Jessica Mauboy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jessica Mauboy
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Mauboy in 2018
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Jessica Hilda Mauboy
4 August 1989 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Themeli Magripilis
(m. 2022) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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Jessica Hilda Mauboy (born 4 August 1989) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. She grew up in Darwin, Northern Territory. Jessica became famous in 2006 when she was the runner-up on the TV show Australian Idol. After the show, she signed a music deal with Sony Music Australia.
In 2008, Jessica released her first album, Been Waiting. It included her first number-one song, "Burn". This album became one of the best-selling Australian albums of 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 an actress. She starred in the movies Bran Nue Dae (2010) and The Sapphires (2012). For The Sapphires, she won an award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2016, she played the main character in the TV show The Secret Daughter. She also released two soundtrack albums from the show. Her fourth album, Hilda (2019), also reached number one.
Jessica Mauboy is one of Australia's most successful female artists. She has had many top-selling albums and singles. She has won two ARIA Music Awards. She has performed with famous international artists like Flo Rida and Snoop Dogg. She has also toured with Beyoncé and Chris Brown. Jessica performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 and competed for Australia in 2018. From 2021 to 2023, she was a coach on The Voice Australia.
Early Life and Education
Jessica Hilda Mauboy was born on 4 August 1989. She grew up in Darwin, Northern Territory. Her father, Ferdy, is from West Timor. 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, she sang in the 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.
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 song called "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". However, the song was not very successful, and she went back to Darwin.
Music Career
2006: Australian Idol
In 2006, Jessica auditioned for Australian Idol in Alice Springs. She sang Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing". All three judges were very impressed, and she made it to the top twelve.
During the show, one judge, Kyle Sandilands, made a comment about her weight. Jessica said later that she took it as a joke and it made her stronger. She never landed in the bottom three again after that.
Jessica made it to the grand finale with Damien Leith. On 27 November, at the Sydney Opera House, she was voted runner-up. In December 2006, she signed a music deal with Sony Music Australia.
2007–2009: The Journey, Young Divas and Been Waiting
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 music charts.
In September 2007, Jessica joined the girl group Young Divas. They released their second album, New Attitude, which reached number 10. In March 2008, Jessica traveled to Indonesia to perform.
In August 2008, Jessica decided to leave Young Divas to focus on her solo career. The group later broke up.
Jessica's first solo album, Been Waiting, came out in November 2008. It reached number 11 and sold very well. Jessica helped write eleven songs on the album. Critics liked the album.
The first song from the album, "Running Back", featured American rapper Flo Rida. It reached number three. The second song, "Burn", became Jessica's first number-one hit. Other songs like "Because" and "Up/Down" also did well.
In 2009, Jessica signed with a UK record label, Ministry of Sound. Been Waiting was also released in Japan. At the 2009 Deadly Awards, Jessica won three awards, including Female Artist of the Year. She also opened for Beyoncé on her Australian tour in September 2009. At the 2009 ARIA Music Awards, Jessica won Highest Selling Single for "Running Back".
2010–2012: Get 'Em Girls and The Sapphires Soundtrack
In 2010, Jessica worked with other international artists on "Everyone", the theme song for the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. She performed the song at the opening ceremony in Singapore.
Jessica released her second album, Get 'Em Girls, in November 2010. It reached number six. She worked on this album in the United States with American songwriters and producers. Jessica helped write eight songs on the album.
The album's main song, "Get 'Em Girls", featured American rapper Snoop Dogg. It reached number 19. Jessica performed this song at the 2010 Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards. Other songs like "Saturday Night" (with Ludacris) and "What Happened to Us" (with Jay Sean) were also popular.
In December 2010, she performed for Oprah Winfrey's visit to Melbourne. In April 2011, she opened for Chris Brown's Australian tour.
