The Hair Stays! - But Everything Else Changes in 'Idol' Finalist Justin's Life
Don Kaplan
The New York Post August 30, 2002

THREE months ago, "American Idol" finalist Justin Guarini was selling burglar alarms door-to-door.

Suddenly he is among a handful of people who are known by one name - like Madonna, Oprah and Sting - and by his trademark hair.

Every kid wants to be Justin - and every parent wants him to cut that bouncing, bopping Afro.

"I think my hair would attack whoever tried to cut it," Justin told The Post yesterday.

Guarini, who was in New York yesterday to appear at MTV's "Video Music Awards" show, is still reeling from the wild ride he's had from Doylestown, Pa. - where he also worked as a wedding singer - to next Tuesday night's showdown with Kelly Clarkson, which will be watched by an estimated 20 million viewers. "It's the best darn summer camp I've ever been to," he says. "It's the summer camp of my dreams."

Guarini's rocket-ride to fame started last June when the 23-year-old auditioned for the show at a downtown Manhattan dance studio along with more than 1,000 hopefuls who traveled here from around the Northeast.

His trademark hair comes from his father, Eldrin Bell, who's African-American. Bell is Atlanta's former police chief and appeared on Wednesday night's show dancing as his son sang.

Guarini's mother, who is white, is a former television reporter who now sells real estate.

His stepfather (with whom he shares a last name) is a retired Navy physicist.

Guarini - who inherited his power-packed vocal cords from his parents - says he hopes to start his own family one of these days, after he's a star.

"I'm single," he says. "I'm career oriented right now, but I plan to settle down and have a family. I can't wait to do that - well I can wait, but that's the future. It's me-time right now. I really want to get my dreams underway."

Guarini's rivalry with co-finalist Kelly is, at least on the surface, very friendly.

"Kelly and I are the closest of close friends," he says. "She is such a wonderful confidante and she's meant so much to me. We've really been there for one another on the show."

But next Wednesday night, only one will go home as America's favorite idol.