Joanne Borgella, of Hoboken, New Jersey, died early Saturday morning about a year after announcing her battle with cancer of the womb, which then spread to her chest, according to a statement released by Borgella’s family. The 32-year-old, who appeared on ‘American Idol’ in 2008 ‘was unshaken throughout every obstacle,’ her family wrote.
Hoboken resident and plus-size model, Joanne Borgella, died Saturday after battling a rare cancer.
Model and former “American Idol” contestant Joanne Borgella died early Saturday morning of complications stemming from cancer.
The 32-year-old singer, a resident of Hoboken, New Jersey, publicly struggled with a rare case of cancer of the womb after being diagnosed last year and died at 5:45 a.m., according to a statement shared by Borgella’s family on Facebook.
Joanne Borgella appeared on the seventh season of American Idol, but was eliminated after performing ‘I Say a Little Prayer.’
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,” the statement read.
Borgella kept her fans apprised of her fight with Endometrial cancer which affects the inner lining of the uterus, but it later spread to her chest. The last update regarding her medical progress was shared on Sept. 23 when Borgella said she was undergoing two radiation procedures.
She auditioned for “American Idol” in 2008, but was eliminated in the first week of the seventh season after performing Dionne Warwick’s “I Say a Little Prayer.”
The native of Long Island also pursued a plus-sized modeling career after winning Mo’Nique’s Fat Chance, a beauty pageant show on Oxygen, in 2005.