news articles 28 october

[Inside Australian Idol]

Paulini out of Australian Idol
Milanda Rout
28oct03

AND then were three. In a shock result, Paulini Curuenavuli was voted out last night from the final stages of television singing quest Australian Idol.



The Fijian-born singer from Sydney was the centre of controversy last week after comments made about her by Ian "Dicko" Dickson.
Body-image experts slammed Dickson for saying the 20-year-old should "choose more appropriate clothes, or shed some pounds" in response to a figure-hugging gold outfit she was wearing.

Last night, Dickson said her inner beauty would be the key to her success.

"Your beautiful voice will carry you far but I think it's your inner beauty that is going to take you further," he said.

The departure of Curuenavuli leaves country boy Shannon Noll, Perth's Cosima De Vito and 21-year-old Guy Sebastian to contest the coveted Australian Idol title.

But as the competition heats up, there were allegations that the voting system was not fair.

Fans of Perth contestant Cosima De Vito last night claimed she is missing out on votes because of the three-hour time difference between the east and west coasts.

They claim thousands of Perth voters miss out because the lines close at 7pm eastern daylight savings time.

A Channel Ten spokesman said the station had no comment on the issue.


www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7689632%255E662,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Paulini spared all insults
October 28, 2003

DICKO called her "ravishingly beautiful" and Mark "copy cat" Holden said, well, exactly the same thing about Paulini's next effort.

But did anyone congratulate designer Charlie Brown who copped most of the flak for that gold dress, for making a "touchdown" with Paulini's two black numbers on Sunday night?

Teamed with a pair of $700 Furla shoes and another $300 worth of Furla costume jewellery - which are hers to keep - "Paulini got it just right," said Jill Love from Ten's wardrobe department yesterday.

Guy, who wore a CEO shirt, Studio Italia suit and his own shoes was by far the easiest of the four to dress, said Love.

"Guy's got a really good sense of what his style is like," she said.

Cosima decided early on to make the most of having expert advice and now trusts the wardrobe girls to do what they like, she said.

And as for Shannon, who was dressed head to toe (including underwear) in Made For Men?

"Shannon kinda says 'whatever'. He totally trusts us," Love said yesterday. "Unfortunately the only thing he won't let us go anywhere near is that little triangle of chin hair he has." Meanwhile judge Mark Holden must be feeling a bit mighty, mighty badabing today with his own touchdown.

The 12 finalists' single Rise Up, penned by Holden, has held on to the No.1 spot in the chart for the second week in a row.

The Daily Telegraph

www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7687964%255E28477,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Paulini takes her final bow
October 28, 2003


WITH tears streaming down her face, Paulini Curuenavuli serenaded the Australian Idol audience one last time.

Paulini fights back tears.

The 20-year-old Bankstown girl carried herself beautifully during her most emotional performance on the Idol stage.

"I can't believe I kept it so together, I thought at any moment I wouldn't be able to sing any more," Paulini said. "Someone had to go and we were all so good ... the talent there is just amazing."

The baby of the group, Paulini said she would only have positive memories of her time on the top-rating show.

"It's such a rush and it is such a dramatic change from what my life used to be," she said.

"It's amazing, I couldn't have asked for anything more."

And she was thrilled with the Australian Idol album reaching gold yesterday. "I can't believe it, it's amazing, I guess the only thing we can do is keep trying our best. My next step is to keep on doing what I always do and just keep on singing."

Following her elimination, Paulini opted against a big farewell celebration. "I think I'm going to go with my family and get some words of encouragement," she said.

Her shock elimination is sure to create a lot of disbelief and anger among her many fans, some of whom were ringing Confidential in disgust last night.

And Paulini's choice to take out the Idol competition?

"I think Guy, he's just a total music freak," she said.

The Daily Telegraph

entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,7691031%255E10431%255E%255Enbv,00.html

[Anna Blake]

How did we expect Pauline to win!!! Australia wants an Australian to win!!! It sounds racist but thats the fact!We were'nt looking at the talent but the color!!and the looks!!I'm an australian but at the moment I'm not sure if i want to be one

[m]

thats crap. look at the finalists - it has nothing to do with color. Who is left? Guy - who is apparently of Malaysian descent, alongside Cosmia who is Italian. This has NOTHING to do with race or ethnicity. Stop trying to blame it on that.