Jessica Mauboy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jessica Mauboy
Mauboy in 2018
Born	Jessica Hilda Mauboy (1989-08-04) 4 August 1989 (age 36) Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	2003–present
Spouse(s)	Themeli Magripilis ​ (m. 2022)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop soul funk hip hop dance
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Sony Ministry of Sound Warner

Jessica Hilda Mauboy (born 4 August 1989) is a famous Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. She grew up in Darwin, Northern Territory. Jessica became well-known in 2006 after being the runner-up on the TV show Australian Idol. After the show, she signed a music deal with Sony Music Australia.

Her first studio album, Been Waiting, came out in 2008. It featured her first number-one song, "Burn". This album was one of the best-selling Australian albums in 2009. Her second album, Get 'Em Girls (2010), had a strong R&B sound. Her third album, Beautiful (2013), mixed dance, R&B, and pop music.

Besides singing, Jessica is also a talented actress. She starred in the movies Bran Nue Dae (2010) and The Sapphires (2012). For The Sapphires, she won an AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. In 2016, she played the main character in the TV show The Secret Daughter. She released two soundtrack albums from the show. The first one made her the first Indigenous artist to have a number-one album on the ARIA Albums Chart. Her fourth studio album, Hilda, also reached number one in 2019.

Jessica Mauboy is one of Australia's most successful female artists. She has had many top-ten albums and hit singles. She has won two ARIA Music Awards and worked with international stars like Flo Rida and Snoop Dogg. She has also performed for important guests like Oprah Winfrey and US President Barack Obama. In 2018, she represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest. From 2021 to 2023, she was a coach on The Voice Australia.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Jessica Hilda Mauboy was born on 4 August 1989 in Darwin, Northern Territory. Her father, Ferdy, is from West Timor, and her mother, Therese, is an Aboriginal Australian woman from the Kuku Yalanji people. Jessica has three older sisters and one younger sister.

From a young age, Jessica loved music. She sang in her local church choir with her grandmother. Her home was always full of music, with her mother singing and her father playing guitar. She went to Wulagi Primary School and Sanderson High School in Darwin. She left school in year 11 to focus on her music dreams.

When she was 14, Jessica won the Telstra Road to Tamworth competition in 2004. This led to a recording deal with Sony Music Australia. She released a country-style song called "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". However, the song was not a big hit, and she returned to Darwin.

Music Career Highlights

Rising to Fame on Australian Idol (2006)

Jessica Mauboy with Damien Leith at the Australian Idol grand finale

In 2006, Jessica auditioned for Australian Idol in Alice Springs. She sang Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" and impressed all the judges. She made it to the top twelve contestants. During the show, one judge made a comment about her weight. Jessica later said she took it as a joke and that it made her stronger.

She continued to perform well and reached the grand finale. On 27 November, at the Sydney Opera House, Jessica was the runner-up to Damien Leith. Soon after, she signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.

First Albums and Success (2007–2009)

Jessica released her first live album, The Journey, in February 2007. It included songs she performed on Australian Idol. The album reached number four on the ARIA Albums Chart. In September 2007, Jessica joined the girl group Young Divas. They released an album called New Attitude, which was also successful.

In August 2008, Jessica decided to leave Young Divas to focus on her solo career. Her first solo studio album, Been Waiting, was released in November 2008. It reached number 11 and sold very well. Jessica helped write eleven songs on the album. Critics liked the album, calling it an "impressive debut".

The first song from the album, "Running Back", featured American rapper Flo Rida. It became a top-three hit. Her next song, "Burn", was her first number-one single. Other popular songs from the album included "Been Waiting", "Because", and "Up/Down". In 2009, Jessica won three Deadly Awards for Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Single Release of the Year for "Burn". She also supported Beyoncé on her Australian tour.