Get 'Em Girls was re-released in August 2011. It included new songs like "Inescapable" and "Galaxy" with Stan Walker. "Inescapable" reached number four. In November 2011, Jessica performed for US President Barack Obama's visit to Darwin. In January 2012, Jessica and Stan Walker went on their "Galaxy Tour" across Australia.
Jessica recorded 15 songs for The Sapphires' soundtrack album. It was released in July 2012 and reached number one on the charts.
2013–2014: Beautiful, Eurovision and iTunes Session EP
In 2013, Jessica won the Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year award. She performed for Ellen DeGeneres' shows in Australia. In September 2013, she sang at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
Jessica's third album, Beautiful, was released in October 2013. It reached number three. The song "Pop a Bottle (Fill Me Up)" debuted at number two. Another song, "Never Be the Same", reached number six.
At the 2013 NRL Grand Final in October 2013, Jessica sang the Australian national anthem. She also performed with Ricky Martin. At the 2013 ARIA Music Awards, she won Best Female Artist. She then went on her "To the End of the Earth Tour".
In March 2014, Jessica appeared on Sesame Street, singing "Count the Kangaroos". She was chosen to perform at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark. She sang "Sea of Flags" during the semi-final.
Her first extended play (EP), iTunes Session, was released in July 2014. In August 2014, she performed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Flag Handover Ceremony in Scotland. The album Beautiful was re-released in November 2014, including new songs like "Can I Get a Moment?".
2015–2018: The Secret Daughter Soundtracks and Eurovision
Jessica performed at the 2015 Cricket World Cup opening ceremony in February 2015. In May 2015, she said she was writing songs for her next album, aiming for a "rhythmic pop" sound. The song "This Ain't Love" was released in September 2015 and reached number five.
In March 2016, Jessica released "Where I'll Stay" for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her plans for a new album were put on hold when she released her first soundtrack album, The Secret Daughter: Songs from the Original TV Series, in October 2016. This album featured music from her TV show, The Secret Daughter, where she played the main role.
The Secret Daughter: Songs from the Original TV Series became Jessica's first number-one album. This made her the first Indigenous artist to have a number-one album on the ARIA Albums Chart. She went on her "All the Hits Live" tour in 2017.
Her second soundtrack album, The Secret Daughter Season Two: Songs from the Original 7 Series, was released in October 2017. It reached number two. The song "Fallin'" reached number 11.
In December 2017, Jessica was announced as the Australian representative for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Portugal. In May 2018, she performed the song "We Got Love" and finished in 20th place.
2019–2020: Hilda and Sony Depart
On 11 April 2019, Jessica released her new song "Sunday" from her album Hilda. The album came out in October 2019 and debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. Another song from the album, "Little Things", also became very popular.
In December 2020, Jessica left Sony Music after 14 years. She signed a new record deal with Warner Music Australia.
2021–Present: Signing with Warner Music and Yours Forever
On 12 November 2021, Jessica released "Glow", her first song with Warner Music Australia. She released her second song, "Automatic", on 8 May 2022.
On 24 February 2023, Jessica performed "Right Here Right Now" at Sydney World Pride 2023. This song was released in March 2023.
On 11 August 2023, Jessica released "Give You Love" featuring Jason Derulo. This was the first song from her fifth 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 from Darwin.
After seven years of long-distance dating, Themeli moved to Sydney in September 2016 and lived with Jessica. The couple got married in Darwin on 9 July 2022. Jessica is expecting a baby in early 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, the North Queensland Cowboys.
Artistry
Music and Songwriting
Jessica's music is mostly R&B and pop. She also adds dance, funk, soul, and hip hop to some of her songs. Her first album, Been Waiting, had a mix of electronic beats, pop tunes, and R&B. The songs on this album were about love, everyday life, family, and friendship.
Her second 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 third album, Beautiful, featured more dance songs mixed with her usual R&B sound.
