Everybody loves a Cinderella story. We root for the underdog and we cheer for David to slay Goliath. And when tatted-up, chickenhawk-wearing, single mother Fantasia Barrino was crowned the winner of the third season of American Idol, the world embraced her with open arms, blessing her with a double platinum album and chart-topping success. But over time, those rough edges that used to seem so endearing became embarrassingly sloppy. When Fantasia debuted "Hood Boi," her lead single for her sophomore album, the writing was on the wall and the album tanked. Even her biggest supporters, Simon Cowell included, openly questioned the direction 'Tasia was taking in her career.
But change gon' come, y'all. In the words of Fantasia, "2010 is mines." The American idol is firmly on the road to redemption and what better way is there to win back fans in this new age of Facebooks and Twitters, than to star in your own reality show and share your hot mess of a family, interspersed with scenes of you struggling to find your hit record, with the world? Keyshia Cole's crackhead mother, Frankie, and baby factory sister, Neffe, did wonder for Keyshia Cole Google ranking with her BET reality show and Fantasia is faithfully following the same recipe book. Although instead of a lazy, unbearably loud babymama sister, Fantasia has a no-good, do-nothin, slacker of an older brother named Teeny that she's housing. (The racial stereotypes on display are likely to make the NAACP regret those Image Awards they gave 'Tasia but hey, all's fair in showbiz and reality TV.)
Other memorable characters include her large-and-in-charge big Aunt, Bunny, her little man manager, Brian, her mother, Diane, and her daughter, Zion. No word on whether or not her cousins-in-hot-mess K-Ci and Jojo will make an appearance, but if they do, expect the buffoonery meter to go through the roof.
Watch the first episode of Fantasia's VH1 reality show "Fantasia for Real" below. You won't be disappointed.
This is your new Monday night reality TV fix. DVR it, Tivo it or catch it on the web. There are guaranteed to be plenty of gif worthy moments afoot.
