Her father left when she was six, and this year she plans to find him -- and rediscover the Mexican heritage that left with him. She loves and hates her life with equal intensity, and dreams desperately of getting out of L.A.

Music: Violent Femmes, Pavement

Artist: Likes all art "so it's hard to put it in perspective."

Activists: Animal rights

Books: Sherman Alexie, the "Oprah" books

Record: Stray Cats Built for Speed