Jencarlos Canela

It's easy to look at Jencarlos Canela and get the wrong impression. People have been mistaking him for a telenovela actor turned musician since before he began storming the world of Latin pop with his hit single "Amor Quedate" last year. But there is one thing the first-generation Cuban-American wants to make perfectly clear: He is not one of these pretty-faced stars of Spanish-language soaps who fancies himself a singer. He actually has talent. OK, those weren't exactly his words. But you get the picture.

He does, however, boast those acting credits. Canela began his professional acting career as Alfredo Torres on Telemundo Studios' Pecados Ajenos (Alien Sins) in 2007. And from there, his acting career took off, and last year, he landed a starring role alongside Gaby Espino in the series Mas Sabe el Diablo.

But he never lost sight of his dream of a musical career, which he began at age 12 and fostered during his teen years at Miami's New World School of the Arts. Finally, in November of last year, he saw those dreams realized with the release of his debut, Buscame (Look for Me), a solid first effort for the up-and-coming pop star.