Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California. At age eight, she began dancing lessons. Van Nuys High School was her high school. She was also the school's head cheerleader as well as the class president. Following her graduation in 1980 she started the Cal State-Northridge campus, majoring 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. The Jacksons recruited her to choreograph their 1984 film "Torture", their first of a series of videos and movies she choreographed. After the release of her debut CD "Forever Your Girl", she began singing and became a popular singer/dancer. Her time as an American Idol judge (2002) has made her an increasingly popular performer/dancer. Her father (Harry Abdul), is Sephardic Jewish and hails from Syria. Her mother is also Jewish and was born in Canada. Her parents are