Her father (Harry Abdul) is of Sephardic Jewish background from Syria. Her mother is also Jewish and was born in Canada. Her parents have lived in Syria, Brazil, and Canada - and this varied background has contributed to incredibly different stories in the press about her nationality and/or religion. Daughter of Harry Abdul (once a livestock trader in Brazil) and Lorainne Abdul (former assistant to film director Billy Wilder, grew up in Hollywood, California. Since the age of seven, she sung and danced in community musical theatre groups while traveling around America. She took tap dance lessons as well, in which she was awarded a scholarship to tap dancing school. Later on in life, she attended Cal State-Northridge College in which she majored in Broadcast radio. During that time, she auditioned for the Los Angeles Lakers NBA Cheerleading team, and that led her to a spot as a cheerleader on the squad earning some $50 a game during her freshman year.

Later on she decided to take up choreography, working with artists such as the Jacksons and the Rolling Stones. Nowadays, she organises dance camps for young children to come to and have fun during the summer. Paula has won many musical awards, such as a Grammy, 7 MTV video awards, 2 Emmy awards, and 2 People's Choice Awards. On top of all that she's had two #1 hit albums and seven #1 hit singles. To add to that she has a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. She has done well for herself, and plans to write/sing/choreograph for as long as she can.
Choreographed videos for several artists such as George Michael, Deborah Gibson, Dolly Parton, Janet Jackson, and ZZ Top. Former L.A. Lakers cheerleader. Grammy award winning singer. Dancer, Choreographer. She appeared in and choreographed Janet Jackson's "Nasty" and "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" music videos. She said a few lines on Chunky A's (Arsenio Hall) song "Dope, The Big Lie." The song appears on the Chunky A album "Large And In Charge.". Paula spent her honeymoon with ex-husband Emilio Estevez in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her first album, "Forever Your Girl", took over 2 years to reach the top of Billboard's album charts in 1990 and spawned four #1 singles. Her father is of Syrian Jewish descent and her mother is a Canadian Jew. Her parents divorced when she was a child. Had 6 #1 hits from 1989-1991. They include "Straight Up", "Forever Your Girl", "Cold Hearted", "Opposites Attract", "Rush Rush", and her last #1 on September 1991 "The Promise Of A New Day". Measurements: 34B-23-36 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Her 1989 #1 hit "Straight Up" was ranked #81 on VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs. In a guest appearance on _"The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (1999)_ on 18 May 2004, she remarked that she is no longer a vegetarian. When she was growing up, Michael Bolton was her babysitter. Has a star on Hollywood Boulevard. 3/24/05: A Los Angeles court sentenced her to two years probation and ordered her to pay $1100 after she pleaded no contest to an involvement in a hit-and-run incident in December of 2004. Has an older sister named Wendy Her favorite love song is "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack. Former daughter-in-law of Martin Sheen and Janet Sheen Former sister-in-law of Ramon Estevez and Charlie Sheen Big fan of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. Ranked #85 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.