Chitchat With the Cheetahs
SABRINA BRYAN
Sabrina Bryan loves to dance. From the time she was 7 or 8 and started taking dance classes, she knew she wanted to be in show biz. She says she just loved being on stage, even as a little girl. Bryan was born and raised in Yorba Linda, Calif., and landed her first movie, “Mrs. Santa Claus,” when she was 12.
Bryan sure danced up a storm on “Dancing with the Stars” last year _ and she’s also dancing on her second fitness video for girls. “It’s going to have some Bollywood flavor, which I’m excited about,” Bryan says.
And if that’s not enough to keep her busy, she’s also an author. She teamed up with writer Julia DeVillers on the teen book, “Princess of Gossip,” which hits bookstores Oct. 8. “It was an awesome process and I can’t wait to get involved in more books in the future.”
KIELY WILLIAMS
Kiely Williams grew up in a musical family in New Jersey. She says she was really born into the business because it was all around her as she was growing up. Her mom is a singer and songwriter and she produces and manages music artists. “I grew up in a studio and never wanted to sing,” Williams says. Then one day, when she was 12 or 13, she just decided she was ready to try it. “I told my mom, ‘I want to sing,’ and she said, ‘OK.’” Williams was a natural and soon formed the girl group 3LW with Cheetah member Adrienne Bailon. After releasing a few CDs, the girls joined a new group, The Cheetah Girls.
Williams is hitting the big screen later this summer — without her Cheetah Girls — in a comedy aimed at young adults.
ADRIENNE BAILON
Adrienne Bailon was born and raised in New York City. She got her singing start in the children’s choir at church when she was 6. She recommends kids look for any opportunity to practice and hone their craft _ whatever it is! If you want to sing, like Bailon did, she says join choirs, enter talent shows and practice singing around the house.
In case you wondered, The Cheetah Girls are best friends onscreen and off, reports Bailon. She lived with Williams for several years and now Bryan and Williams are roommates. The girls get together and visit constantly when they’re not working _ but this summer, they are booked solid with Cheetah engagements including selecting music and working on choreography for their fall tour.
Right now, Bailon’s music of choice is Indian music. She says the girls have been listening to it on all of their publicity photo shoots because it reminds them of their amazing trip.
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