New Sounds and Acting Roles (2010–2012)

Mauboy performing in 2012

In 2010, Jessica released her second studio album, Get 'Em Girls. It reached number six on the charts. She worked with American songwriters and producers for this album. The album's title song featured American rapper Snoop Dogg. Other hit songs from the album included "Saturday Night" with Ludacris and "What Happened to Us" with Jay Sean.

In December 2010, Jessica performed for a huge audience in Melbourne before Oprah Winfrey's visit. In 2011, she supported Chris Brown on his Australian tour. A deluxe edition of Get 'Em Girls was released in 2011, featuring new songs like "Inescapable" and "Galaxy" with Stan Walker. In 2012, Jessica and Stan Walker went on their Galaxy Tour across Australia.

Jessica also recorded 15 songs for The Sapphires movie soundtrack, which came out in July 2012. The album went straight to number one.

Beautiful Album and Eurovision (2013–2014)

Mauboy at the 2013 ARIA Music Awards

In 2013, Jessica won the Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year award. She performed for Ellen DeGeneres in Australia and at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Her third studio album, Beautiful, was released in October 2013. It reached number three on the charts.

The album included popular songs like "Pop a Bottle (Fill Me Up)" and "Never Be the Same". At the 2013 ARIA Music Awards, Jessica won Best Female Artist. She then went on her To the End of the Earth Tour from late 2013 to early 2014.

In 2014, Jessica was chosen by SBS to perform at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark. She sang her song "Sea of Flags". Her first extended play, iTunes Session, was released in July 2014. She also performed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Flag Handover Ceremony in Scotland.

Soundtracks and Eurovision Return (2015–2018)

In 2015, Jessica performed at the ICC Cricket World Cup opening ceremony. She also started writing songs for her fourth studio album. The song "This Ain't Love" was released in September 2015 and reached number five.

In 2016, Jessica released her first soundtrack album, The Secret Daughter: Songs from the Original TV Series. This album featured music from her TV show, The Secret Daughter, where she played the main character, Billie Carter. The album became Jessica's first individual number-one album. This made her the first Indigenous artist to top the ARIA Albums Chart. She then went on her All the Hits Live – The Australian Tour in 2017.

Her second soundtrack album, The Secret Daughter Season Two: Songs from the Original 7 Series, came out in October 2017. It included the hit song "Fallin'". In December 2017, it was announced that Jessica would represent Australia at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Portugal. She performed the song "We Got Love" and finished in 20th place.

Hilda and New Beginnings (2019–Present)

In April 2019, Jessica released her song "Sunday" from her fourth studio album, Hilda. The album came out in October 2019 and debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. Another popular song from the album was "Little Things".

In December 2020, Jessica left Sony Music after 14 years. She signed a new record deal with Warner Music Australia. Her first song with Warner Music, "Glow", was released in November 2021. She then released "Automatic" in May 2022. In February 2023, she performed "Right Here Right Now" at Sydney World Pride.

In August 2023, Jessica released "Give You Love" featuring Jason Derulo. This was the first song from her fifth studio album, Yours Forever, which was released in February 2024.

Personal Life

In late 2008, Jessica moved from Darwin to Sydney. In January 2009, she started a long-distance relationship with Themeli "Magoo" Magripilis. He is a soccer player and council worker from Darwin. After seven years of long-distance dating, Themeli moved to Sydney in September 2016 to live with Jessica. The couple got married in Darwin on 9 July 2022. Jessica's first child was born in January 2025. When she is not working, Jessica often goes back to Darwin to see her family. She is a big fan of the NRL team North Queensland Cowboys.

Artistry and Influences

Music Style and Songwriting

Jessica Mauboy's music is mostly R&B and pop. She also adds elements of dance, funk, soul, and hip hop to her songs. Her first album, Been Waiting, had a mix of electronic beats, pop tunes, and R&B sounds. Many of her songs talk about love, friendships, and everyday life.

Her album Get 'Em Girls had a stronger R&B and pop sound with hip hop beats. Jessica said she wanted the songs on this album to talk about "a woman's needs" and the "empowerment of women". Her album Beautiful featured a mix of dance songs and her usual R&B style.

