R.I.P., Alexis Cohen

I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it on BBC News .

Alexis Cohen, temporarily known as "Glitter Girl" after her first audition, was a contestant on American Idol. Her claim to fame was as another contestant classified as one of "The Crazies" due to her eccentric manner and her profanity-laden rejection speech. She claimed she would be "victorious" and represent people who are a little quirkier than most, but her attitude changed after Simon belittled her with -- well, you know, the same old comments he gives to people who aren't fantastic. She auditioned on both seasons seven and eight.

Well, I disagree with Simon. Cohen was one of my favorite contestants on American Idol. Obviously, she acted a little crazier for the cameras, and she was so deliciously out there that she reminded me why I watch the first few weeks of the show and stop after that. Although her voice was jarring and weird at first, once the viewer listens to it for a bit, it seemed like she could really rock. Yeah, it's unconventional. Yeah, it's sometimes grating. But given the right polish of a recording studio and a really kickass backup band, she'd tear the soul out of a song, whatever strange way she would come up with. To me, she was intriguing.

Before Idol, Cohen was an animal rights activist. She resided in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and lived with her mother, dog, and two cats. As stated in the video, she had been studying to become a veterinarian. She auditioned for the show in 2008 and again in 2009, but she'll be most known from her first audition (see below).

This past weekend, she died from injuries resulting in a hit-and-run accident in Ocean County, New Jersey. Her autopsy revealed injuries in the abdomen, head, and chest. 23 year-old Daniel Bark of Toms River, New Jersey has been arrested and charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident in relation to Cohen's death, according to zap2it.com.

Alexis, you had a cult following, fame, notoriety, and even a song made out of your speech. You'll be missed. Peace, love, and chicken grease.