A victim of reality fame, the Internet and her own poor choices, this seemingly good Catholic Jersey girl became one of the most talked-about contestants of American Idol`s sixth season. Unfortunately for Barba, it had nothing to do with her talent; in fact, many fans wondered how this mediocre vocalist managed to make it to the top 24. Initially presented as a sweet soul — in the first round, she auditioned after her best friend, a "trained" singer named Amanda Coluccio, but didn`t reveal to her pal that the judges liked Barba better — she became condescending and catty during Hollywood Week. When live eliminations began in February 2007, a bunch of racy pictures featuring Barba popped up online. Some were relatively harmless: Barba topless but covering her important parts. Others were in poor taste: Barba in a wet T-shirt in front of Washington D.C.`s World War II Memorial. But the ones that turned her into a Google sensation featured the 20-year-old engaged in a sex act, although the authenticity of the photos is still in question. The scandal became such a hot topic that mainstream news outlets began covering it, and American Idol host Simon Cowell even weighed in on the controversy, saying, "I think it`s disgraceful that so-called friends [of Barba`s] would sell these pictures." Although Barba failed to make the final 12, her 15 minutes weren`t necessarily over. Multiple invitations came her way, including a $250,000 offer to host a Girls Gone Wild video and rumors of a potential Playboy spread.
Antonella Barba Fast Facts:
Plays piano and violin.
Supporters in her hometown of Point Pleasant, NJ, call themselves "Fantonellas."
Votefortheworst.com encouraged viewers to vote for Barba.