Ana Paula Valadão

Ana Paula Valadão, born on May 16, 1976, is a prominent Brazilian Christian worship leader, singer-songwriter, and pastor. She is best known as the leader of the contemporary praise band Diante do Trono, which has achieved remarkable success, selling over fifteen million worship albums worldwide. Under her guidance, the band has not only released more than fifty albums, including live recordings and children's projects, but has also led worship gatherings that have attracted audiences of up to two million people.

One of the most notable events in her career occurred on July 12, 2003, when Diante do Trono recorded the album Quero Me Apaixonar at Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo. This event set a record for the largest audience at a Christian event globally and ranks as the second largest in Brazil, surpassed only by the Rock in Rio festival. The band's accolades include winning the Talent Awards from RecordTV and the Promises Awards from Rede Globo, as well as a nomination for a Latin Grammy Award in 2012 for the album Sol da Justiça.

Ana Paula Valadão is also deeply committed to social and humanitarian causes through her ministry and her home church, Lagoinha Church. She actively promotes various initiatives, such as Projeto India, which addresses human trafficking, and the Missão DT, along with other specific actions during her live album recordings in Brazil and the Middle East. Currently, she serves as co-pastor of Before the Throne Church in Boca Raton, Florida, alongside her husband, Gustavo Bessa.

In recognition of her influence, Ana Paula was named one of the one hundred most important Brazilians of all time in a survey conducted by broadcaster SBT in partnership with BBC London in 2012. The following year, Forbes acknowledged her as the eighty-ninth most influential celebrity in Brazil, highlighting her significant impact on both music and ministry.