by: Stacey Williams

Thalisha is on a mission. The ambitious 17-year-old Latin R&B singer has been successfully working towards one goal: to become a star.

"My ultimate goal is to do for the Dominican community what Jennifer Lopez did for the Puerto Ricans," she says. "For so long, Latin women have not been truly respected as vocalists in the music industry. I will change that perception."

It takes an enormous amount of tenacity and energy to make it on your own in the music industry. And while no one ever claimed that making it is easy, there are always Indie musicians who pull away from the rest and become household names. Thalisha is quickly becoming one of them.

Without a major record deal, the petite native New Yorker has made great strides on her own. In 2002, she won a "Showtime Teenz" segment on the long-running TV show "Showtime in Harlem" (formerly "It's Showtime At The Apollo"). She is also the recipient of the 2003 Underground Music Awards Best R&B Female.

But Thalisha knows that winning awards is the result of hard work and dedication, so she spends her time working with top-notch producers and strategizing with her manager to get to the next level.

The five-octave range Latina is well on her way to realizing her dream. She has performed in Europe and Japan and alongside such celebrities as Nina Sky, Stephanie Mills and 3LW. When asked about performing, she smiles and replies, "There's nothing that I enjoy more than performing on stage."

And you can tell.

Thalisha's live performances are energized and spontaneous. From the moment she gets on stage, her vocal ability is evident. Her mezzo-soprano voice is often compared to the likes of singers like Deborah Cox and Tamia.

Television is also in her sight. She has performed twice on the very popular hit Mun2 (Telemundo) television show "The Roof" and co-hosted a Bronx TV talk show called "Teen Vision."

While some successful independent musicians prefer being on their own, Thalisha is currently talking with major labels.

Thalisha's touring schedule includes a return trip to Europe in the spring and summer and then to Australia later this year. "I'm determined, focused and ready for anything that comes my way," she says. And it's easy to believe her. Thalisha is definitely a star in the making.