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With her blond curls and mile-wide smile, Megan Joy's disposition appeared as sunny as her name.

But it wasn't enough to keep the 23-year-old single mom from Sandy on America's No. 1 television show, the Fox juggernaut known as "American Idol."

Despite her ouster on Wednesday, we collected opinions from Utah experts to offer friendly advice for Joy as she prepares for the "American Idols Live" tour this summer and, perhaps, a career in the performing business.

-- Vince Horiuchi and David Burger

Fashion » Salt Lake City fashion designer Danny Nappi, whose denims are a favorite of David Archuleta's, says he likes Joy's unique style of bright-colored sundresses and flats instead of heels. "The dresses are very good for her because she does have a tattoo and kind of a 'bad-girl' vibe going, and the dresses juxtapose that," he said. His biggest recommendation: Don't put wear elegant floor-length dresses like the one she wore during Country Week.

Hair » With her long golden locks, hairstylist Tuan Tran, owner of Salt Lake City's Studio H2O Salon, says Joy exudes the dull "Utah girl hair." He recommends a radical shift for her future: asymmetric bangs with a glassy, dark brown -- almost black -- color. He also believes it would enhance her natural beauty, especially her cheekbones. "It's all about creating buzz," he said. "I think she can get away with that and people would talk about her hair."

Personality » Not too shy but not so outgoing as to be annoying, Joy has a bright, quirky personality that makes her likable as a performer. We say don't change a thing.

Song choice » Brandy Brinkerhoff, vocal director of Orem's Center Stage Performing Arts Studio, recommended that Joy select songs from the new-soul movement, such as from Duffy, Adele or Amy Winehouse. Dean Kaelin, Archuleta's voice coach and one of Utah's most distinguished vocal teachers, said unique singers such as Fiona Apple, Janis Joplin and Alanis Morissette (on her album "Uninvited") should be Joy's model, rather than belters. "Don't try to be Adam Lambert," he said.

Performance » One of Joy's biggest problems on the show was that she didn't display her quirky personality to its best effect. "She needs to be herself and be more aggressive in letting her uniqueness show," Kaelin said. "A lot of her quirks have disappeared," Brinkerhoff said, referring to a kind of "blanding of Joy" that occurred over the weeks. As for the "corkscrew" dance moves, Brinkerhoff said "everyone is not a natural-born performer." Kaelin said the movements appear like nervous energy that can take time for a young performer to tame.