Paton moved to Assen when she was a little girl.
Her mother was a famous singer in Suriname.
Paton's aunt is Ruth Jacott, also a famous Dutch singer who represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1993.
Before she participated in Idols, she worked as a hostess in a restaurant in Emmen.

March 11, 2006 was a big day for Paton; The grand finale of "Idol 2006", the Dutch adaption of the hit reality TV show Pop Idol.
Paton won Idols with 58% of the total votes, beating favourite Floortje Smit.
After the show, RTL 4, the broadcaster of Idols, reported that Floortje was winning the contest, until Paton sang "Right Here, Right Now (My Heart Belongs to You)", which was going to be the debut single of the winner of Idols.
The song is a cover of Agnes Carlsson, the Swedish Pop Idol.

On April 21, 2006, Paton's debut album Raffaëla was released.
The album contains 12 songs she sang during her Idols career and two new songs about pregnancy.
The album debuted at #1 in the Dutch Album Top 100.

On August 24, 2006, Paton delivered her first daughter, named Beautiful Hope.
Paton moved to Assen when she was a little girl. Her mother was a famous singer in Suriname. Paton's aunt is Ruth Jacott, also a famous Dutch singer who represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1993. Before she participated in Idols, she worked as a hostess in a restaurant in Emmen.
March 11, 2006 was a big day for Paton; The grand finale of "Idol 2006", the Dutch adaption of the hit reality TV show Pop Idol. Paton won Idols with 58% of the total votes, beating favourite Floortje Smit. After the show, RTL 4, the broadcaster of Idols, reported that Floortje was winning the contest, until Paton sang "Right Here, Right Now (My Heart Belongs to You)", which was going to be the debut single of the winner of Idols. The song is a cover of Agnes Carlsson, the Swedish Pop Idol.
On April 21, 2006, Paton's debut album Raffaëla was released. The album contains 12 songs she sang during her Idols career and two new songs about pregnancy. The album debuted at #1 in the Dutch Album Top 100.
On August 24, 2006, Paton delivered her first daughter, named Beautiful Hope.
Raffaëla Paton