Luck had nothing to do with 17-year-old sweetie, Paula Deanda’s quick rise to fame.

Her stunning voice, great looks, and humble personality were all she brought to her private performance with music executive Clive Davis, who after hearing her sing a capella, immediately signed her to a seven-album deal with Arista.

Deanda said she wasn’t nervous. In fact, she said she barely knew who Davis was.

“I kind of went into the situation thinking this could be my big chance. I didn’t want to blow it,” Deanda said. “I pretty much went in there and sang a couple a capella songs. At the time, I didn't really know exactly who Clive Davis was. I had heard his name, but I didn't know he had discovered so many amazing artists.”

Though her fame came quickly, Deanda said she has adapted well to her new life. She's been singing since she was 6, so her transition from amateur to professional was as seamless as it could've been, she said.

The Corpus Christi resident has made a huge transition from the relatively sheltered life of a normal teen, to the celebrity life of a TRL performer. And though she no longer attends regular school, she takes online classes instead.



“I'm doing online classes which are a lot harder than being in a regular school. It’s a lot harder to learn this way - I'm trying to do it myself, Deanda said. “I really do miss the setting of an actual school and I miss my friends.”

Deanda appeals to young teens. Her catchy lyrics are something the teens and young kids can relate to. Parents love her stuff too. It’s good, clean music for their kids - a scarce commodity now a days.

“In a way, I try to keep it as clean music to listen to. I think a lot of parents really appreciate that too,” the teen said. “I have to look out for pretty much everybody.”

Deanda’s lyrics have a lot to do with relationships - finding and holding on to love. But don't be fooled. She said when she's looking for inspiration; she finds it best to use her friends’ experiences over her own.

“I use a lot of my friends’ experiences that they've been through, Deanda said. “I haven't been through a lot of relationships yet. I have two older sisters and I use their experiences too. Overall, I write stuff that I can relate to.”

According to Deanda, she is looking to make her stay in the glamorous world of the music industry a permanent one. Her first single Doing Too Much, featuring Baby Bash, is quickly climbing the charts followed by the second single off of her self-titled debut album Walk Away.