Fantasia Barrino commonly known as Fantasia, is an American R&B singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe", which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequently, she released her debut album, Free Yourself, which went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA and garnered Barrino three Grammy nominations in 2006.

In 2006, she released her second album, Fantasia, which featured the single "When I See U" which topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for eight weeks. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA and received three Grammy nominations in 2008. She then played the part of Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, for which she won a 2007 Theatre World Award. Her third studio album, Back to Me, was released worldwide on August 24, 2010 and features the single "Bittersweet," which peaked in the top ten on the R&B chart. The single won her a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Fantasia Barrino was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina, to Joseph and Diane Barrino. The Barrino family traveled and performed in the Carolinas and elsewhere in the American South and recorded the CD Miracles for a local label.

Despite the travels, Barrino attended Andrews High School in High Point, North Carolina. After she was raped by a classmate, she was left feeling harassed and embarrassed and dropped out of high school. She became pregnant at 16, and on August 8, 2001, gave birth to her daughter, Zion Quari Barrino. Barrino then briefly moved to neighboring Greensboro, North Carolina before trying out for the American Idol Auditions in Atlanta.

Filmography:

Life Is Not a Fairy Tale (2006) as herself
Mahalia! (2011) (as Mahalia Jackson; lead role in the film)

Discography:

Free Yourself (2004)
Fantasia (2006)
Back to Me (2010)

Awards and nominations:

2004 :
Billboard Music Awards Top Selling Single of the Year ("I Believe")
Top Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year ("I Believe")
2005 :
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Female Artist
Billboard American Urban Radio Networks Top R&B/Hip-Hop Single ("I Believe")
2006 :
ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Awards Most Performed Song ("Free Yourself")
Most Performed Song ("Truth is")
Groovevolt Music Awards Best New Artist
2007 :
Broadway