FANTASIA: HOW SHE HAD TO LOSE TO WIN

It seems like only yesterday when singer Fantasia had us all doing the “ugly cry” after her epic win during the third season of American Idol in 2004. A decade later, the platinum-selling R&B songstress and actress has a string of hits, tours and awards under her belt and these days it’s not only a much smaller belt but her circle of family and friends is smaller, but stronger.

In 2013, Fantasia emerged  with the album Side Effects Of You and a sleek new figure to go with it. And she’s continued her reign with her 2016 album, The Definition Of… She shared the secrets to her 50 pound weight loss following the birth of her son in an interview with Essence.

“Working out for me, started as something mental. It was a way to release and let some things go,” she told the publication. “I workout every day, sometimes twice a day. I keep my trainer with me and she travels with me. I love pilates, yoga, and spinning. I also attend boot camp class and they have become my workout family. Doing it with them makes me feel good.”

Before meeting the love of her life, Kendall Taylor, while her career initially flourished, bad decisions–both ­professional and personal–took their toll. The situation came to a head in the spring of 2010 during the divorce trial of her then-boyfriend, Antwaun Cook, with allegations and accusations of home-wrecking, pregnancy and sex tapes. The whole humiliating ordeal went public and scrutiny from fans and naysayers was everywhere. It culminated on Aug. 9, 2010, when Fantasia attempted suicide by downing a bottle of aspirin. “I was a broken woman,” she told Billboard magazine.

Picking up the pieces and fueled with determination, Fantasia started posting daily affirmations on her mirror with saying like: “You are strong,” “You are wise.”

The North Carolina born Southern belle also revealed that health problems in her family also motivated her to get into shape as an example for them.

“A lot of my cousins who are my age or are in their 30′s are on high blood pressure pills and it’s like, c’mon, you’re too young for that. I wanted to be the person in my family to stand up and say, ‘Okay we have to…

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