Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul was born in San Fernando Valley, California. When she was 8 years old, older, she began her dancing lessons. Van Nuys High School was where she was president of the senior class and also the head cheerleader. She graduated from high school in the year 1980. Following graduation she started the college process at Cal State Northridge. There she majored in radio and television. After joining the L.A. Lakers cheerleaders, she became head cheerleader/choreographer after only a few months, eventually dropping out of college to dance and choreograph full-time. She was recruited by The Jacksons to choreograph their 1984 "Torture" video, the first of a number of movies and videos she would choreograph. After her debut album "Forever Your Girl" and her first solo album, her singing career began to take off. However, the song "Straight Up" was a massive success and she has been a wildly successful performer/singer ever after. This was made possible by her time on American Idol (2002-2004). Her father (Harry Abdul), is Sephardic Jewish and hails from Syria. Her mother, who is also Jewish was born and raised in Canada. Her parents have lived in Syria, Brazil, and Canada - and this varied background has resulted in wildly various stories that have been published in the media about her country of origin and/or her religion. Born in Hollywood, California to Harry Abdul (another livestock trader in Brazil) and Lorainne Abdul (former assistant of film director Billy Wilder), she was raised. She has been singing and dancing since she was just seven years young, during a tour of America. She also attended tap dancing classes and earned her an award to attend a tap dancing school. In the following years, she went to Cal State Northridge College where she was a Broadcast Radio Specialist. She was a candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers NBA cheerleading team. The result was making $50 per game in her freshman year.