Wow..where do I start. I was born in Honolulu of Hawaiian-Russian-Filipino parentage. My large Hawaiian family of entertainers had their own Polynesian show in which my mother was the lead hula dancer. But when I was six years old, my family moved to Louisville, KY, where my Army father had been transferred. It was difficult because I didn't look like everyone else. I was the ugly duckling.But I always knew I was destined to be a singer. I attended performing arts magnet schools throughout my junior and senior high years. My first professional play was at the prestigious Louisville Actors Theater. While at Wright State University in Dayton, OH, I majored in theatre and minored in dance, and played the lead role in every musical staged there, including Thelma Kelly in Chicago and Julie LaVerne in Show Boat. For three years, I supported myself with local modeling jobs. I then learned that Travis Meeks of the rock band Days Of The New was looking for a girl singer. So I recorded a few demos with him and then returned to school. But producer Scott Litt heard them and called me out to L.A., where I recorded their second album. When asked if I would drop out of school to tour with them, the answer was yes. *(hope Im not setting a bad example)
After the tour however I went back home to work on writing my own music and on demos. Then a notice about auditions for the WB Network's Popstars talent search series had me all exited and driving to Chicago and joining the audition line at five a.m. Eden's Crush, the girl group that resulted from Popstars, was a sensation. Its 2001 self-titled debut album went Top 10 and the single Get Over Yourself did the same. In its year-plus together, the band toured with N*Sync and Jessica Simpson. Yet, it's hard being in a group that was put together rather than meant to be together.
After its demise, and now living in L.A., I returned to my solo efforts and shopping for a record deal. I also landed acting roles, in Chasing Papi as Miss Puerto Rico and in My Wife And Kids as a supermodel. In 2003, a girl who was rooming with me said she was auditioning for The Pussycat Dolls. I asked, What's that? When she told that the project involved Iovine and Fair, executives I for so long wanted to audition for, I was determined to get my shot at stardom. But by the time I could get my foot in the door, the auditions had ended. Nevertheless it was arranged that I drop by one night. When I did, I sang a cappella for Iovine and Fair and discussions about the lead singer spot began immediately.
The Pussycat Dolls have no boundaries; this is not a cookie-cutter group, I am the only member to also write songs for the group. We're allowed to find ourselves in our performance, do what's truthful for each of us. I own each move.Live, love and share life to the fullest each and every day.I love to go to the beach and go for a jog.... Enjoy some really good food, (nothing good home family cooked meals though)... Love to workout.... listen and write music....
