Estelle (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Estelle
Estelle in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Estelle Fanta Swaray
Born	(1980-01-18) 18 January 1980 (age 45) London, England
Genres	R&B hip-hop soul reggae grime dance
Occupation(s)	Singer rapper actress
Years active	2000–present
Labels	VP Est. 1980 BMG Warner Atlantic Mama's Boys Music Homeschool V2 Universal

Estelle Fanta Swaray (born January 18, 1980), known simply as Estelle, is a British singer, rapper, and actress. She is famous for mixing many different styles of music, like R&B, soul, reggae, hip-hop, and dance.

Estelle has worked with many famous American artists. These include Kanye West, John Legend, Chris Brown, and Rick Ross.

Her second album, Shine (2008), made her famous around the world. It included the hit song "American Boy" with Kanye West. This song won a Grammy Award.

Besides music, Estelle is also known for her acting. She was the voice of the character Garnet in the popular animated show Steven Universe. She has also appeared in movies like Girls Trip and the Netflix film Fatal Affair.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Estelle was born and raised in Hammersmith, a part of London, England. Her family has roots in Senegal and Grenada. She is the oldest of nine children.

Growing up, her parents were very religious. This meant that non-religious music was not allowed in their home. Instead, Estelle listened to American gospel music and traditional West African music. When she was away from home, she would listen to hip-hop.

She discovered hip-hop through her uncle, who played artists like Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane. By her early 20s, Estelle knew she wanted a career in music.

Music Career

2004–2005: First Album The 18th Day

Estelle's career began in a London hip-hop record store called Deal Real. People there encouraged her to perform on stage. Soon, she was performing in clubs all over London.

Her big break came when she met Kanye West in a restaurant in Los Angeles. She introduced herself and asked to be connected with the singer John Legend. This meeting led to John Legend helping produce two songs on her first album, The 18th Day.

The album was released in 2004 and was a success in the United Kingdom. Her song "1980" became a top-20 hit. For her work, she won a MOBO Award for Best Newcomer.

2008–2009: Shine and Global Fame

Estelle at a charity event in 2009.

In 2008, Estelle signed with John Legend's record label. She released her second album, Shine. This was her first album released in the United States, and it made her an international star.

The album's most famous song was "American Boy", which featured Kanye West. The song was a huge hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. It also became a top-ten hit in the U.S. and many other countries.

"American Boy" won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The album Shine was also very successful. It was certified gold in the UK, which means it sold over 100,000 copies there.

2010–2012: The Album All of Me

Estelle performing at the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland in 2012.

Estelle's third album was called All of Me and was released in 2012. One of the main singles from this album was "Break My Heart", featuring rapper Rick Ross.

Another important song from the album was "Thank You". This song earned Estelle another Grammy nomination, this time for Best R&B Performance. The album showed her growth as an artist and was mainly popular in the United States.

2013–2016: True Romance and Voice Acting

Estelle performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2015.

In 2013, Estelle started her own record label, called New London Records. This gave her more creative control over her music.

That same year, she took on a new role as a voice actress. She became the voice of Garnet in the Cartoon Network show Steven Universe. The show became very popular, and many fans loved her performance as the calm and powerful character.

In 2015, she released her fourth album, True Romance. A song from this album, "Conqueror," became a hit after she performed it on the TV show Empire.

2017–Present: Reggae Music and More Acting

Estelle decided to explore her musical roots with her next album. In 2018, she released Lovers Rock, which was a full-length reggae album. The album was a tribute to the music her parents listened to when she was young.

She continued her role as Garnet in Steven Universe: The Movie (2019) and the follow-up series Steven Universe Future. In 2020, she acted in the Netflix movie Fatal Affair.

Estelle also hosts The Estelle Show on Apple Music, where she plays music that inspires her. In 2025, she released her sixth studio album, Stay Alta.

Musical Style and Influences

Estelle is known for her ability to sing, rap, and write songs. She has been praised by artists like John Legend. Her musical taste is very broad and includes artists like Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, and Ella Fitzgerald.

She is often seen as part of a "British invasion" of music, along with other UK artists like Amy Winehouse and Adele. Estelle was one of the first Black British artists of her generation to win a Grammy Award, helping to open doors for others.

Discography

Studio albums

• The 18th Day (2004)
• Shine (2008)
• All of Me (2012)
• True Romance (2015)
• Lovers Rock (2018)
• Stay Alta (2025)

Film and Television Roles

Live-Action Roles

Voice Acting Roles

Images for kids

• 

  Estelle performing at the Paramount Theatre in 2009.

See also

In Spanish: Estelle para niños