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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > June > 23
Monday, June 23, 2008
6/24: Syesha Mercado models in a bikini for OK magazine
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Third-place finisher Syesha Mercado appears to be following the Kat McPhee post-Idol path by modeling. Here’s a shot of her from OK magazine.
Are you a fan of bikinis?
I did one photo shoot where I was doing a few bikini shots and it was fun. And it was actually somebody I knew, so I was a little bit more comfortable. But this, to me, is just a lot of fun.
Welcome to summer everyone! Thank you Syesha!
-I mentioned the Forbes Celebrity 100 last week where Simon Cowell ranked No. 22. Here’s the full feature from the magazine about Cowell. It’s definitely worth a read and just think—he makes about $1 million per “Idol” episode! And for a guy who used to badmouth precocious teens (think Diana DeGarmo), he is now supporting a move to reduce the age of “Idol’ to 14 years old. Good idea? I’m not too excited. Then again, Archuleta acts and looks about 14.
His harsh putdowns and bravado have put Cowell in position number 22 on our Celebrity 100 list. Last year he pulled in $72 million, $45 million from Idol, $15 million from Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor (he owns both and appears as a judge on each) and $12 million of profit from his record label, which features past Idol winners.
Cowell knows his days as Mr. Nasty are numbered. “You end up on a reality show and start believing you’re a TV star,” he says. “I’m not. My act is quite limited.”
So Cowell is trying to build his company, Syco, into an entertainment phenom to produce television programs, records and movies—without featuring Simon Cowell.
-And since we fellow bloggers are always willing to pat each other on the back, I’m thanking Ken Barnes of the USA Today Idol Chatter for calling my blog “exemplary.” I may have to save that for my next review!
-For those of you thinking about David Cook all the time, he’s still dating Kimberly Caldwell!. The entertainment press is still gaga over this combo!
-And interested in auditioning at the “American Idol Experience” at the Hollywood Disney studios in early 2009? Here’s the scoop from a blogger named Jim Hill.. It’s set up so only 120 people make it to the second round, then 15 to 18 to a third round. A winner each day will get a “Fast Pass” to the front of the audition line at a particular audition city the following season (presumably for 2010 for most of 2009.) Based on what this blogger heard, this sounds like a lot of fun.
-Finally, MJ talks about some changes in Canadian Idol, which added instruments before American Idol. Now they are allowing video auditions and they have dropped the equal gender requirement for the final 24. Good ideas? Bad ideas?
