2000: Victoria y Sus Chikos recorded and released their first album, "Preparate", which featured cumbia, ranchera, and pop songs. The title track gradually picked up steam on radio stations throughout Texas, and the music video was seen internationally on cable and network Spanish television stations. The album, which received positive reviews in "TV y Novelas" and "People en Espanol" magazines, had a few surprises: a Spanish-language cover of Bruce Springsteen's hit, "Fire" (titled "Fuego" on this album), and an English-language pop-rap tune co-written by Victoria and her band's keyboardist, Roland Gutierrez ("My Baby's Gone"). Gutierrez is an up-and-coming record producer whose talents have contributed greatly to the quality of the Chikos's music. Both Victoria and Gutierrez were featured in a PBS documentary, "Accordion Dreams", in which they were considered to be on the forefront of the Tejano Conjunto youth movement. Victoria y Sus Chikos toured in various cities, promoting their first album.
2001: Victoria y Sus Chikos continued touring on the weekends and during breaks in her school schedule (she was still in high school). During the summer, she recorded her second album, "Que Rico" ("So Rich"), which was released that fall. Two tunes were selected as the album's radio singles. The title track is a fast-paced cumbia reminiscent of Selena's "Techno Cumbia". It too was picked up by television and cable networks, which offered the video to an international audience. She also performed the song live on Univision network's hit show, "Caliente". The second single, "Muerdeme" ("Bite Me"), slowed down the pace, as 16-year old Victoria growled at her lover to do just as the song title suggested. A music video was also made for that single. The album's best moments were delivered by the dance-hall thumper, "Llora"("Cry"), a pulsating, pounding cumbia a la Selena, and the English-language "I Don't Want You", in which Victoria was on par with leading R&B artists of the time, such as Aaliyah & Destiny's Child.
2002: On a spring night, Victoria won her first Tejano Music Award. She was named "Female Rising Star of the Year". In the fall, she and the Chikos returned to the studio to record their third album.
2003: The new year was off with a bang as Victoria y Sus Chikos released "Cada Dia Que Pasa" ("Each Day That Passes"). Produced by Chikos keyboardist, Roland Gutierrez, the album is perhaps the band's best from an artistic standpoint. It rotates between hip-hop flavored cumbias, like "Si Te Vas, Vete Ya" ("If You're Gonna Leave, Leave Right Now"), and tender slow-movers, such as the English pop ballad, "Let Me". Victoria demonstrated that she was true to her roots with the Tejano cut, "Vas a Llorar" ("You're Gonna Cry"). The album received little promotion.
Victoria made a few public appearances early in 2003. In one photo, it was noted that she now had braces on her teeth. Shortly thereafter, her sister, Gisella, posted a message on Victoria's official homepage, stating that Victoria had decided to "take a little break" from music.
In early 2007, Gisella posted on her myspace.com page a new photo of her sister. The picture shows a very pregnant Victoria (now 21 years old) wearing a wedding gown, flanked by her bridesmaids.
Click on the links to find out more about this talented and mysterious artist.
