Maria Lawson facts for kids

Maria Lawson (born on May 24, 1979) is an English singer. She became well-known after appearing on The X Factor in 2005. Maria released her first album in 2006. She also wrote a book about her life called Life Starts Now in 2008. From 2009 to 2010, she starred in the West End show Thriller – Live. Her second album, Emotional Rollercoaster, came out in 2014. Maria lives in London with her husband and their two children.

Maria's Early Life and Background

Maria Lawson was born and grew up in London, England. She is the youngest of five children, with three older brothers and one sister. Her family has a mix of backgrounds: her mother is Jamaican, her father has Cuban roots, and her grandfather was Chinese.

Before she became famous on The X Factor, Maria was already working in music. She signed her first record deal and started her career as a singer-songwriter. She even worked with famous artists like Gabrielle, singing backing vocals on hit songs like "Out of Reach". Maria also provided backing vocals for other big names, including Kelly Clarkson and Lemar.

Maria's Music Journey

Singing with Ti.Pi.Cal. (1997–1999)

In the late 1990s, Maria Lawson, known as Kimara Lawson in Italy, had success with an Italian dance group called Ti.Pi.Cal.. She sang on several of their popular singles. These included songs like "Hidden Passion" (1997), "Live For Today" (1997), and "Follow Your Heart" (1998). She also released two singles as Kimara Lawson, "Stand Up" and "Heaven," both in 2000.

Maria's Time on The X Factor (2004–2005)

Maria first tried out for The X Factor in 2004. She made it to the "bootcamp" stage but didn't get through to the live shows. The next year, in 2005, she auditioned again for the second series of the show.

During her second audition, judge Simon Cowell remembered her. He even said he had "made a mistake" by not choosing her the year before! Maria sang "Stop" by Sam Brown and moved on to bootcamp. There, Sharon Osbourne became her mentor. Maria made it all the way to the live shows, performing as one of Sharon Osbourne's top four singers.

Maria became a fan favorite during the live shows. In week four, her performance of James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" received the most public votes that week. She made it to the top eight contestants before being eliminated.

Maria's X Factor Performances

After X Factor: Her First Album (2006)

After The X Factor, Maria was offered deals by several big record labels. In March 2006, she signed with Sony BMG. Her first single, "Sleepwalking", was released in August 2006. This song was played a lot on BBC Radio 2 and reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart. It sold over 50,000 copies in the UK.

Maria's first album, also called Maria Lawson, was recorded in Los Angeles. She worked with famous songwriters and producers, including Grammy winner Diane Warren. The album came out in August 2006 and reached number 41 on the UK Albums Chart. It sold over 20,000 copies in the UK. Maria also signed a deal with Bravissimo to model for their lingerie and clothing line.

West End Show Thriller – Live (2008–2010)

In 2008, Maria announced that her next album would be called Emotional Rollercoaster. She released a single from it called "Breaking Me Down". She promoted the song with radio and TV tours across the UK. Maria also performed "Breaking Me Down" at big events like Party in the Park in Leeds.

In October 2008, Maria appeared on GMTV to talk about her new single and her book, Life Starts Now. This book tells her story from being an unknown singer to appearing on a major TV show.

A big step in Maria's career came in April 2009. She announced that she would be playing the main female role in the West End production of Thriller – Live. This show features the hit songs of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. Maria performed in the show from April 2009 until March 2010.

Emotional Rollercoaster and Beyond (2010–Present)

In 2010, Maria signed another modeling deal, this time with Brastop, for their 2011 campaign.

In 2011, Maria tried to represent Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with her song "Champion." However, the song didn't make it to the final competition.

Maria's second studio album, Emotional Rollercoaster, was produced by Brian Rawling. She went back to the studio to re-record and remix some of the songs. The album was released in 2014. Maria has also signed with Wilhelmina, a well-known modeling and celebrity agency in the US.

Maria's Personal Life

Maria Lawson is married to Lawrence and they have two children. Her first son was born in February 2008. Her second child, a daughter, was born in January 2012. The family lives in Canary Wharf, London.

Maria Lawson's Music: Albums and Singles

Albums

Singles

Collaborations