Border Girl

Background:

"I want to cross borders with my music, with all my feelings and ideas. I want to reach more people." Paulina Rubio

Latin Grammy-nominated Mexican singer and actress Paulina Rubio started out as a member of the 80's teen pop sensation group ''Timbiriche'' before going solo and breaking into international stardom with her debut English single ''Don't Say Goodbye'' from her 2002 album ''Border Girl.'' She has released seven albums since her first solo album, ''La Chica Dorada'' (The Golden Girl), in 1992. Her latest album is ''Ananda'' (2006), which topped the #1 spot in the U.S. and countries all over Latin America.

The daughter of famous Mexican actress Susana Dosamantes, Paulina also tried her hand at acting. She began with the 1988 Mexican soap opera ''Pasión y Poder'' (Passion and Power), followed by a Spanish language version of the musical ''Grease'' titled ''Vaselina,'' and the TV series ''Baila Conmigo'' (Dance with Me). She made her Mexican feature film debut in the 1994 film, ''Bésame en la Boca'' (Kiss Me on the Mouth).

"I love intellectual guys; I like to have great conversations, to know them, their brain. I enjoy that. I need a strong personality." Paulina Rubio

The 5' 4" Latin beauty was one of Stuff magazine's ''102 Sexiest Women in The World'' (2002) and People En Espanol's ''2005 Star of the Year.'' She was engaged to Ricardo Boffil and has been married to Spanish businessman Nicolas Vallejo-Najera since April 2007.

"I like to be glamorous so I love the clothing and the big entrances. It needs to be spectacular!'' Paulina Rubio (on her live performances)

The Golden Girl

Childhood and Family:

"I am very independent, very strong. I am very loyal with my family, with my roots and culture." Paulina Rubio

In Mexico City, Mexico, Paulina Rubio Dosamentes was born on June 17, 1973, to famous Mexican actress Susana Dosamantes (born on January 9, 1948) and her husband, Enrique Rubio. The older of two siblings, Paulina has a younger brother named Enrique. Her parents divorced in 1974 and Paulina was raised by her actress mother. Due to her mother's profession, Paulina spent her childhood traveling and was exposed to several countries and cultures.

''My mom was shooting a lot of films in Europe when I was young, so we were traveling with her around the world, with a lot of artists around: writers, architects, singers, filmmakers. It made me very independent and that is when I started making some of my own decisions, at around 7 or 8.'' Paulina Rubio

By the time she was 7 years old, Paulina knew she wanted to be a singer. Paulina, nicknamed ''La Chica Dorada'' (The Golden Girl), studied dancing/singing at the prestigious El Centro de Capacitacion de Televisa, which is now the Centro de Educación Artística (CEA) in Mexico.

In 2001, Paulina became engaged to Ricardo Boffil, but they eventually broke off the engagement. Five years later, in November 2006, she became engaged to Spanish businessman Nicolas Vallejo-Najera, whom proposed to her at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The couple married on April 30, 2007.

Paulina, whose favorite food is steak, rice and fried eggs, owns a Restaurant in Miami Beach called L’Entrecote de Paris. In her free time, she enjoys water sports.

Don't Say Goodbye

Career:

''I grew up doing concerts and I’m going to die doing concerts all over the world. That’s what I’m here for and what I believe in.'' Paulina Rubio

As a child, Paulina knew she wanted to pursue a singing career and she attended a prestigious performing arts school to study singing and dancing. Her training proved to be fruitful when on April 30, 1982, the 10-year-old, under the guidance of Latin Grammy-winning Spanish-Italian musician Miguel Bosé, made her debut in an '80s children's pop group called ''Timbiriche'' (the Spanish version of the game ''Dots and Boxes''), alongside Sasha Sokol, Benny Ibarra, Diego Schoening, Mariana Garza, Alix Bauer, and later on, Erick Rubin. Paulina recorded a total of 11 music albums as part of the Mexican pop group.

Paulina tried her hand at acting. Her first role was the villain Paulina Montenegro in the 1988 ''Pasión y Poder'' (aka ''Passion and Power''), followed by a starring role in 1992's ''Baila Conmigo'' as Andrea.

Paulina subsequently traveled to Spain to begin work on her first project as a solo artist and her solo debut album, "La Chica Dorada" (The Golden Girl), was released in 1992 under the EMI Latin record label. It includes her signature song and the single that launched her solo career, "Mío." The album's title has since stuck to her and she is known as 'la chica dorada' (the golden girl) in her native Mexico and throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The album was certified Diamond in 1997 and she received an award during her promotion of Planeta Paulina on Veronica Castro's music show, ''La Tocada.'' "La Chica Dorada" eventually sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide after many reissues in countries like Mexico, the United States and Spain.

