Jennifer Fuentes, a former "Idol" competitor, is now mistress of ceremonies for the circus.

Courtesy of www.ringling.com

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Jennifer Fuentes is living a dream among circus stars.

The 22-year-old former "American Idol" finalist is the new mistress of ceremony and songstress for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus of Dreams.

Fuentes, who is Cuban-American, is the "first Latina to have this prominent role in Ringling history," according to circus officials. She was selected for the role last year and will continue working for the circus through next year.

Fuentes will sing and narrate the show when it arrives Friday at Tucson Arena. (Main Stages map, Page 33.) Her role is to guide the audience along a story line in which a family embarks on adventures in the circus. "I sing five songs, and along the journey a family transforms and becomes part of the greatest show on Earth," Fuentes said.

"The father becomes the ringmaster and the mother becomes an aerialist. Their daughter, Jan, transforms into a dancer, and their son, Dan, doesn't know what he wants to become. Plots come alive and the journey begins," said Fuentes during a recent interview.

As a circus performer, she now lives on a train and travels throughout the United States, sometimes presenting 13 shows a week.

She has performed in 60 cities, and when not under the spotlight she works with the elephants, escorting the animals to and from buildings.

Singing in front of circus audiences is a learning experience that Fuentes hopes will help her in future endeavors. She is a lyricist who has been writing since age 15 and possibly will record her own songs or write for others. The entertainer also may one day step onto a Broadway stage.

On "American Idol," the Miami-born Fuentes finished in the top 30 and competed against eventual winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken.