FS student seeks to be next

"Objectivo Fama"

By Jaclyne Badal
The Collegian

A Fresno State student found her way onto national television this week as one of 20 contestants on Telefutura’s Spanish-language version of “American Idol.”

Helen Ochoa, 21, will compete for a recording contract with Univision Music Group on the program “Objectivo Fama,” which airs Sundays on KTFF, Channel 61.

“It’s exciting,” Ochoa’s sister, Francisca, said. “Sometimes we don’t even believe it. We see the commercials and it’s like, ‘Oh, wow, there’s our sister.’”

Helen Ochoa is now in Puerto Rico and will stay there while taping the show. She lives in a house with the other contestants while she trains her voice and body for the song and dance competitions that will air in front of an international audience, her sister said.

The 21-year-old, who came to Fresno State as an Educational Opportunity Program student, learned that she won a spot as a finalist in December.

The application asked Helen Ochoa for the name of someone she admired. The mass communication and journalism student listed Maria Elena Salinas, who Univision calls the most recognized Hispanic journalist in America.

Production crews went to the day care center where Helen Ochoa worked and surprised her with a tape from Salinas that announced the good news.

Francisca Ochoa said the tape reinforced the feeling that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The entire family is supporting the effort, she said.

The Ochoas have been allowed to contact the contestant only once since taping started, her sister said. They sent an e-mail – not to Helen Ochoa’s personal address but to the company’s.

“They just kind of review it and then they print it and give it to her,” Francisca Ochoa said. She said the ban on communication with the outside world is to keep the contestants focused.“What they want you to do is make a sacrifice and be strong and show them that you’re willing to do what it takes to be an artist,” she said.

Helen Ochoa has already shown perseverance as she chased her dream. She auditioned for “American Idol,” “Making the Band” and the first season of “Objectivo Fama.”

She was almost ready to give up when auditions for the second season of “Objectivo Fama” came to Fresno last year. “My mom sort of gave her that little shove,” Francisca Ochoa said. “She was so thankful she did.”

The family has always known Ochoa was a performer, Francisca Ochoa said. She said Ochoa would memorize songs and movie lines when she was as young as 5 years old and act them out.

“You would think, when you were looking at her, that you were looking at that character,” Francisca Ochoa said. “She was always entertaining us.”

The family will be glued to the television in coming months to see how she performs, but her sister said she is proud of Helen Ochoa just for being chosen.

“It’s really nice, not just that she’s our sister but that she’s from the Valley,” Francisca Ochoa said. “Out of all of California, Fresno was the city that had the most participants. We had two of our natives go to the show.”

If Ochoa wins, she will get the Univision contract, $25,000 and a new car, her sister said.

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