Paulina followed it up with the next year's solo effort, "24 Kilates" (24 Karats). It spawned the hit singles "Nieva, Nieva," "El Me Engaño,” and "Asunto de Dos." The album sold more than 150,000 copies in just three weeks after its release.

1995 saw the release of Paulina's third album, "El tiempo es oro" (Time Is Gold), which includes the hit single "Te Daría Mi Vida" (I Would Give You My Life) as well as the minor hits "Nada de Ti" and "Hoy Te Dejé de Amar." The theme song from Paulina's 1994 debut Mexican film "Bésame En La Boca" (Kiss Me on the Mouth) also appears on the album.

"Planeta Paulina" (1996) is Paulina's final album with the EMI Latin record label. It spun off the hit single "Enamorada," whose gay-themed video sparked controversy, as well as the singles "Siempre Tuya Desde La Raíz" and "Solo Por Ti."

Paulina subsequently took the longest retirement of her career following the release of "Planeta Paulina" but participated in 1998's ''Reencuentro Tour'' with ''Timbiriche.''

In the summer of 1999, Paulina began her comeback to the music scene. After going to a summer festival and seeing bands like "Ironmaiden" and "Enforcer," she became inspired and recorded "Vive El Verano," the theme song to a summer TV show she was presenting in Spain. The single also marked her first work under her new contract with Universal.

Entering the new millennium, the single "Lo Haré Por Ti" led the release of her fifth studio album, the self-titled "Paulina." It spawned the singles ''El Ultimo Adios,'' ''Y Yo Sigo Aquí,'' ''Yo No Soy Esa Mujer,'' ''Sexi Dance,'' and ''Tal Vez, Quizá.'' The no. 1 album on Billboard's "Top Latin Albums" chart has become her best-selling album to date, selling more than 5 million albums worldwide and becoming the highest selling Latin album of 2001. It has earned her nominations at the 2nd annual Latin Grammy Awards for ''Album of The Year,'' ''Best Pop Female Vocal Album'' and ''Best Song'' (for "Y Yo Sigo Aquí"). She also received a nomination for her video of the single "Yo No Soy Esa Mujer" (directed by Gustavo Garzon) at the 3rd annual Latin Grammy Awards.

Following the success of ''Paulina,'' Universal Records decided it was time for her to prepare her first English-language production, which she presented in 2002 with the album "Border Girl." It debuted at the 11th position on the "Billboard Hot 200" Chart and was certified Gold in the US. The album also produced Paulina's most successful single in English, "Don't Say Goodbye," that opened doors for her in new markets such as the United Kingdom. The single climbed to the 41st position on the "Billboard Hot 100" Chart and its music video became a regular on MTV's ''Total Request Live.''

Meanwhile, the next singles, "The One You Love" and "I'll Be Right Here (Sexual Lover)," failed to gain airplay due to the lack of promotion of the album. Although her debut English album did not catapult her into superstardom out of the Hispanic world, it did give Paulina the international recognition she sought for years. As of June 21, 2002, the Houston radio station 104 KRBE declared the 21st of June as "Paulina Day.” She also appeared on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' and ''The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,'' among others. Additionally, she performed at many international festivals, including Wango Tango, Festivalbar, and Festival di Sanremo in Italy. Paulina also appeared in magazines like Rolling Stone, Stuff, and Blender. Paulina toured and performed material from ''Border Girl'' with fellow Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias in Fall 2002.

On February 10, 2004, Paulina released "Pau-Latina," her seventh solo studio album, which proved to be a smash success. Its first single, "Te Quise Tanto," spent 13 consecutive weeks on the #1 position on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks Chart, becoming her most successful single to date and is responsible for several music awards. "Dame Otro Tequila," the album's third single, also climbed to number one in December 2004. Other singles are the top-ten hits "Algo Tienes" and "Mía." The album was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in 2004 for ''Best Female Pop Vocal Album'' and a Grammy Award for ''Best Latin Pop Vocal Album'' in 2005. Afterward, she hosted The MTV Latin America Awards for the first time and was also named People En Espanol's 2005 Star of the Year.

Paulina's latest album, "Ananda," hit the music stores in September 2006. It topped the #1 spot in the U.S. and countries all over Latin America as well as climbed to #25 on U.S. Billboard's "Billboard Hot 200" albums chart. It also peaked at the #1 spot on Billboard's "Top Latin Albums." ''Ananda'' was certified a multi-plutonium award for album sales of 250,000 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, the first single of the album, the mellow pop rock song "Ni Una Sola Palabra," which was released on the radio on July 24, 2006, has reached the #1 spot in many Latin American countries. It also reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard "Hot Latin Tracks.

Paulina later performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Gala in Oslo, Norway, alongside such artists as Rihanna, John Legend, and Lionel Richie.

''I think music is like love. You kiss someone to give and receive an energy, a connection. I’m trying to connect with people worldwide, to send out my musical kiss around the whole planet.'' Paulina Rubio

Awards:
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