Arts & Entertainment

'Idol' Effect Continues to Resonate with Medina, Ramos

Chris Medina talks about how his American Idol-related fame has impacted his relationship with injured fiancee Juliana Ramos.

Chris Medina didn’t have just Hollywood on his mind when he auditioned for American Idol.

When he first stepped in front of the show’s judges, he also wanted to make his fiancée, Juliana Ramos, happy about something again.

"The chemistry of our relationship was, 'I'm going to fix you, but you're not going to like me for it,'" Medina told Patch of his relationship with Juli before Idol.

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For Medina, the Idol whirlwind and subsequent outpouring of support has meant a boost in morale for not only himself, but for his family and Juli, the love of his life.

Medina's single, “What Are Words,” has since its release two days after his elimination from the competition, with a portion of the sales going toward Juliana's recovery fund. In addition, community members have stepped up to plan . Funds collected will help her family chip away at the ongoing costs of therapy and treatments required for Juli's Traumatic Brain Injury.

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Today, Medina has fans from as far away as Norway, Australia, France, Finland and Ecuador, and as nearby as Alsip.

They have kept his Facebook fan page buzzing with encouragement and support—some saying he has proven he didn't need to make American Idol's top 24 in order to make something of himself. Others chide they can't recall the names of the performers currently in the top 24 but can clearly recall Chris and his songs.

The momentum has shifted for those surrounding Juliana, including within the dynamics of the couple's relationship.

"When this happened, it created the opportunity, as a man ... to be able to financially take care of her, because all of the money that we raise goes to her, and no one can touch it,” Medina said. “Mentally, it gave me peace of mind."

Check out the video for more of Medina's reflection on how the Idol experience has helped redefine his nine-year relationship with Juli, including her attitude toward therapy.


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