Kara DioGuardi in Allure

American Idol judge Simon Cowell reportedly branded Kara DioGuardi’s recent naked photo shoot for Allure magazine as ‘desperate.’

Explaining her decision to strip for the publication Kara said:

“This shoot was less about beauty than about taking a risk, and showing people a side of me they never have seen.”

However Showbiz Spy quote one Idol insider as saying:

“Everything is just a little odd this year,”

“The whole equilibrium of the show has been thrown off by Paula Abdul leaving, Ellen DeGeneres joining and Simon announcing this is his last year.

“Kara is ambitious and sees this as her moment to turn up the heat.

“She thinks this is her time to set up her game even if Simon thinks it’s a bit desperate.”