Born in San Antonio, TX, Paula DeAnda grew up listening to Selena and other female vocalists, often performing their songs with her cousins at family gatherings. Soon she started taking piano lessons and singing around town, both as a soloist and as a backup vocalist. In 2002, DeAnda's family decided to move to Corpus Christi in order to further her career, and once there the young singer met manager Ed Ocanas, who arranged for her to record the first piece she wrote, "What Would It Take," and get it on local airways.