That same year she began to participate in international tournaments as junior in Fukuoka, Calais and Portimão, achieving some 4th places and several bronze medals.

[3] In July 1997 she joined the national senior group called up by María Fernández Ostolaza who replaced Emilia Boneva, who had undergone heart surgery in November 1996.

By 1997, the group members had already moved their residence from the chalet in Canillejas to a building attached to the INEF and had begun training at the Madrid High Performance Center.

[2] In 1998 they competed with 3 ribbons and 2 hoops and with 5 balls, using the Sevillian "Juego de luna y arena" (inspired by a poem by Lorca) and the tango "El vaivén", two songs by José Luis Barroso, for their music cuts.

During that year, they competed with 3 ribbons and 2 hoops and with 10 clubs, the first using "Zorongo gitano" and the second with "Babelia" by Chano Domínguez, Hozan Yamamoto and Javier Paxariño, as music.

[10][11] However, Paula could not compete in the Olympic Games since coach Nancy Usero decided to let her go along her and her teammates Marta Alves, Sara Bayón and Ana del Toro, so she retired in November 1999.