A year after her ‘American Idol’ experience, Asbury Park Press caught up with Antonella Barba, who has since returned to the Catholic University of America in Washington, where she majors in architecture. “It doesn’t feel like it has been a year,” Barba said from her home in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Barba said her original audition was “the only performance on TV I was really proud of.”
As for the racy photo scandal that made her an internet sensation, Barba said, “If I could rewind back to 2006, I would obviously do exactly everything I did. But I don’t think I would do it a second time.” Barba credit her family’s love to overcome the negative gossip she faced in wake of the images that weren’t intended for the public to see. “More than anything, I was nervous to return home. But my family and friends treated me the same and have faith in me, loving me unconditionally,” Barba said. “I can’t even believe how much grace they had and how well they handled it.”