"American Idol" is currently being aired in its 15th and final season on the Fox network. It’s a nationwide favorite that has birthed some of our country’s artists since the first Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson. Although I’ve always enjoyed the show, I never did feel like the title was appropriate. In other words, I’ve never come across a contestant on the show who I would constitute as someone I admire to that capacity, until now and here’s why:
1. I can connect with LaPorsha.
LaPorsha Renae is a black girl spilling her magic into the world every week on the Idol stage. She doesn’t have the typical body type that is particularly praised by society. Her name itself is one that typically is ridiculed due to its eccentric spelling and sound. None of that stops LaPorsha though. Her hair is just as bold as her voice and her eyes are as humble as her spirit. It is evident that she is being no one other than herself. Seeing her in this light is the kind of image that inspires other black girls and women like myself all over the nation to also walk in their own likeness.
2. LaPorsha is brave.
On the episode where she sang with season three winner Fantasia Burrino, she expressed her current struggle with a divorce born from an abusive relationship. In the later weeks, she performed “No More Drama” by Mary J Blige.
During the performance, LaPorsha became emotional and teary-eyed as she sang of her hopes for overcoming her current situation. She even had Jennifer Lopez in tears, empathizing the pain LaPorsha was expressing. As a person who has experience with performing arts, I can say that it takes a lot of courage to share the most private pieces of yourself with people who don’t know the half of anything you deal with. LaPorsha was not only performing in front of an audience, but she also poured out her soul in front of millions of "American Idol" viewers. Furthermore, she made a bold faced statement to her personal situation and released a sense of tenacity and perseverance in the song.
3. The judges love LaPorsha.
Week after week, the judges are constantly impressed with her immaculate performances. Jennifer Lopez explained the infectiousness of LaPorsha’s energy, saying that she felt cool just watching her perform. Harry Connick Jr. said that LaPorsha’s performance would either make other competitors work harder or quit.
During her rendition of India Arie’s “Ready for Love,” Keith Urban said that he found himself not even judging her performance but rather listening and enjoying it as if he were an audience member. The most impressive comment came from the first "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson, who said, “If I were you, which… God bless I wish I were… I would just, every time I sing just be like ‘You’re welcome.’ You’re going to win.” To watch the legacy predict LaPorsha as the winner is a moment that is undeniably magical.
From the moment I saw LaPorsha Renae’s audition air on television, I was blown away and completely stunned with her performance. As a lover of music, specifically R&B, I can sincerely say that her voice was the first one that has left me breathless since Jazmine Sullivan’s entrance into the music industry.
Although it’s the last season of "American Idol," it is the first time that I can consider one of the contests my idol. LaPorsha has a voice like butter and the power to captivate people with that alone. She sincerely has a gift. Watching her use her gift to fulfill her dreams while simultaneously battling personal struggles is truly an inspiration to black women artists like myself all over the nation.
