Long before world tours, these six stars were learning their lines. Soap operas, children's shows, and a Hollywood biopic gave them their first fans, and those fans followed them straight to the top of the charts. Swipe to see where each one got her start.

Morning Star

Lucero was 10 years old when she joined Televisa's children's program Alegrías de Mediodía in 1980. Two years later, she starred in the telenovela Chispita and recorded her first album, Te prometo. She was 13. Lucero never had to choose between one career and the other, and she returned to telenovelas in 2012 with Por ella soy Eva.

Photography: Vix

Danna Paola

At six years old, Danna Paola landed her first leading role in the telenovela Belén 2001), which aired in more than 19 countries. This was followed by the children's hits Vivan los niños! , la niña de la mochila azul Then came theater. In 2013, at 18, she won the role of Elphaba in Mexico City, the first Spanish-language production of the musical, and in 2024 she reprised her role in the Latin American dub of the film.

Photography: El Canal de las Estrellas

Thalía

Thalía was already singing with the group Timbiriche when Quinceañera made her a telenovela star in 1987. Her first solo album, which bears her name, came out in 1990. The real springboard? Three telenovelas from the 90s, María Mercedes , Marimar and María la del Barrio , which made her famous far beyond Mexico and gave her an audience ready for every album that came after.

Photography: El Canal de las Estrellas

Tini Stoessel

Martina Tini Stoessel was 15 years old when Disney Channel Latin America cast her in the lead role of The series ran for three seasons, from 2012 to 2015. By the time it ended, she was already a teen idol in Latin America and Europe, and in 2015 she became the first Argentine artist to sign with Hollywood Records. Her first album, ( ), debuted at No. 1 in Argentina.

Photography: Disney Channel

Jennifer Lopez

Before Hollywood, Jennifer Lopez was a Fly Girl, one of the dancers on the sketch comedy show Living Color Her big break came in 1997 when she portrayed Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla in . The role earned Lopez a Golden Globe nomination. Two years she released her debut , On the , and its first single, If You Had My Love reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Photography: Warner Bros.

Lali Espósito

Lali Espósito debuted on television in 2003 with the children's telenovela de , and later had supporting roles in Her starring role in changed everything. The series spawned a real band, Teen Angels, with whom she sang from 2007 to 2012. Her solo , A , came in 2014.

Photography: Telefe