Jessica has also included her Aboriginal heritage in her music, especially in songs for The Sapphires soundtrack and "Sea of Flags". Besides singing, Jessica can play the piano. She has helped write many of her own songs. She co-wrote eleven songs on her first album, nine on her second, and fourteen on her third.
Influences
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 says Mariah Carey is her main influence. She learned a lot from watching and listening to Mariah's live shows. She also looks up to Whitney Houston for their amazing singing. Other musical influences include John Farnham and Beyoncé. Jessica is also inspired by Indigenous Australian women like Olympic gold medalist Cathy Freeman and actress Deborah Mailman.
Other Ventures
Acting Career
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In January 2010, Jessica started her acting career in the movie 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. In November 2010, she made a guest appearance in the TV mini-series Underbelly: Razor.
In 2012, Jessica had a main role in The Sapphires. She played Julie McCrae, one of four Indigenous Australian women who travel to Vietnam to sing for American troops. Jessica and the cast attended the film's premiere at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. For her acting in The Sapphires, she won the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
In September 2013, Jessica appeared as herself in the TV show Dance Academy. In 2016, she was cast as the lead in the TV drama series The Secret Daughter. This was her first big TV role and was written just for her. She played Billie Carter, a country pub singer whose life changes. The show was renewed for a second season in 2017. In 2024, she starred in the film Windcatcher.
Endorsements
Jessica has worked with many brands. In 2007, she was in ads for Head & Shoulders shampoo. In 2009, she created two nail polishes with Bloom Cosmetics. In 2010, she became the face of the video game Nintendogs + Cats 3DS. She also launched her own fashion line with KuKu.
In 2013, Jessica became an ambassador for the National Rugby League (NRL). She sang a cover of Etta James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me" for their TV ads. She also became an ambassador for the Woolworths Earn & Learn program, which helps schools get educational resources. In 2015, she became the new face for Target Australia's Womenswear. Her first perfume, Be Beautiful, was released in October 2015.
Philanthropy
Jessica has supported many charities in Australia. She is an ambassador for the Sony Foundation, which raises money for young people's causes. She has visited hospitals and performed at fundraising events like Wharf4Ward, which helps build youth cancer centers.
She has performed at many other charity events, including balls, dinners, and Christmas carols. For many years, she has performed at the annual Channel Seven Perth Telethon. In 2011, she performed free concerts as part of the Indian Pacific Outback Christmas train journey, which raises money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Jessica also helps Indigenous organizations that improve children's education. In 2009, she became a spokesperson for the Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP). This project provides books and learning materials to schools in remote areas. She has visited schools and talked to students about how important education is. In 2013, she became an ambassador for the Aboriginal Yipirinya School in Alice Springs. In 2015, she became an ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Her songs have been included on charity albums like Bushfire Aid (2009) and Flood Relief (2011). In 2015, she was featured on Lee Kernaghan's charity song "Spirit of the Anzacs", which raised money for Legacy and Soldier On.
Television
In December 2020, Jessica joined the judging panel of The Voice Australia for its tenth season.
Discography
- Been Waiting (2008)
- Get 'Em Girls (2010)
- Beautiful (2013)
- Hilda (2019)
- Yours Forever (2024)
Filmography
Film Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Windcatcher | Aunty Cressida | |
| 2015 | Play All Day with Elmos | Kangaroo | |
| 2012 | The Sapphires | Julie | |
| 2009 | Bran Nue Dae | Rosie |
Television Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Voice: Generations Australia | Self | |
| 2021–23 | The Voice Australia | Self | |
| 2017 | Anh's Brush with Fame | Self | 1 episode |
| 2016 | Home and Away | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2016–17 | The Secret Daughter | Billie Carter | 12 episodes |
| 2013 | Dance Academy | Self | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Underbelly | Gloria Starr | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Australian Idol | Self |
Music Videos and Other Videography
Tours
Headlining
- 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 Act
- Beyoncé's I Am... World Tour: Australian leg (2009)
- Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. Tour: Australian leg (2011)
