Next person biography:
Valeria Andrews is an accomplished actress, singer, and songwriter who first made a name for herself with a featured acting role in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993),starring Whoopi Goldberg. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Valeria's parents married within two weeks of meeting, but divorced soon after due to the language barrier. She began singing at the age of three, performing on the streets and competing in talent contests at night.
Valeria's early life was marked by struggle and perseverance. She ran away from home at a young age and her father was deported, leaving her a ward of the court. She rented rooms in homes until she was 18, during which time she co-wrote and recorded songs for New Line Cinema's Poison Ivy II (1996). She also traveled to Kyoto, Japan, to sing six nights a week at four shows a night to raise money to produce a demo package back home in Los Angeles.
Valeria's breakthrough came when she signed with Motown Records as a member of a girl group at the age of 14. She has since released her first album, Freshly Squeezed, in 2009, which features the work of famed producers and a collaboration with Lady Gaga.
