JORDIN SPARKS

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE She's season 6's cutest contender — by a mile — yet while this 17-year-old has undeniable talent, she needs to showcase her youthful exuberance and her comfort with harder fare (like that recent Pat Benatar cover), to separate herself from her bigger-voiced rivals.

FROCK U Must avoid anything that makes viewers think she's on the Disney Princesses tour; recent combo of black-and-white print blouse and blue jeans hit just the right note.

REQUEST LIST No Doubt's ''Hella Good,'' Yeah Yeah Yeahs' ''Maps''