Known simply as Aitana, charting Spanish pop singer, songwriter, and author Aitana Ocaña Morales rose to fame in 2017 as the youngest finalist in in the ninth season of the Spanish reality television talent competition Operación Triunfo. She eventually finished second behind Amaia Romero. It was a giant leap for this singer who, only three years before, was posting cover versions of popular songs to YouTube. She eventually followed by a cutting a batch of her self-penned tunes in a professional recording studio. Between 2017 and 2018, six of her singles -- outside of the TV program -- charted while she was competing on the show. Her youthful image, conservative appearance, and declarative directness in interview have endeared her to audiences across Latin America.nnAitana was born in Barcelona in 1999 and raised in the suburb of Sant Climent de Llobrega. She began singing in high school even as she pursued academic studies. She visited Ciudad Universitaria in Madrid to begin her bachelor studies after she had gained a YouTube following for her videos. At university, she auditioned for Operación Triunfo at the beginning of 2017; she was selected for its ninth season.nn Her debut single, cut and released during the early episodes of the show, was "No Puedo Vivir sin Ti," a duet with Cepeda. It peaked at number two and was certified gold. She issued two more singles from the program including "Arde," which peaked at 15 on the pop charts and "Lo Malo," her smash duet with Romero, which was certified five times platinum, topped the charts and was one of the themes chosen for Spain's International Women's Day. Her compilation from the show, Sus Canciones, featured both tracks, peaked at number two, and was also certified gold. Her second number one was the single "Telephono" in July, released shortly after revealing the impeding publication of her autobiography La Tinta de Mis Ojos, which featured her own illustrations alongside the narrative. A remix of "Telephono" featured Venezuelan singer Lele Pons as a duet partner and reached number one. It was certified triple platinum -- both were presented at the 19th Annual Latin Grammy Awards -- and served as lead single for her November 2018 EP Tráiler, which offered both versions as bookends. The EP was released two weeks after her book; it entered the Spanish charts at number one and was certified gold upon release. ~ Thom Jurek .