Jamelia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jamelia
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![]() Jamelia in 2019
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Born |
Jamelia Niela Davis
11 January 1981 Handsworth, Birmingham, England
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Occupation |
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Years active | 1999–present |
Spouse(s) |
Darren Byfield
(m. 2008; div. 2009) |
Children | 4 |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Labels |
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Jamelia Niela Davis (born January 11, 1981) is a British singer, actress, and TV star. She is known for her pop and R&B music. Jamelia has released three studio albums and has had eight top-10 singles in the UK. She has won four MOBO Awards and has been nominated for nine BRIT Awards.
Her music career started in 1999. Her first big hit was the song "Superstar". It reached number three on the UK charts and number one in Australia. After releasing three albums, she left her record label, Parlophone.
Besides music, Jamelia has appeared on many TV shows. She was a judge on Move Like Michael Jackson and a panelist on the talk show Loose Women. She has also acted in shows like Hollyoaks and Death in Paradise.
Contents
Early Life
Jamelia was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, England. Her mother, Paulette Davis, raised her. Her parents are both Jamaican. Jamelia grew up in the Hockley area of Birmingham. She went to Brookfields Primary School and later CTC Kingshurst Academy.
Music Career
1999–2001: Starting Out with Drama
Jamelia was signed to a record label when she was only 15 years old. Producers heard her singing songs she wrote herself on a karaoke machine. In 1999, she was signed by Parlophone records.
She released her first album, Drama, in 2000. Her single "I Do" was her first successful song in the UK. Her next single, "Money", was a bigger hit. It reached number five on the UK charts. The song's music video won a MOBO Award in 2000.
2003–2005: Mainstream Success with Thank You
After her daughter Teja was born in 2001, Jamelia recorded her second album, Thank You. The first single from the album was "Bout", featuring the American rapper Rah Digga.
Her next single, "Superstar", became a huge hit. It reached number three in the UK and was the 26th best-selling song of 2003. The album Thank You was re-released with new songs. One new song was "See It in a Boy's Eyes", which she worked on with Coldplay's Chris Martin.
The song "Thank You" became her highest-charting single, reaching number two in the UK. It won a MOBO Award for Best Single. The album was very successful and sold over 600,000 copies in the UK. This success led to five BRIT Award nominations for Jamelia.
In 2004, she was part of the Band Aid 20 charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?". The song went to number one in the UK. She also recorded the song "Stop!" for the movie Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
2005–2010: Walk with Me Album
After her second daughter, Tiani, was born in 2005, Jamelia started working on her third album, Walk with Me. The first single, "Something About You", was released in 2006 and reached the top 10.
The album received good reviews from critics. The second single, "Beware of the Dog", also made it to the top 10. This song included a sample from the Depeche Mode song "Personal Jesus".
Even though the album had hit singles, it did not sell as well as Thank You. Jamelia later said she felt the album didn't flow well. In 2007, she released a greatest hits album called Superstar - The Hits. Soon after, she left her record label, Parlophone.
Television and Acting Career
Jamelia has had a successful career on television. In 2013 and 2014, she was a coach on The Voice of Ireland. From 2013 to 2016, she was a regular panelist on the ITV talk show Loose Women.
She has also acted in several TV shows. In 2013, she appeared in the BBC drama Death in Paradise. In 2016, she was in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors.
In 2021, Jamelia joined the cast of the popular soap opera Hollyoaks as the character Sharon Bailey. She became a regular cast member in 2023. She has also appeared on many other shows, including Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and Bear Grylls: Mission Survive.
Other Work
Jamelia has been involved in many other projects. She has modeled for brands like Pretty Polly and Reebok. She has also been the face of advertising campaigns for Jaguar Cars and Boots.
She has worked with charities like Oxfam and has supported campaigns to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS. In 2007, she co-hosted the MOBO Awards with the musician Shaggy.
Jamelia has also presented TV documentaries. In Jamelia: Whose Hair Is It Anyway?, she explored the hair extension industry. She also presented Jamelia: Shame About Single Mums for BBC Three.
