iron's hot," Barba said.
American Idol performances
Week # Song Choice Original Artist Result
Original Audition Free Deniece Williams Safe
Top 24 I Don't Want to Miss a Thing Aerosmith Safe
Top 20 Because You Loved Me Celine Dion Safe
Top 16 Put Your Records On Corinne Bailey Rae Eliminated
References
1. ^ 'Idol' chatter dominates Playboy bash
2. ^ 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for Feb. 26
3. ^ 'Antonella Barba: American Idol Sex Scandal'
4. ^ 'Antonella Barba Nude: Topless Photos Real, Fellatio Pics Fake'
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