There has been a lot of talk about an up and coming young singer, actress and dancer by the name of Melissa Molinaro. Many fans may be surprised to learn that this dynamic young lady has actually been performing on screen and on stage, for more than two decades.

Recent buzz about Molinaro has come from her appearance in the feature film Command Performance and her performance in the Old Navy ad "Super C-U-T-E." Molinaro also appeared in guest roles on several televisions shows in 2010, including How I Met Your Mother and Brothers and Sisters.

Her casting in the lead role of 2011 film Honey 2 as well as the release of her first solo album, The Love Dance Project, scheduled for mid 2011, is leading to even more publicity for this dynamic young performer. She released the first single for the album, "I Believe," via YouTube in February 2011.

So where did this young star come from? She has actually been acting, modeling and singing for more than two decades. Born Melissa Ann Smith in Toronto, Canada in 1982, Molinaro has recently assumed her mother’s maiden name as her professional name, but has acting, dancing and singing credits listed under the names of Melissa S. and Melissa Smith.

She began studying figure skating and dancing while still a young child. She entered a formal dance program and secured her first starring stage roles while a teenager. She moved from Canada to Michigan when she was 13 years old, and became the lead singer for a group called "Goddess" at the age of 18.

Though the band never reached significant status, Molinaro continued to perform. She appeared in music videos and in small roles in television programs and commercials over the years. She also has notable modeling credits with several well known companies, including Xbox, Sketchers, Nivea and Microsoft.

Melissa Molinaro has also starred in two music-related reality television programs. The first is Making the Band 3, an MTV show in which Molinaro made it to the final round of competition. The second was Pussycat Dolls Present: the Search for the Next Doll. Molinaro again made it to almost the final cut, placing third in the competition and gaining her even more fans interested in her singing career.

Oddly enough, it is Molinaro’s appearance in the 2010 Old Navy ad "Super C-U-T-E" that has generated the most recent buzz on the internet. The ad has led many inquiring fans to ask who this talented and beautiful "Kim Kardashian look-a-like" is.

Molinaro is credited with stating that the comparison to Kim Kardashian is flattering. The viral advertising generated by the comparison has certainly been of benefit to Molinaro and has increased the household knowledge of her name.

Melissa Molinaro is making a big name for herself through her own talent and dedication as well. She is a hardworking performer who has a dynamic work history. She is well staged to be a big star, and the next several months will significantly impact the rest of her career, with the Honey 2 premier looming, and the impending release of her first solo album.