Nicole Tranquillo: From U of Arts to "Idol"?

We here at Phillyist love a good contest, and what better contest than one where we all get to watch hundreds of people make asses of themselves on national television?! Yes, American Idol is a grand display of what we like to call "TV 2.0" - part game show, part reality show, part drama, part comedy; 100% entertaining.

Well, while this picture is not the most flattering one floating around the net, Nicole Tranquillo may soon have much more than a good jazz band and some bad MySpace photos behind her.

This University of the Arts student is far better than so many of the "contestants" we love to hate. Ten years of singing experience and a spot in a band full of University of the Arts music majors has given this Philly native the pipes and practice to make to the top 24.

She enjoys the vocal "stylings" of Justin Timberlake, which does put something of a damper on our support for her, but she sounds damn good.

Plus, it could be worse; she could be weird.

Image from MC Sky/Soul School MySpace page.