First Star Jones, now Taylor Hicks. Simon Cowell's least-favorite American Idol is the latest television creation to suddenly lose the fat and wind up looking like a different person.

The 6'1'' singer from Alabama says he's gone from 215 to 193 pounds (that sounds a little specific) since he won on Idol last May-- not by the lipo-stick or staples, but by cutting out the fried chicken. Judging from the photo on the People website, the salad, brown rice, fish and chicken noodle soup diet also pulled some of the grey out his hair. Wonder if this will help him sell any CDs? He's on tour flogging his new disc, which isn't doing so well on the sales front.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the scale, another Idol alum, who was caught running from paparazzi at LAX this week. He looks different without makeup... after the jump...