'American Dreamz' Come True for senior songtress

Senior communications major and music minor Brianna Moles is looking forward to an all-expense paid trip to Hollywood after winning AOL Instant Messenger’s (AIM) American Dreamz singing contest.  Moles’ voice, resembling that of a young Mariah Carey, edged out seven other AIM finalists in an online poll. 

Voters could view a home video of Moles singing the theme song from the new movie, American Dreamz, a spoof of FOX’s hit show “American Idol.”  After a week of competition, AIM notified Moles on Friday, April 21, that she was the grand-prize winner.  Her trip to Hollywood will include a shopping spree, a spa day, a VIP tour of Universal Studios, and red carpet tickets to a movie premier. 

"I can’t wait to go," said Moles excitedly. "I have never been to California." 

Moles discovered the competition by chance when she opened the “AIM Today” Web page, and she had to hurriedly learn the music and send in her videotape within two days.  Her makeshift, dorm-room demo was apparently good enough to earn her a spot as one of eight finalists.  During the competition, Moles ecouraged “everyone and anyone she knew” to vote.

"I couldn’t get any work done that week," Moles admitted. "I am just so lucky that everyone was so supportive."

Her personal PR efforts certainly have paid off, for the win has also brought her considerable media attention. A few days after Moles was notified of her victory, FOX 29 of Philadelphia came to interview her in her dorm room.  The segment appeared on that night’s 10 o’clock news. FOX also asked her to do a live piece for “Good Day Philadelphia.”

Moles had always hoped to pursue a career in music, but this feat has given her the gumption to make her American dream a reality.  For the past few months, she has toyed with the idea of taking the summer after graduation to work on music, but now Moles plans to use the contacts she has already made from the competition to work her way permanently into Hollywood. 

"I am now so much more motivated and confident to do this," she said. 

For the past few years, however, Moles has been no slacker.  When she realized the College only played instrumental tapes of the National Anthem at its major sporting events, she asked to sing. Last summer, she helped co-write songs and make demo tapes of original work.

"I try to sing at any special event, wedding, or talent show," she said.  

Whenever Moles can sing, she does, because music has always been her passion. 

"The first song I ever sang was 'A Whole New World' from the movie Aladdin in third grade," Moles reminisced.

Since the third grade, Moles has pursued voice and music lessons and has performed as much as possible, but it seems that the American Dreamz contest has truly opened a ‘whole new world’ for her.