Pamela Cortes – Ecuador’s Shooting Star
Talented Ecuadorian singer, actress and dancer, Pamela Cortes has, in her relatively short career, won numerous awards for her performances. She is very popular in her home country of Ecuador, and is considered to be a good unofficial ambassador for her country when she travels and performs abroad.
Born on 9 January 1981 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Pamela Cortes showed an interest in dancing and music at a very young age. She went on to take music and dancing lessons at the Conservatory Antonia Neumane and Danzas Jazz Academy in Guayaquil. Her natural talent was soon recognized and in 1992 she won first place in “Los niños cantan a America”. The following year she was chosen as “La Paquita Ecuatoriana”, which opened up the opportunity for her to host her own television show, “El Rincon de los Bajitos”.
In 1994, Pamela released her first album, “Alegria”. That same year she won first place in the “Sabado Gigante” singing contest. Her second album, “Mas alla del sol” was released in 1996. The album was well received by fans and critics alike, launching her into the national celebrity spotlight. She played a role in an Ecuadorian production of Romeo and Juliet in 1996, as well as participating in a high profile charity telethon to raise money for underprivileged children.
Pamela Cortes went to Miami to study Music Business in 1999. She returned to Ecuador in 2000, whereupon she released her third album, “Con el alma”, which brought her to the attention of music lovers in Panama, Costa Rica and Peru. The year 2000 proved to be a busy one for Pamela as, in addition to releasing her album, she played a role in “Besame Tonto”, followed by “Mis primas”, as well as “El hombre de la mancha”. Pamela’s fan base has spread to include Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and the rest of Latin America. Her fans were delighted when she released her fourth album, “Esparare”, and are looking forward to her next album which she is reportedly currently working on.
Pamela Cortes remains very down-to-earth in spite of the adulation of her fans. She loves her home country of Ecuador, and is very family oriented, readily acknowledging that without the support of her mother, father and two brothers, she does not believe that her success would have been possible.