Jessica also includes her Aboriginal heritage in her music, like in the soundtrack for The Sapphires and her song "Sea of Flags". Besides singing, she can play the piano and has helped write many of her songs. She co-wrote eleven songs on her first album, nine on her second, and fourteen on her third.

Musical Inspirations

Jessica grew up listening to country singers like Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. She says country music was her first love. She also listened to hip hop artists like Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg.

Jessica names Mariah Carey as her biggest influence. She learned a lot from Mariah's singing and songwriting style. She also looks up to Whitney Houston for their amazing vocal performances. Other artists who inspire her include John Farnham and Beyoncé. Jessica is also inspired by Indigenous Australian women like Olympic champion Cathy Freeman and actress Deborah Mailman.

Public Image

Jessica Mauboy is known for her positive image and is seen as a role model for young people and Indigenous communities in Australia. People describe her as a "wholesome girl-next-door" who is humble and passionate. Her fashion style has also changed as she became more famous, from a shy schoolgirl to a confident star. She looks up to Jennifer Lopez for style inspiration.

Jessica's weight has sometimes been talked about in the media since Australian Idol. She has said she is proud of her curvy figure. She also has an "alter ego" named J Malley, which she describes as her "fearless side".

Other Ventures

Acting Career

Mauboy at the Australian premiere of The Sapphires in August 2012

In January 2010, Jessica made her acting debut in the film Bran Nue Dae. She played Rosie, a church singer who likes a school boy named Willie. Her role earned her a nomination for Female Actress of the Year at the 2010 Deadly Awards. In November 2010, she also appeared in the TV mini-series Underbelly: Razor as a nightclub singer.

In 2012, Jessica had a main role in The Sapphires. She played Julie McCrae, one of four Indigenous Australian women who sing for American troops in Vietnam. Jessica and the cast attended the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. For her performance, she won an AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

In 2016, Jessica was cast as the lead in the TV drama series The Secret Daughter. She played Billie Carter, a country pub singer whose life changes after meeting a rich hotelier. This was her first big TV role and was written just for her. The show was very popular and had a second season in 2017. In 2024, she starred in the Stan Australia film Windcatcher.

Endorsements and Charity Work

Jessica has worked with many brands throughout her career. In 2007, she appeared in ads for Head & Shoulders shampoo. She also teamed up with Bloom Cosmetics to create nail polishes, and with clothing label KuKu for a fashion range. In 2010, she became the face of the video game Nintendogs + Cats 3DS.

In 2013, Jessica became an ambassador for the National Rugby League (NRL) and the Woolworths Earn & Learn program. In 2014, she became an ambassador for Swisse, a health company, and Telstra. In 2015, she was the new face for Target Australia's Womenswear. Her first perfume, Be Beautiful, was released in October 2015.

Jessica also supports many charities. She is an ambassador for the Sony Foundation, which helps young people with cancer. She has performed at many fundraising events, including the annual Channel Seven Perth Telethon. She has also helped Indigenous organizations that work to improve children's education. She is a spokesperson for the Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP) and an ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Television Coaching

In December 2020, Jessica Mauboy joined the judging panel of The Voice Australia for its tenth season. She continued as a coach until 2023.

Discography

• Been Waiting (2008)
• Get 'Em Girls (2010)
• Beautiful (2013)
• Hilda (2019)
• Yours Forever (2024)

Filmography

Film Appearances

Television Appearances

Music Videos and Other Videography

Tours

Headlining Tours

• Galaxy Tour (with Stan Walker) (2012)
• To the End of the Earth Tour (2013–14)
• All the Hits Live – The Australian Tour (2017)
• The Boss Lady Tour (2022)
• Yours Forever Tour (2024)

Supporting Tours

• Beyoncé's I Am... World Tour: Australian leg (2009)
• Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. Tour: Australian leg (2011)

See also

In Spanish: Jessica Mauboy para niños

• List of awards and nominations received by Jessica Mauboy