Editor’s Note: They are leaders. They are inspirational. They are mentors. They are visionaries. They are, quite frankly, badasses. They are our 2021 REEL WOMEN. During Women’s History Month, you will be able to meet these incredible personalities in Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production. Get ready, they are making “Herstory.”
Multiple Grammy-winning and nominated artist Paulina Aguirre recently debuted her latest Spanish language hit Esconderme y Llorarfeaturing Giovanna Moraga.
The talented Ecuadorian singer/songwriter and humanitarian released her first solo album titled Mujer de Fe, produced by Pablo Aguirre. Nominated for Best Christian Album, the album features duets with Latin rap artist Gerardo on Nada Va a Separarme and Juan Carlos Rodriguez on Eres Mi Refugio.
In 2009, Paulina released her second recording project entitled, Esperando Tu Voz(Waiting For Your Voice), also produced by her husband, platinum music artist Pablo Aguirre. The album features a duet with Armando Manzanero on Cuando me Vaya de Aquí, a track that is charged with a fusion of pop/rock, Andean music and a 40-piece orchestra. Esperando Tu Voz received the 2009 Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album and the 2009 Premios Arpa for Best Duet. I
As a songwriter, she has worked along with such top artists as Mario Domm of Camila, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, for whom she wrote the single Zumbao, Huey Dunbar (DLG), and Mariachi Divas, with whom she was nominated for Latin Grammy awards in 2014 and 2016.
Paulina has over 50 songs on television on different network partners for several TV shows. As a singer, she has worked with Humberto Gatica and Michael Buble, Marta Sanchez, Luis Miguel, Armando Manzanero, Marco Antonio Solis, among others.
Paulina has been the music director for the Disney series 3rd and Birdand Tinga Tinga Tales, as well as voice actress and lyricist for these projects. She has been the voiceover actress for Desperate Housewiveson ABC, and the voice of Los Solecitos (Univision) for which she wrote most of the songs. Paulina is also the voice for Steinmart in the Latin market.
In 2019, Paulina wrote and performed the song Canto de Paz at the request of the President of Ecuador.
She also recently premiered her interpretation of the legendary song Don’t Cry For Me Argentina from the musical Evita, written and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, as part of the 2020 French Riviera Film Festival’s virtual awards gala, that was broadcast live from The Beverly Hills Hotel.
What’s your origin story?
I am originally from Ecuador. I studied couple of years in Chicago and finished high school in Ecuador. I did not like my school. It was Catholic and I was obligated to sew. I was bad at it so I almost failed due to sewing. (lol)
How did you get into the music industry?
I come from a family of songwriters and editorial writers, I had a gift for putting music to everything, ever since I was a child. When I was 16, I had the lucky opportunity to accompany a friend of mine to an audition. While I was sitting waiting, I was asked if I liked to sing, to which I responded yes.
They asked me to do some harmonies and they said you have a big ear. I blushed because my brother called me Dumbo when I was little, so I thought it was because of my big ears. J
Who were your mentors?
Pablo Aguirre, my husband a Latin Grammy winner and platinum producer, Kenny O Brien (vocal producer for Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé), and Claudio Jácome, a musician in my country who developed my big ear. (lol)
While there will be others, what do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
I have been blessed to have a Latin Grammy and four Grammy nominations and a Gaviota de Plata from the biggest Latin Festival in South America. And yes, I would say I am a fighter.
RELATED: See who else is on the 2021 Reel Women List
How about your biggest disappointment?
I was bullied by a narcissist person. You can’t even imagine people like that exist. This person was envious and was insulting and bullying me through social media. It hurts to think younger people suffer in silence such verbal, psychological or any other type of abuse from cowards and victims, who sometimes can’t share their traumas.
If being a woman is your superpower, how has it helped you?
I have been able to solve problems that I thought I never could, through compassion and love. We as women believe we bring miracles to earth through faith.
What’s your Kryptonite?
I just can’t stand lies and hypocrisy. That is a turn off that eventually hits me in a way to where I never return.
How did a combination of pandemic, Black Lives Matter and QAnon affect you?
Black Lives Matter is not a trend. Black lives truly matter and also all immigrants, regardless of where they are from. I am Hispanic and I’m grateful to be in this country.
I think that the current administration is doing a great job with vaccination rollout and I know of people who believe in the QAnon movement and it somehow scares me. These radicals and fanatics can put our country and community in dancer.
What can the industry do better to promote true inclusion?
First, to understand that there are good people and bad people everywhere and good people are formed in a surrounding of love, respect and education, in every culture regardless of language, race, and genre. Life is a beautiful mix of things, in which we all can learn from each other. Everyone needs to have the opportunity to develop as a human being, free of prejudices and be the best they can be and transform.
If you’re Batwoman, who’s Robin?
My husband Pablo. He has been a great collaborator and my partner in good crime.
What’s the engine that pulls you?
Faith in a strong way. I believe that faith has the capacity to raise all negativity and give one a purpose.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
The example of so many women fighters such as Charlotte E. Ray, the first African American woman to become a lawyer, a graduate from Harvard University, and Gabriela Mistral, the first women and first Latin author to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, among others
