Fernanda was born and raised in a middle-class family of the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.

Her first solo album, SLA Radical Dance Disco Club (1990), was produced by Herbert Vianna and Fábio Fonseca and had a hit with A Noite, composed with Luiz Stein and Laufer.

Her second album, SLA2/Be Sample (1992), was one of the earliest Brazilian pop records to extensively employ the sampler, and had success with Rio 40 Graus,[1] composed with Fausto Fawcett and Laufer, portraying Rio de Janeiro climate, people and lifestyle.

[2] In 2006, she released Ao Vivo MTV, the first DVD of her career, which includes many of her hit songs.

[3] Abreu is married to the musician and designer Luiz Stein and has 2 daughters, Alice and Sofia.