Spelling Bee Champ Chalks Victory up to "The Duchess"

Voorhies, NJ - Pundar and Rachna Patel thought they had reason to be proud as the parents of the newly crowned, 12-year-old, Emerald Nut National Spelling Bee Champion Raj Patel. That is until the discovered Raj's victory was aided by his underground penchant for MTV music videos - an indulgence banned from the Patel household.

Needing a correct spelling to secure victory after Fran Giddes incorrectly spelled "paraphernalia," Patel found himself in a tight spot: win with the correct spelling of his word, but have his parents discover his secret hoarding of MTV programming. Raj's word: Fergilicious.



"She's good about spelling things out in her videos," said Raj in a March 11th Voorhies Times interview, "especially words that don't really exist. That's why I was surprised to get it - because it's not really a word."

Although "Fergilicious" is not one of the words that Stacey Ferguson, aka "Fergie" aka "The Duchess" lyrically spells out, it is the titular song of one of her most recent music videos, proceeded by "Glamorous," which Fergie also spells out in the lyrics: "G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S."

As for Raj's parents, they declined comment upon learning of their sons illicit viewing of MTV, but sources close to the family have predicted a stern reprimand for the youth who should otherwise be basking in the glory of his spelling victory.

Fergie's publicist declined comment, but sources indicate Fergie will continue to spell out words in her lyrics.