Jillian Hervey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jillian Hervey
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Hervey performing at 2015 Austin City Limits Music Festival
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| Birth name | Jillian Kristin Hervey |
| Born | June 19, 1989 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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Jillian Hervey, born on June 19, 1989, is an American dancer and singer. She is known as the lead singer for the music group Lion Babe. Her mother is the famous singer and actress Vanessa Williams.
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Early Life and Interests
Jillian Hervey comes from a talented family. Her mother is Vanessa Williams, a well-known singer and actress. Her uncle is actor Chris Williams. Her family history was even explored on the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?.
Jillian has a diverse background. Her family has roots from many places, including England, Wales, Ireland, Finland, Italy, France, and Portugal. She grew up in Chappaqua, New York.
When she was 11, Jillian started playing the guitar. She later studied dance at The New School. While there, she became very interested in performance art. This is where she met Lucas Goodman, who would become her partner in the band Lion Babe. They had met before at a party. Jillian asked Lucas to help her create music for a dance project at school.
Career Highlights
Film and Television Appearances
In 2000, Jillian appeared in a TV movie called The Courage to Love. This historical drama starred her mother, Vanessa Williams. Her mother played Henriette Delille, a free woman of color from New Orleans.
When Jillian was 19, she was offered a role on the TV show Gossip Girl. However, she chose to focus on her music career instead.
In 2012, Jillian appeared on an episode of RuPaul's Drag Race. She performed the song "Glamazon" with some of the show's contestants.
Music Journey with Lion Babe
In December 2012, Jillian Hervey and Lucas Goodman released their first song as the duo Lion Babe. The song was called "Treat Me Like Fire." People quickly noticed Jillian's unique voice and amazing hair.
Since then, Lion Babe has worked with famous artists like Pharrell Williams, Mark Ronson, and Childish Gambino. In 2014, they released another song called "Jungle Lady." Essence magazine praised the song, saying "Talent must run in the family."
In July 2015, Lion Babe performed at the big music festival Lollapalooza. In 2016, they released their first album, which was titled Begin. Music critics have often compared Jillian's singing style to that of Erykah Badu.
Beauty and Fashion Influence
In early 2016, Jillian became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics. She was part of their "Future Forward" campaign. This campaign focused on new and exciting musicians, including other women of color like Dej Loaf and Tinashe. Jillian was already known for her special "cat-eye flick" makeup.
Her role at MAC was important because, historically, major beauty brands did not often feature people of color in their ads. Jillian, along with others like Taraji P. Henson and Kerry Washington, helped change this.
In June 2016, Jillian also became a representative for Pantene hair products. This was a big deal because hair care brands often focused only on long, straight hair. Jillian encouraged "fellow curly girls to celebrate their texture." She was excited to be "a voice for girls with curls."
In a Glamour article, Jillian shared her journey to loving her curly hair. She said that moving to New York and seeing more diversity helped her feel "more free" and "take more risks." This change also affected her art. She started to feel more confident and inspired by black artists like Josephine Baker.
Jillian has also been noticed in the fashion world. People admire her '70s-inspired style. She has done fashion shoots with her mother, Vanessa Williams. Jillian also gets fashion ideas from icons like Naomi Campbell and Chaka Khan. Vogue magazine once described one of her signature outfits. It was a short, flared dress with tall, velvet boots.
