Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia Monique Barrino, or simply Fantasia (born June 30, 1984 in High Point, North Carolina), is an African-American rhythm and blues singer, who came to fame as the winner of the third season of the television series American Idol. In September 2005, Fantasia published her memoir (which she dictated to a freelance writer), Life is Not a Fairy Tale. In it she revealed that she is functionally illiterate.

In September 2005, Fantasia published her memoir (which she dictated to a freelance writer), Life is Not a Fairy Tale. In it she revealed that she is functionally illiterate. She discussed this in an interview on 20/20, saying she hadn't been able to read contracts, and she simply memorized the songs she was told to perform and sing on her records.