By A.J. BLAUER
Ottawa Sun

A cataclysmic event rocked Ottawa's popstar galaxy yesterday as one of our two young hopefuls went supernova and vanished from the reality TV radar.

Krista Allen was one of four young women cut from the cast of Popstars, a weekly behind-the-scenes look at auditions for a Canadian girl group. The program aired last night on Global.

But the 20-year-old Brookfield High graduate, who initially emerged from 4,000 hopefuls across Canada, isn't upset that she didn't make it to the final five.

"To make it this far is wonderful," Allen told the Sun.

"Just because you don't make it (to the end) doesn't mean you won't make it further anywhere else."

Where Allen's dancing didn't quite measure up to the expectations of the show's judges, her vocal talents have impressed a number of songwriters, who are opening doors to what she hopes will be a successful singing career.

"People see different potential," she said.

The Popstars judges saw enough overall potential in Jessika Howell on Day 2 of tryouts to advance the Kanata native along with 17 other hopefuls.

"It was pretty amazing," Howell said from her home last night. "You're thinking: 'One more day.' "

In last night's episode, the candidates sung Macy Gray's I Try and strutted their stuff on the dance floor.

CONFIDENT

"I was more confident vocally," said Howell.

She also danced confidently, thanks to some previous training, which gave her an advantage over other Popstars hopefuls.

"(The judges) weren't there to mould and train," Howell noted. "They wanted to see what you could bring to the table."

The taping of Popstars is over, but neither Howell nor Allen are allowed to discuss the results.

But that doesn't inhibit the public's curiosity.

"People's questions are getting smarter," said Howell, who's had to be careful about discussing the show and her life plans.