ALI WAGNER: The Flower Child

Ali Wagner grew up backstage in opera houses.

In the early 90s her mother Griselda Wagner sang with McAllen's Lemonade Opera Company. Young Ali made her stage debut at 3. "I waved at my whole family and embarrassed everybody," she says.

As she got older, Wagner kept performing, eventually eliminating humiliation from her stage show. Wagner is a student at Texas State University in San Marcos, and she writes and performs her own music, usually aided by a rotating group of musicians. She's a McAllen native, and she still plays the Valley too. You might have caught her at Another Music Festival in March or at shows in recent years thrown by Goodbar Productions.

You might also spot her at coffee shops. She's a sprightly little gal who stands no taller than 5 feet. She has a streak of purple running down the front of her hair. She likes rock with punk influences, and she can hang with some of the best guitarist in South Texas; she's been playing for almost a decade. It's a rare 21-year-old woman with that type of musical experience.  

All About ALI WAGNER
Age: 21
Born: Fort Worth/McAllen
Role: Singer/Songwriter
Genre: Folk rock
Online: www.myspace.com/aliwagnermusic

If a guy had these three albums, you would fall in love with them immediately...

Bleed American by Jimmy Eat World. Stay What You Are by Saves the Day. All Hands on the Bad One by Sleater-Kinney.

Who is your rock star crush?

Brandon Boyd [Incubus], and that's because I'm a girl and everyone loves Brandon Boyd.

What did you look like a little kid?

I looked pretty much the same actually. Except my hair was only one color. It was all one color when I was little, and I wore a lot of bows in my hair like any other girl growing up in the Valley.

What's the best rumor you've heard about yourself?

A long time ago in high school with a band I was in, they thought we were rich. That was pretty funny. That was like an insult. They thought we were rich girls, which we weren't.

What's your worst bad habit?

I bite my nails a lot, and I apply a tremendous amount of Chap Stick every 10 minutes

Would you or have you ever dated a younger man?

Mmmhmm, not too much younger, but yeah.

What's the worst date you ever had?

I don't really go out on dates. I can't really think of dates per se. It's usually just like a hang out thing.

What's your favorite store in La Plaza/Outlet Mall?

I really like Banana Republic, but I haven't been to that mall forever. At the Outlet Mall, Betsy Johnson for overpriced doll dresses. It's the best. It looks like a doll house. I love it.

• THAT'S HOT

>>British or Spanish accent British

>>Brown or blue eyes Brown

>>Skinny or muscular? Skinny

>>Convertible or pickup truck? Convertible

>>London or Tokyo? London

• SPILL IN THE BLANK

The reason I broke up with my last boyfriend is _______________?

....distance.

 If I could have plastic surgery done, I would have it on my _______________?

...shins, I'd make myself taller.

 I would do a spread in Playboy if they paid me _______________?

....nothing. I wouldn't do it. It weirds me out. There's a lot of old people looking at that magazine. It's gross.

 I had my first kiss when I was _______________?

....14.

 The biggest lie I ever told a boy is _______________?

....that I liked him.