The earlier seasons of "American Idol" are remembered in part for entertainingly harsh comments from the panel of judges – OK mostly Simon Cowell, but one former contestant is speaking out about how tough it can be to be on the receiving end of that criticism.

In an Instagram post published Wednesday, influencer Casey Goode, who goes by "Quigley" online, revealed that that day was the 10th anniversary of the day she got cut from 'Idol."

She recounted how the judges' criticism nearly made her give up singing.

If neither name sounds familiar, that's because Goode competed under her maiden name, Carlson, during Season 8. She made it to Hollywood Week and the semifinals, but did not reach the top 12. Though Kris Allen eventually won the title that year, runner-up Adam Lambert, who opened this year's Oscars with Queen and tours with the Rock Hall of Famers, emerged as the most famous Season 8 alumnus.

Goode was cut after what Cowell deemed an "atrocious" rendition of The Police's "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" during the semifinals.

"I was 20 years old... and I was told on national television that my performance was 'ALL WRONG' by the judges," Goode wrote. "Even Paula (Abdul) couldn’t think of a nice thing to say. There might have been mention of how I looked 'pretty' or 'cute' but it was clear they thought that I was not a good enough singer or performer to be on the show."

The experience left her "heartbroken and humiliated," she said. "I went home to Minnesota feeling lost and confused and so unsure of what the future held for me. It took years before I was able to perform again- to sing again... to put myself out there."

A turning point came when Goode met with Britney Spears' then-manager Larry Rudolph, who told her "Idol" didn't have to be the end of the road.

"Until then, I thought I would never be able to be BIGGER than the show. I let the show define me... it was the STAR of my story. But on that day, I realized it was MY STORY- and I needed to write myself back into it. I put my whole heart into my music. I wrote hundreds of songs in years. I performed in arenas and on stages in front of thousands of people."

Though Goode continued to sing for a while after "Idol," she has since switched her focus from music to Instagram, where she focuses on travel and fashion. She hopes sharing her "Idol" story will empower women and remind others they can make it through difficult times.

"I hope that it inspires anyone else right now who is going through a hard time or a time where they feel scared or like they're not enough that from your darkest times," she later explained in an Instagram story video. "You can learn the most about yourself and you can grow and it can propel you to chase new dreams that you never thought it would be possible."

Goode no longer has hard feelings towards the "Idol" judges.

"I never thought it would be possible to be doing what I'm doing now and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my experience on 'American Idol,'" she said, "so I'm truly thankful."

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