Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul was raised in San Fernando Valley. When she was eight years old, she began taking dance classes. Van Nuys High School was her high school. She was also the school's head cheerleader and the senior class president. Her graduation was in 1980 and went to college at Cal State Northridge to major in TV and radio. 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 approached by The Jacksons to choreograph their 1984 "Torture" video, the first in a lengthy list of movies and videos she would choreograph. The first album she released was "Forever Your Girl" and her first solo album, her singing career took off. However, the song "Straight Up" was a major 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 Sephardic Jewish and hails from Syria. Her mother is Jewish and was born in Canada. Her parents have lived in Syria, Brazil, and Canada - and this varied backgrounds have led to numerous stories being reported in the media about her country of origin and/or her religion. Born in Hollywood, California to Harry Abdul (another livestock trader from Brazil) and Lorainne Abdul (former assistant to film director Billy Wilder), she began her life. She's been dancing and singing since she was 7 years old. old, while on an excursion in America. Tap dance classes were taken and she received a scholarship at a tap dancing classes. In later years, she went to Cal State Northridge College where she was a Broadcast Radio Specialist. In that time, she auditioned for the Los Angeles Lakers NBA Cheerleading team. This was the reason she was offered a place as a cheerleader for the squad, earning some 50 dollars per game in her freshman year.