Mya

October 10, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Mya Marie Harrison, born on October 10, 1979, and best known by her stage name Mýa, is an American singer, dancer, songwriter, producer, and actress who has released several popular and commercially successful albums. In 2002, she won a Grammy Award for her performance of the famous 1975 song “Lady Marmalade” in Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. She has dabbled in acting and has done supporting roles and appearances in various movies and T.V. programs and sold more than 10 million records worldwide. Let’s celebrate this famed icon’s birthday right here!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Mya Marie Harrison

Nickname:

My My, Mýa-Re, Smoove Jones, Ms. Caramel, Queen of Throwback R&B, Dancing Queen, Ghetto Princess

Birth date:

October 10, 1979

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Libra

Height:

5' 5"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$4 million

Background

Mýa is one of the most popular solo musicians of the 2000s, as seen by her record sales. Her voice, lyrics, and commitment to the music industry are adored by millions of music enthusiasts worldwide. Mýa was born in Washington, D.C., on October 10, 1979. She grew up in a musical family and studied ballet, jazz, and tap dance. Mýa also took violin classes throughout her childhood, but dance was her favorite after-school hobby. She started her ballet training at the age of two and jazz and tap lessons when she was four.

Her music career took off once she signed with Interscope Records in 1996, and her self-titled first album, “Mýa” was released in April 1998. Harrison began her acting career alongside her music career, starring with L.L. Cool J and Omar Epps in the 1999 thriller “In Too Deep.” Her second album, “Fear of Flying,” was released in April 2000 and quickly became a worldwide hit with the singles ‘Case of the Ex’ and ‘Free.’ Harrison’s astonishing growth continued in 2002 with her first Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for her rendition of Labelle’s 1975 song ‘Lady Marmalade,’ which she performed with Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Lil’ Kim. She then proceeded to participate in films as a supporting actress.

Harrison went independent after a label shift and made two exclusive albums for the Japanese music market, “Sugar & Spice” (2008) and “K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)” (2011). Between those two albums, she started her own independent record label, Planet 9. Harrison’s seventh album “Smoove Jones,” was released in 2016 and won her a Grammy nomination. She released another album in April 2018 “T.K.O. (The Knock Out),” which was a celebration of the anniversary of her first album.

Career timeline

1998

The Debut Album is Released

Mýa receives nominations for the Soul Train Music Awards and the NAACP Image Awards for her self-titled first album, which reaches No. 29 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

2002

The Oscar-Winning Film

Mýa stars in "Chicago," which is a box office hit and a six-time Oscars winner.

2003

The Chart-Topping Album

"Moodring," her third studio album, lands at number three on the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S. and receives excellent reviews from critics.

2005

The Philanthropy Organization

She founds her nonprofit organization, The Mýa Arts & Tech Foundation, to benefit underprivileged children.

Why We Love Mya

She prioritizes health
Harrison is health-conscious and enjoys doing yoga to maintain her fitness. She was also a vegetarian for a long time before genuinely adopting veganism.
She practices mental growth
In 2013, she had a toxic relationship with a man, which was destructive to her health. Mýa improved her mental state, absorbed the lessons, and is now flourishing and enjoying her independence.
Woman empowerment activism
Mýa uses her experiences as a popular performer to speak to girls' groups as part of the teenagers' Secret of Self-Esteem program. The program covers issues such as body image, peer pressure, and gender stereotypes.

5 Surprising Facts

The story behind her name
She was named after the famous American poet Maya Angelou.
She used to be bullied
Being of mixed ethnicity caused Mýa to be frequently bullied at school.
Her voice acting portfolio
She voiced the character of NSA spy and Bond girl Mýa Starling for the computer game "James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing" in 2003.
Mýa's a fan of Michael Jackson
She used to imitate Michael Jackson as a child, wearing her mother's high-heeled boots and using a spoon as a microphone.
She's written a lot of songs
Harrison writes most of the material for her studio album herself, and when songs are offered to her, she feels comfortable doing so if she thinks the music hits near to her heart.