Katrina Darrell, "American Idol" Bikini Girl, Gets "Noticed"

"American Idol" is sending Katrina Darrell to Hollywood. Season 8 of the number one rated show (for the past four years) got off to a memorable start with auditions in Phoenix, Arizona. As with past years, "American Idol" kicked off its season with auditions of the thousands of hopefuls, some amazingly talented, some not so much.

Katrina Darrell would fit somewhere in between the two categories. Slim, beautiful, and clad only in a mini - bikini, Katrina Darrell defiantly performed in front of a visibly surprised panel of "American Idol" judges. Performing a mediocre rendition of "Vision of Love," Darrell got passes from both slack-jawed male judges, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. New judge Kara DioGuardi offered a very vociferous negative. Paula Abdul, never one to hurt anyone's feelings, said nothing about the performance until after Darrell was told she was going to Hollywood.

But you knew the moment bikini girl Katrina Darrell was singled out on "American Idol" that at least her audition would be memorable. In a segment leading up to the audition, Ryan Seacrest, the host of "American Idol," approached the near-nothing wearing Darrell and, taking her hand, said, "I didn't even see your hands." Then there was a brief flirting scene, with Katrina Darrell telling Seacrest that she was going to make out with him and Seacrest, eyes noticeably averted to the point of strain, hesitatingly saying that he thought it was against the rules.

Katrina said she wanted to be "noticed." And she was, to the point of distraction. Being nude has that affect on people.

Walking into the audition room, eyes were raised all around. Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson could not decide whether to smile, laugh, or simply gawk. There were a couple "Wows" from the two female judges. Randy Jackson asked the contestant, "Do you go out to all auditions dressed like this?"

Katrina Darrell: "No, just this one."

Simon Cowell said, "Let me tell you: It's smart." Randy laughed.

Kara DioGuardi, not impressed, asked the contestant to do a turnaround "for the guys," then pointedly asked Simon if there was anything else he'd like to see. He said, "I'm fine."

And the audition began. It was not bad. But it was not great. But over the years, audiences have watched the judges send far worse than the likes of Katrina Darrell onward into the competition. Some have even made it into the final rounds.

Simon Cowell immediately said, "Yes." Kara DioGuardi objected. Randy Jackson interrupted and said it was a "yes" for him as well. DioGuardi began objecting, qualifying her objection by stating she didn't want it to be misconstrued as a "she's a beautiful girl" thing, then offered her own version of "Vision of Love." She said Katrina didn't have that "swing."

Katrina Darrell offered to dance. Randy immediately said, "No."

The audition then became a vocal duel between indignant Kara DioGuardi and defensive (difficult not to be when you're nude) Katrina Darrell. Simon and Randy both stated over the singing that they preferred Katrina.

DioGuardi told her she was beautiful but "you don't have the chops to sing that song, sweetie."

Katrina Darrell, hands on tanned hips, tossed back, "But your demonstration was not any better."

All of which prompted DioGuardi to throw her papers into the air and Paula Abdul to stand up, mouth agape. Abdul said, "That was not a wise thing to say."

It got worse, with DioGuardi continuing to sing and pettily asking the contestants full name because they, she said, only knew her as "top and bottom." But in the end they welcomed the nearly nude bikini-clad model to Hollywood.

And she jumped up and down. DioGuardi asked for another turn around. Randy Jackson asked for another "Welcome to Hollywood" bouncing moment - and was rewarded. DioGuardi, as Katrina Darrell left the audition room, muttered that she had to admit, the girl had a "nice derrierre."

Simon Cowell asked if the two female judges actually liked Katrina Darrell's performance. They both admitted that they did not. "She's terrible," the two echoed each other.

Afterward, when Darrell spoke with Ryan Seacrest, he asked what she thought the judges had seen in her. She said, "My voice," then paused and added "and bikini."

She then kissed Seacrest while Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" played. (One wonders what it is about Ryan Seacrest that has comedians, colleagues, and now producers constantly referring to him as effeminate.)

A memorable moment on "American Idol"? By all means. But not their best moment. And the audience has probably gotten a taste of the new flavor of judging that Kara DioGuardi brings to the table. She and Simon Cowell are going to go at it all season. Paula Abdul will most likely side with her real life friend DioGuardi. Randy Jackson, when he is not disagreeing with Simon over the musical aspects of the show, will probably side with Simon Cowell.

And "American Idol" becomes the battle of the sexes in Season 8. Not that it hasn't been, evenly dividing contestants by gender and voting them off in pairs, one male and one female, on each show in the final rounds until the Top Ten. But a gender war at the judging panel, although entertaining at times, will only lend to devaluing the judgments rendered.

It is doubtful that Katrina Darrell will make it past the second round, especially with the two female judge's allied against her, but she has definitely done what she set out to do - she's been "noticed." Her performance, which was as good as or better than most pop stars recording at present, along with her beauty and self-confidence should do her well.

Katrina Darrell will not soon be forgotten, regardless of the outcome of her run on "American Idol." The video of "Bikini Girl" Katrina Darrell has gone viral. Searches for Katrina Darrell nude have begun (as if her mini - bikini leaves anything to the imagination). And when someone starts getting "noticed" like she has been "noticed," a lot more people will want to make certain that her noticeability continues to be "noticed."

No doubt "American Idol" will not be the last time the world sees Katrina Darrell.

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The video for Katrina Darrell, a.k.a., the "'American Idol' Bikini Girl," can be found on YouTube and Wowowow.com.

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Source:

"American Idol," Fox Television

Wowowow.com