American Idol's Kara DioGuardi: Bikini Stunt "Saved My Job" (VIDEO)

Kara DioGuardi appears on April cover of Women's Health.

DioGuardi says stripping down onstage changed her life.

Is Kara Dioguardi too serious? Critics used to think so. DioGuardi's technical expertise as an American Idol judge and her strong personality that sometimes clashed with contestants earned her a lot of flack in her first season on Idol. Now DioGuardi is revealing how revealing -- her bikini, that is -- changed the public's perception of her.

Kara DioGuardi, 39, covers the April issue of Women's Health magazine (and appears in a bikini on the inside), claiming that her black bikini bare-all on the finale of American Idol last season changed her career: "It probably saved my job ... It was a defining moment. Like, 'She's serious and industry, but also as kooky as everyone else on this panel.'"

But, DioGuardi says, the bikini blitz took some priming. "I kept saying no," she's quoted saying. "I mean, what crazy nut is gonna go out there in a bikini at almost 40 years of age against a girl who is 20 and probably cosmetically enhanced? I looked a little pasty. But hey, at least I didn't wet myself!"

Pasty?! If by pasty you mean awesome, then you're right, Kara. Watch the video. Meanwhile there's another reality TV diva whose tough reputation is making waves...is Kate Gosselin being mean to her Dancing With the Stars co-stars?

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