Personal Life

Jamelia has four daughters. Her first daughter was born in 2001. She has said that her song "Thank You" was inspired by a difficult past relationship.
She was married to footballer Darren Byfield from 2008 to 2009, and they have a daughter together, born in 2005. In 2022, Jamelia announced she was expecting her fourth child.
In 2019, Jamelia showed her support for the Labour Party in the UK general election.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Drama (2000)
- Thank You (2003)
- Walk with Me (2006)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2000–2009 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Herself - Panellist | 5 episodes |
2003 | Hollyoaks | Herself | Episode: "#1.1044" |
2007 | Gameshow Marathon | Herself - Contestant | Series 2, 6 episodes |
2008 | Jamelia: Whose Hair Is It Anyway? | Herself - Presenter | TV film documentary |
2008–2013 | 8 Out of 10 Cats | Herself - Panellist | 8 episodes |
2009 | Would I Lie to You? | Episode: "#3.3" | |
Move Like Michael Jackson | Herself - Judge | 4 episodes (as Jamelia Davis) | |
Let's Dance for Sport Relief | Episode: "#1.2" | ||
2011 | Jamelia: Shame About Single Mums | Herself - Presenter | TV film documentary |
2012 | The Diamond Heist | Cherry Valentine | Film (Original title: Magic Boys) |
Crime Stories | Alice Dixon | Episode: "#1.17" (as Jamelia Davis) | |
Celebrity Chase | Herself - Contestant | Series 2, Episode 7: "Text Santa Special" | |
2013 | Big Star's Little Star | Episode: "#1.1" | |
Death in Paradise | Aimee Fredericks | Series 2, Episode 5: "Death Onboard" | |
I Love My Country | Herself - House band singer | 8 episodes | |
2013–2014 | The Voice of Ireland | Herself - Coach / Judge | Series 2 & 3 |
2013–2016 | Loose Women | Herself - Regular panellist | Series 18–20 |
2014 | Tipping Point: Lucky Stars | Herself - Contestant | Episode: "#2.7" |
2015 | All Star Family Fortunes | Episode: "Sam Bailey vs. Jamelia" | |
Strictly Come Dancing | Series 13, 21 episodes | ||
Bear Grylls: Mission Survive | Herself - Participant | 6 episodes | |
2016 | Doctors | Helena Wales | Episode: "Waste of Shame" |
The Diary | Detective Inspective Anisa Powell | Short film | |
2018 | Pointless Celebrities | Herself - Contestant | Series 11, Episode: "Christmas Special" |
2020 | Richard Osman's House of Games | Series 3, 5 episodes | |
2021, 2023–2024 | Hollyoaks | Sharon Bailey | Series regular, 47 episodes |
2022 | Little Darlings | Kate Williams | Mini-series, 4 episodes |
On Tour: Little Darlings | Mini-series, 2 episodes: "Birthday" and "Lucky Charm" | ||
Little Darlings: Songs | Mini-series, 2 episodes: "Little Darlings" and "Just a Little" | ||
The Hit List | Herself - Contestant | Series 5, Episode 9: "Celebrity Special" with Lemar | |
2023 | Celebrity Masterchef | Series 18, 6 episodes | |
2024 | Drama Queens | Herself | TV series |
2024 | Celebs Go Dating | Herself | Cast member; series 13 |
2025 | Just Act Normal | Fake Jackie | TV series |
Awards and Nominations
Jamelia has won many awards for her music. Here are some of them:
- MOBO Awards: She has won four MOBO awards, including Best Video for "Money" and Best Single for "Thank You".
- Q Awards: She won Best Single for "See It in a Boy's Eyes".
- Urban Music Awards: She won Best R&B Act twice.
She has also been nominated for nine Brit Awards, including Best British Female and Best British Single.
Tours
- 2004 Thank You Tour
Jamelia has also performed as the opening act for famous artists like Destiny's Child, Justin Timberlake, and Usher.
See also
In Spanish: Jamelia para niños
- List of one-word stage names
- List of Strictly Come Dancing contestants