Yuridia Gaxiola may be American, but she made out like a bandit in the Mexican version of “American Idol.”
Gaxiola, of Mesa, Ariz., finished second among six finalists of Mexico’s musical reality show “La Academia” — taking home 1 million pesos (about $92,000) and a car.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m so happy,” the 18-year old said.
Erasmo Catarino Gonzalez, a 27-year-old teacher at an Indian school in southern Guerrero state, took the top prize: a sport utility vehicle and 3.5 million pesos.
Gaxiola wasn’t the only contestant from the United States singing Sunday for 10,000 screaming fans and millions of television viewers. Edgar Guerrero, a 25-year-old car washer from Boise, Idaho, finished fifth. Los Angeles native Johanna Delgado, 19, also had competed, but was voted out in June.
Now in its fourth season, “La Academia,” is a mix of “Big Brother” and “American Idol.” Broadcast in the United States and Central America, it featured 18 contestants who were sealed off in a Mexico City talent academy for five months.
“La Academia” has been such a hit for TV Azteca that the network is launching “La Academia America,” a reality show for Latinos in the United States slated to start in November.