Paula Abdul
- Born Paula Julie in California on June 19, 1962
- American dancer, choreographer, singer, actress, and TV star.
- She started her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team at the age of 18
- As an avid dancer she was inspired towards a showbiz career by Gene Kelly in the film Singin’ in the Rain
- She became the head choreographer for the Laker Girls, where she was discovered by The Jacksons.
- Her debut album Forever Your Girl became one of the most successful debut albums at that time, selling seven million copies. It spent 10 weeks at No.1
- She was one of the original judges on American Idol and has since appeared as a judge on The X Factor, The Masked Dancer and American Idol
- While working with Simon Cowell on American Idol, the pair were always fueling relationship rumours. They had a flirty banter and even shared a few kisses
- She has received choreography credits in numerous films, including The Running Man, Coming to America, The Doors, Jerry Maguire, and American Beauty
- She was once married to the actor Emilio Estevez
- In 1997 she co-wrote “Spinning Around” which was intended to be her comeback single, but the plan never materialised and the song was later given to Kylie Minogue
- In 2007 she launched her own jewellery range
- She also made a brief guest appearance on an episode of the British TV series Hotel Babylon and been a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race
- More recently she has toured with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men
- She has sold over 50 million records worldwide
- Her hits include: “Straight Up”, “Rush Rush”, “Forever Your Girl” and “Opposites Attract”