Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul was born in San Fernando Valley, California. When she was eight years young, she started dancing lessons. She attended Van Nuys High School, where she was senior class president and head cheerleader. Her high school graduation was in the year 1980. After graduating 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. The Lakers enlisted The Jacksons to choreograph their 1984 "Torture" video, the first of a series of films and videos she would choreograph. With her first CD "Forever Your Girl" the singer's career began to take off. But the hit single "Straight Up" was a big hit and she's become a popular singer/dancer for years after. It was made easier by her appearance on American Idol (2002-2004). Her father (Harry Abdul) is from a Sephardic Jewish background from Syria. Her mother is Jewish and was born in Canada. Her parents are from Canada, Brazil, Syria and Brazil. This diversity of background has led to diverse stories in the media about her religion or nationality. Born in Hollywood, California to Harry Abdul (another livestock trader from Brazil) & Lorainne Abdul (former assistant to director Billy Wilder), she began her life. She's been singing and dancing since she was 7 years old. old, while on the road in America. Tap dancing was another class she learned, and she was awarded a scholarship for tap dancing classes. She went to Cal State-Northridge College where she studied Broadcast radio. She was a candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers NBA cheerleading team. It led to her making $50 per game in her freshman year.