Biographyby Evan C. GutierrezMexican popstress Myriam Montemayor Cruz was first introduced to the public as a contestant on La Academia before going on to become a platinum-selling recording artist. Originally from Nuevo León, Monterrey, Myriam was born in February, 1981, the seventh of eight siblings. As an adolescent, she became involved with the bustling music scene in Monterrey, performing for public festivals and making appearances on local television. By her late teens Myriam had set her sights on a career in show business. Though she had amassed a significant amount of professional experience, the industry was difficult, and the lifestyle began to wear on the young performer. A change of luck came with an invitation to audition for TV Azteca's reality television show La Academia. Her invitation to join the cast would change the course of her career forever. La Academia would not only go on to become TV Azteca's highest rated programs in the network's history, but one of the most popular television programs in Mexican history. As a member of the groundbreaking show's first generation cast, Myriam enjoyed not only popularity during the program's run, but a successful recording career afterwards. Her debut record, titled Una Mujer and released in 2003, reached number four on the Mexican sales charts. The record that followed the next year reached number one. Subsequent projects generated strong sales, while falling short of the meteoric standards set by Myriam's first two discs. Vete de Aqui enjoyed a spot in the Top 20, followed by Simplemente Amigos, which lingered in the Top 100.