Mandisa Hundley, who auditioned for the fifth season of American Idol, has dropped a whopping 80 pounds since she started recording her new album, according to ETOnline.com.

The 33-year-old has spoken for the first time about the nasty crack that judge Simon Cowell made during her audition, when he joked that they would need a “bigger stage” to accommodate the then overweight singer.

After reliving the painful experience with the airing of American Idol Rewind, Hundley reveals that she no longer holds a grudge against snippy Cowell.

“When I saw Simon the next time, I told him I forgave him because an important part of my faith is forgiving others because I have been forgiven,” she stated. “I will never forget that reaction: the look on his face - humbled and giving me a big hug."

Hundley says her album True Beauty is about not being defined by one’s looks, though she did decide to work on her appearance while in the studio. She began to make better choices about what she put into her body, and enlisted the help of a personal trainer who specializes in eating disorders.

“I don't believe in diets, because I have lost weight on them all, but the thing about diets is that you have the mindset that you stop a diet when you are done losing weight," she explained. "This really is a lifestyle change for me."

A big congrats to Mandisa; keep up the good work girl! (New York Daily News)

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