Fanny Lú

Tropical music singer Fanny Lú always wanted to be a pop star. "It's been a dream of mine since I was young," explains the golden-haired Colombian.

A former TV host, Fanny Lucía Buenaventura made the transition to tropi-pop with her 2006 debut, Lagrimas Cálidas. The album's Vallenato-flavored lead single, No Te Pido Flores (I'm Not Asking For Flowers), became a smash hit in her native Colombia, as well as México, Perú and Venezuela. A year later, Lú earned a Latin Grammy nod (Best Tropical Song) for "No Te Pido Flores." She lost to the legendary Juan Luis Guerra, who would go on to tie the record for most Latin Grammys in one night (five).

Earlier this month, Lú dropped her follow-up, Dos. The album has already delivered a hit: Tu No Eres Para Mí, a bouncy pop-rock track that gives you an idea what Paulina Rubio would sound like if she'd grew up Colombian. The 36-year-old mother of two says she's in it for the long run: "People are always looking to see if an artist repeats him or herself or becomes a one hit wonder… I didn't want to repeat myself, I didn't want to be tied to one type of sound."

Lú, who also does humanitarian work in Colombia with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, says she's most proud of the positive reception she gets whenever she's home: "It's beautiful… to get a blessing from your own country."