Preloading

4 Things You Never Knew About Gloria Estefan

The Latin pop icon—whose new album of American favorites, The Standards, is out this month—fills in the blanks.
gloria estefan
Photo: C. Flanigan/FilmMagic
The first album I ever bought was...I Think We're Alone Now, by Tommy James & the Shondells, because I was so enamored of that song. I was about 15, and I didn't get an allowance, but my grandmother would drop me some change here and there, so I saved up for months. I still have that record in storage.

My hidden talent is...plucking eyebrows. I do it for everybody—my friends, my housekeeper, my goddaughter. When I was a kid I had a giant unibrow, so I had to figure it out. Now I can pluck like nobody's business.

If you walked into my house you'd be surprised to see...that I have a ton of animals. Five dogs—four English bulldogs and a long-haired Chihuahua—plus birds, fish and turtles. At one point I even had wallabies. It's a zoo.

My backup career would be...talk-show psychologist. I'd love to have a program like Dr. Laura. I studied psychology at the University of Miami, and when I rode the bus home from school, perfect strangers would strike up conversations with me and end up telling me their life stories. I think they could sense that I was studying to help people. That, or I have a face like a priest.

More from Gloria Estefan
From the June 2013 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
You May Also Like
O Libs: Dwyane Wade
Jenny Slate Says This Is How She Overcomes Shyness
4 Things You Didn't Know About Kate McKinnon
You'll Never Guess Actor Josh Gad's Dream Role

View All Newsletters

Related Articles
How to Have Your Best Year Yet
The Habits of Highly Organized People
Martha Beck: How to Tap into the Right Side of Your Brain
Financial Resolutions
Things Every Woman Should Write Down
The One Thing Creative People Always Make Time For