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Model, Former 'American Idol' Contestant Dies At 32

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)  —  A former contestant on "American Idol" has lost her year-long battle with cancer.

Joanne Borgella, 32, was a Top 12 female contestant during the show's 7th season in 2008.

She died, according to her family, at 5:45 Saturday morning.

Borgella is perhaps best known for being a plus-sized model.

She was also the winner of "Mo'Nique's Fat Chance" pageant in 2005. She went by the name "Miss F.A.T."

Borgella announced that she had a rare form of cancer in October 2013 but told her fans she would fight it aggressively. Her family recently asked that fans educate themselves about little-known endometrial cancer which develops in the uterus.

She often shared her fight with cancer on social media. Borgella recently said the cancer had spread to her chest but she was planning on two rounds of radiation last month and sounded hopeful.

A staple on several reality shows, Borgella was also seen on MTV's "Made," and NUVOtv's "Curvy Girls."

Borgella, a native of Uniondale, New York, was signed to the elite Wilhelmina Modeling Agency.

The reality star also dabbled in clothing design launching JBNY in 2013

 

 

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