A FORMER Australian Idol star has called for a ban on minors competing in the hit show.


Cosima De Vito, 30, said Idol was exploiting young contestants and judges were cruelly taunting teens.

"Nobody should be allowed on Idol until they are 21," De Vito said.

"These kids are too young to be put in a situation where they are criticised harshly and humiliated. They are too vulnerable."

This year's Idol finalists, Matt Corby and Natalie Gauci, have had meltdowns after brutal critiques from judges.

Corby, 17, has been berated for behaving like a spoilt child.

Tarasai Vushe, 20, also had a very public breakdown on the show after she was accused of being fake.

De Vito said reactions from contestants proved her point.

"Criticism is always hard to take, no matter how old you are," she said.

"It gets blown out of proportion and it greatly affects the way these kids look at themselves."

De Vito, who sang against Guy Sebastian in 2003, was picked on for her eyebrows.

"It was tough for me and I was 26," she said.

Cosima waxed her eyebrows after a taunt from Idol judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson.

Idol judge Kyle Sandilands has accused several hopefuls of being too fat and criticised one with a disproportionate sized head and one who wore braces.

Gauci, 25, of Burwood, will become Melbourne's first Idol winner if she beats Sydney teen Corby tonight.

Gauci's supporters will watch the Sydney Opera House singing contest at Burwood's Whitehorse Club.

Corby remained the bookie's favourite yesterday

"I'm just going to do what I do. If people like it that's great," Gauci said.

The final begins at 7.30 tonight on Channel 10.