María Inés - La Academia

In 2002, María Inés was selected among thousands of singers throughout Mexico to participate in La Academia, a national talent search similar to American Idol. Throughout the competition, she received both good and bad critics, her best performance being Hijo de la Luna, by Spanish group Mecano. María Inés served as a particular case in the competition, as she was eliminated twice. She was eliminated the fifth week of the competition, and was awarded the 13th place prize. María Inés was then brought back two weeks later during a special concert in which three former contestants were to come back to the show. Five weeks later, she was once again eliminated. A second concert for former contestants to come back was announced. In this concert, she interpreted "No Llores por mí, Argentina", the Spanish version of Madonna's "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina", and received excellent critics from the four judges. Controversy arose after María Inés was not selected to re-enter the reality, even though an internet poll in La Academia's official website showed her as the favorite to do so. After 13 weeks of competition, she received the 10th place in the reality. Within the show, she began a relationship with a fellow contestant, Raúl Sandoval. In La Academia Maria Ines interpreted: