Jaci Velasquez: Chasing Papi star with a blazing trail of album hits - Main Cover - Cover Story

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, August-Sept, 2003 by Miriam Martinez

Her roots have let her span many music genres, including country, Latin, and Christian. She shared the stage with Evangelist Billy Graham before an audience of 65,000 people in San Antonio.

"I change styles a lot. I'm always trying something new and having fun with it," she said. And if her fans don't always enjoy the switch, Velasquez takes it all in stride.

"I'm not stupid enough to think that everything I do will be extremely successful, and everyone will want to buy it. Because sometimes I'm going to make music in the way that people don't like. And that's okay."

Velasquez has also overcome what call be an obstacle in show business, her faith, and turned it into a selling asset. Her image of the "good girl in Latin music" pleases a wide range of both Anglo and Hispanic audiences. "It's as if I had two lives, one connecting with an audience that only speaks English, with one that only speaks Spanish," she said. "But with both I share the same beliefs and experiences."

And those beliefs are deep. A young single woman, she has been spokesperson of the religious organization True Love Waits, which advocates for sexual abstinence before marriage among young people.

"My mom always goes on the road with me and keeps me accountable," Velasquez said, "She doesn't let me get away with anything. And my dad can't always go, but he's always praying for me when I'm out somewhere."

Unlike some Latina singers who would be embarrassed to be caught wearing too many clothes, Velasquez refuses to deliver all openly sensual image or a constant change of looks. In the pop music mainstream, those are great tools for becoming an icon, but she does not imitate competitors. Her voice, religious drive, and candor are her best marketing tools.

Ironically, her church girl reputation, combined with stunning looks, for many, has added to her sex appeal.

On one of her admirers' websites a fan said, "Because of her church upbringing, Jaci is often seen as a conservative girl, saving herself for marriage. As a result, a lot of her appeal is ha what she hides from us. Today's pop stars try to outdo each other by wearing less and less clothing, so when we encounter someone like Jaci who barely lets her stomach show, we react with surprise. She dresses with elegance and class. "Are give her praise for not giving in to the pressure of attracting fan the cheap, "Britney" way, and for being herself. At least we can look at her, realize she is pretty hot, and still have respect for her. How many big artists can you say that about?"

Another website dedicated to Velasquez calls her, "a Latin enchantress," and said, "Her songs fall under the Christian genre, bringing out the old teenage infatuation with the local choirgirl in all of us. Hell, we'd convert for her in a second."

Velasquez's Latin Billboard Award win over Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Christina Aguilera shows that her faith and lifestyle have not held her back. On the contrary, she is one of the most outstanding music artists in the Hispanic world, with seven albums notched up, which Velasquez puts down to her religious convictions.