Wanessa Camargo

One of Brazil's most recognizable young pop singers, Wanessa Camargo rocketed to fame when her first two hits -- "O Amor Não Deixa" and "Apaixonada por Você," both from her 2000 self-titled debut album, released while she was still a teenager -- topped the Hot 100 Brazil singles chart, immediately establishing her as a national celebrity. Camargo's style of music varies, often touching upon dance, rock, country, and forró, but is always easily accessible, slickly produced, and rooted in pop. She relies heavily on music videos to accentuate her music and accordingly is an MTV favorite. Like many pop stars, Camargo is not only a singer but also a dancer, actress, and spokesperson. Her concerts tend to be highly choreographed; her 2004 DVD Transparente -- Ao Vivo documents this well, notably featuring an elaborate medley of Madonna hits from the 1980s. As a celebrity, she's regularly featured on Brazilian television, but she's also proven herself an accomplished actress, notably appearing as the character Diana on over two-dozen episodes of the long-running TV series Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo in 2004. In the consumer marketplace, her image is used to market numerous products in Brazil, particularly those targeted toward teenage girls. Among her social causes, she's a spokesperson for SOS Mata Atlântica, a non-governmental organization dedicated to preserving the Atlantic Forest. This effort was acknowledged by Nickelodeon, which honored her with its 2007 Pro-Social Award. Born Wanessa Godói Camargo Buaiz on December 28, 1982, in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, she is the daughter of Zezé di Camargo of the popular sertanejo (i.e., Brazilian country music) brother-and-sister duo Zezé di Camargo & Luciano. Released by RCA Records, Wanessa Camargo marked her album debut in 2000 and...