All -Time Greatest American Idol Contestants

          A new American Idol will be declared this week and for the season 12 a woman will be declared the winner the first since 2007 when Jordin Sparks won the coveted title.
          Although we are surprised to hear that this will be the last season that Randy Jackson and all the other 3 one-time judges namely, Keith Urban and alpha females, ever feuding Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey will be in the hot seat as judges and also the last time producer  Jimmy Iovine mentoring and critiquing the contestants (fortunately Ryan Seacrest remains as host), we are equally amused and excited about the much anticipated one on one battle between Candice Glover and Kree Harrison. Whoever wins American Idol this week is well deserved and will be loved by millions of Americans who themselves voted for their next idol.
          As we anticipate the next American Idol, it is interesting to take a look back at some of the All-Time Greatest American Idol contestants before this season who have graced the stage and wowed and swooned us with their heart melting numbers, breath taking performances, powerful and eardrum exploding vocals and soulful, hair raising rendition of songs.
          This list is not necessarily the winners but those fortunate contestants who were fated to step on the stage once, let the whole nation hear them sing and thus, born to take our breath away leaving us with imprints of good memories resounding the sweet melodies of the symphony and the ear popping drums and guitars of the band in our minds forever. These phenomenal performers are truly stars in the making taking the world by storm. 
          The names are listed in random order but according to the season they compete.

1. Kelly Clarkson
2. Justin Guarini
3. Tamyra Gray
4. AJ Gil
5. Nikki McKibbin
6. Ruben Studdard
7. Clay Aiken
8. Josh Gracin
9. Fantasia Barrino
10. LaToya London
11. Jennifer Hudson
12. Diana DeGarmo
13. John Stevens
14. Carrie Underwood
15. Anthony Fedorov
16. Bo Bice
17. Constantine Maroulis
18. Nadia Turner
19. Vonzell Solomon
20. Taylor Hicks
21. Katherine McPhee
22. Elliott Yamin
23. Chris Daughtry
24. Paris Bennett
25. Kellie Pickler
26. Ace Young
27. Mandisa
28. Jordin Sparks
29. Blake Lewis
30. Melinda Doolittle
31. LaKisha Jones
32. Chris Richardson
33. David Cook
34. David Archuleta
35. Syesha Mercado
36. Jason Castro
37. Brooke White
38. Carly Smithson
39. Kristy Lee Cook
40. Ramiele Malubay
41. Amanda Overmyer
42. Asiah Epperson
43. Adam Lambert
44. Danny Gokey
45. Allison Iraheta
46. Matt Giraud
47. Anoop Desai
48. Scott MacIntyre
49. Crystal Bowersox
50. Casey James
51. Michael Lynche
52. Siobhan Magnus
53. Didi Benami
54. Scotty McCreery
55. Lauren Alaina
56. Haley Reinhart
57. James Durbin
58. Jacob Lusk
59. Casey Abrams
60. Ta-Tynisa Wilson
61. Clint Jun Gamboa
62. Ashthon Jones
63. Thia Megia
64. Naima Adedapo
65. Pia Toscano
66. Phillip Phillips
67. Jessica Sanchez
68. Joshua Ledet
69. Hallie Day
70. Jen Hirsh
71. Creighton Fraker
72. Skylar Laine
73. Elise Testone
74. Colton Dixon
75. DeAndre Brackensick
76. Heejun Han
77. Erika Van Pelt
78. Reed Grimm


 

Miss USA 2013 Pre-Arrival Favorites 1 - 10

             The 62nd Miss USA 2013 will be held on June 16, 2013 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada. Fifty-one (51) contestants representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia will fight it out for the crown of Miss USA 2013 and to represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2013 at a venue and specific date to be announced by the Miss Universe Organization. The reigning Miss USA 2012 Nana Meriwether of Potomac, Maryland, who succeeded Olivia Culpo after the latter won Miss Universe 2012 will crown her successor at the end of the event. 
         Meanwhile, before the ladies hit the stage and compete for the title, photos of the 51 ladies surfaced on the web and the pageant fans and pundits including me cannot help but make their own favorites or bets for the crown before their arrival and even before they compete. Here is my own list of pre-arrival favorites for the crown. Their numbers here signify the rankings of ladies, whose timeless and effortless beauty, natural elegance and personality in the pictures captured my attention most. So here goes my early favorites for Miss USA 2013!

 

 1. Hawaii - Brianna Acosta

  

2. Illinois - Stacie Juris  
 

  

3. Maryland - Kasey Staniszewski

  

4. Connecticut - Erin Brady

  

5. Tennessee - Brenna Mader 

  

6. New Hampshire - Amber Faucher

  

7. California - Mabelynn Capeluj 

  

8. Indiana - Emily Hart

  

9. Alabama - Mary Margaret McCord

  

10. Colorado - Amanda Wiley 

Miss USA 2013 Pre-Arrival Favorites 11 - 20

 

 11. Nevada - Chelsea Caswell

  

 12. Pennsylvania - Jessica Billings

  

13. South Dakota - Jessica Albers

  

14. Utah - Marissa Powell

  

15. West Virginia - Chelsea Welch 

  

16. Florida - Michelle Aguirre

  

17. Louisiana - Kristen Girault

  

18. Texas - Ali Nugent

  

19. New Jersey - Libell Duran 

  

20. Virginia - Shannon McAnally

Warming Up: 
Arizona 
District of Columbia 
Georgia 
Kentucky 
Massachusetts