Former ‘American Idol’ Competitor Joanne Borgella Dies At 32

(Reuters) -- Singer and model Joanne Borgella, who competed on “American Idol” in 2008, died Saturday at age 32 after a battle with cancer, her family said on her Facebook page.

“With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Joanne,” the family said in a statement, which did not say where Borgella had died.

Borgella made it to the top 24 on “American Idol” in 2008, three years after she appeared on the reality-television series “Mo’Nique’s Fat Chance” and won its contest to find the ideal plus-size model. In recent years, she had modeled professionally and launched her own clothing line.

Borgella last year shared a video with her fans to say she was diagnosed with cancer and that it had spread to her chest. She had since chronicled her treatment on her Facebook page.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Robert Birsel)