Sadly, the American Idol family mourns the loss of alumna Joanne Borgella. The 32-year-old singer died Saturday, Oct. 18, following a year-long battle with a rare case of cancer.
Borgella's family shared the sad news with fans via her Facebook page, saying the singer and model died around 5:45 a.m:
To God be the glory!
With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Joanne.
On Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 5:45AM, Joanne Borgella Ramirez was called by the Lord to heaven.
At an early age, Joanne made a choice to serve and trust the Lord; and since her diagnosis over a year ago, Joanne made a choice to also be a fighter and share her journey with the world. Her faith, courage and strength were unshaken throughout every obstacle she encountered. Although our family is suffering with this great loss, we find comfort in the closeness Joanne shared with the Lord. We know her spirit still shines and will continue to live on in heaven.
As noted by Vibe, Borgella made it into the Top 24 on Season 7 of Idol in 2008. She was also crowned the first winner of Mo'Nique's Fat Chance, a competition for plus-size models, in 2005. Borgella appeared on NUVOtv's Curvy Girls as well as MTV's Made. She was also a model for Ashley Stewart, Macy's and Nordstrom.
According to her family, Borgella was struggling with endometrial cancer, a form of cancer that attacks the lining of the womb. In September, she shared on Facebook that she would be undergoing two more radiation procedures, in hopes of ending the year cancer-free.
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