Joanne Borgella

Joanne Borgella (born May 29, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, jewelry designer and she is signed to Wilhelmina Models in New York City, Miami and LA. The first winner of Mo'Nique's Fat Chance pageant as "Miss F.A.T." in 2005 and a top 24 contestant on the seventh season of American Idol in 2008. Borgella, of Haitian descent, is originally from Oyster Bay Cove, Long Island, New York. At the age of 13 she attended Union School in Haiti where her father, Dr. Joel Borgella, ran for President in the 2006 presidential elections. Her father is the founder of Radio Tropicale, the first international Haitian radio station. Borgella went on to attend private school at the Academy of St. Joseph's in Long Island for her last two years of high school and graduated in 2000. Her mother's name is Paule Ford. She began singing at 3 and performing at 13 working in Bugga Basements with Wyclef Jean. In 2008, she auditioned for the talent search reality television show American Idol. After successfully completing "Hollywood week", she was chosen to be one of the top 12 girls and overall top 24 final contestant for the seventh season. Her musical influences are Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Alanis Morissette and Andrea Bocelli. She is currently modeling and working on music. Borgella was eliminated on February 21, 2008, along with Colton Berry, Garrett Haley and Amy Davis. She is "Miss F.A.T." 2005, and winner of Oxygen network's number one show Mo'Nique's Fat Chance season one. Borgella is represented by Wilhelmina Models 10/20 division in New York and Miami. She has been the face of Torrid, Ashley Stewart, Wal-Mart and Kohls department store and has ads featured in Seventeen, Essence and InStyle magazine to name a few. She is currently one of the faces of Procter & Gamble a new campaign that many are calling a "movement" directed at the African American woman, "My Black is Beautiful".