Paulina Rubio is one of the most recognisable voices in Latin pop, known as La Chica Dorada (The Golden Girl in English) for her long-standing impact on the genre. The nickname has multiple layers of meaning: a nod to her blonde hair; her surname; and the title of her debut solo album.

Born in Mexico City in 1971, she first rose to fame in the children’s pop group Timbiriche. Joining in the early 1980s at the age of ten, she was part of the group for nearly a decade, recording multiple albums and growing up alongside fellow future stars like Thalía. By the time she stepped out as a solo artist in the early 1990s, she was already a household name across Mexico.

Her debut album La Chica Dorada (1992) made her an instant solo star across Latin America, and she followed it with a string of successful releases that fused pop with dance and electronic sounds. By 2000, her fifth studio album Paulina had cemented her status, producing international hits like “Y Yo Sigo Aquí”. She later made a bid for the English-language market with Border Girl (2002). Although it didn’t spark a Shakira-level crossover, it was certified gold in the USA (with over 500,000 copies sold) and gave her a modest hit with “Don’t Say Goodbye”.

In the years that followed, Rubio refocused on Spanish-language music and continued to maintain a strong following across Latin America and Spain. Alongside her music career, she made occasional film appearances, including cameos in Mexican cinema and telenovelas, adding to her status as an all-round entertainer. She has also appeared as a judge on La Voz in both Mexico and Spain, as well as on The X Factor USA.

With more than 15 million records sold worldwide, Paulina Rubio remains one of Latin pop’s best-selling artists and one of Mexico’s most enduring musical exports.