“When you’re stuck in the world or you’ve gone through so much, you don’t get that ability to dream big and to think that you can make it,” she says. “Our band came from a place just like our listeners’; the only difference is that we have a microphone now, and we’re blessed to get to speak to them.”

Family History
Blanca grew up with her mother and brother. She never saw her father or had a relationship with him until she was older. In fact, it was her father who became the first Christian in her family. He invited Blanca to a play at a local church, where Blanca felt God speak to her, telling her she needed to use her voice for Him.

“I made the decision, and I’ve never looked back!” Blanca says. “I just kept going forward and it’s really changing my family nowwhen they see the benefits that I’m reaping because of my faithfulness with God.”

Blanca says by living out her beliefs, her mom is able to see God through her. “My mom, she has faith, and seeing her daughter really living her life to the fullest and being happy speaks volumes about the God I serve,” she says. “I pray for my family all the time, and I know that God is gonna do amazing things.”

Though Blanca says she was never a bad child and never got into drugs or alcohol, she was really lonely.

“Coming from a non-Christian home, I dealt with problems on my own. A big thing in my family was never dealing with problems! Everything was always pushed aside and hidden, so it would just build up inside of me, and it wasn’t until I got saved that I really let all those things go and was able to move on and give God my all,” she says.

Although she’s now a member of Group 1 Crew, Blanca was close to a record deal when she was 14. She’d been working on a demo tape and had a meeting scheduled with the president of a record label in Florida. The meeting was scheduled for Sept. 11, 2001, and when the World Trade Centers fell, the meeting was cancelled. Blanca never heard back from the label.

“[It] was a good thing because I wasn’t saved at the time,” she says. “I’m glad everything kind of moved along in God’s direction rather than that direction at the time.”

Fast-forward a few years.

Blanca has become a Christian and is a junior in high school. She starts attending a Bible study for musicians, where she meets the other members of Group 1 Crew. Blanca starts performing with the guys, and they have her sing on their albums.

“I stuck around and became part of the group,” she says.

The Best Lesson
Now that she has a platform through music to speak to girls her own age, Blanca says she’s blessed to share her heart. Part of her story is the forgiveness that she’s learned through sexual abuse from a family member in her past. Blanca says that because she didn’t grow up in a Christian family, she felt very alone and didn’t have anyone to talk to about the abuse. She blamed herself for what had happened, telling herself that the abuse was OK.

Once she became a Christian, Blanca learned how to be set free from the pain of her abuse. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how to forgive people and not have a hard heart.”

But learning to forgive hasn’t been an easy lesson for her. She says it’s easy to get caught up in how bad life is and start blaming people for the pain they’ve caused, especially when it comes to abuse.

“But when you really decide to forgive and give it to God, you’ll experience the best freedom in the world,” she says. “Being able to forgive has been the hardest but also the best lesson I’ve ever learned.”

How did she finally deal with her abuse and start the forgiveness process? Blanca says it was from talking with her pastor. He was able to see the situation clearly and offer wise advice. Sexual abuse is a serious matter and often requires confronting the problem and then getting professional help. It’s important to remember that the only way to heal from sexual abuse it to address it by talking with a parent or trusted adult. These individuals will also know what steps need to be taken to ensure that the perpetrator is called into account for his actions. Blanca’s advice to girls who are dealing with sexual abuse is to know it’s not their fault.

“It’s not right, God does not intend that for you, it’s not God trying to teach you a lesson, it’s none of that. Totally depend on God, and He is there—you’re never alone!”

Open Doors
Blanca has been singing professionally since she was 14 but says God surprised her when He opened the door to join Group 1 Crew.

“I’m at a place where God is in complete control. Not only am I at the place with my music that I’ve always wanted to be, but I know it’s not because of what I’ve done; it’s because of the One who has opened the door for me,” Blanca explains.

She describes Group 1 Crew’s sound as soulful hip-hop.

“It has the hip-hop element because of the guys and the rapping, but there’s so much soul and life in it,” she says.

One of Blanca’s favorite songs on the album is “Can’t Go On.” She says the lyrics talk about being heavy-burdened but knowing God can help.

“You realize that without Him you can’t go on, and because He’s there you’re able to go through so much. [The song] is asking God to make us more like Him.”

Blanca says that being the only girl in the band has its perks. She gets the front seat when the band travels as well as her own hotel room. The guys are always looking out for her, but Blanca admits she misses girl talk!

“Even though those are my two buddies,” she explains, “it’s just not the same as having a girl on the road with me, so it’s lonely sometimes.”

Blanca has a close relationship with her mom, so she calls her when she needs a listening ear. She also has a group of girl friends whom she calls to discuss struggles and be held accountable.

During the past few months Group 1 Crew has been busy recording their album, performing and filming a music video in New York City.

“We had a blast, and the video looks like it’s gonna come out awesome!” Blanca says. Good thing she stuck around!

Blanca’s Favorites
Blanca says she loves spring! “Being able to put on a T-shirt and flip-flops and go outside—I just love that!” she says.

A few of her other favorites include cheesecake with strawberries, the book of Esther in the Bible, Proverbs 31:30, shopping in New York City and listening to Israel Houghton and the New Breed’s Another Level worship album.