Maria Lawson facts for kids

Maria Lawson (born on May 24, 1979) is a talented English singer. She became well-known after appearing on the TV show The X Factor in 2005. Maria released her first album in 2006. She also wrote a book called Life Starts Now in 2008. From 2009 to 2010, Maria performed in the famous 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 Lawson's Early Life

Maria Lawson grew up in London, England. She is the youngest of five children, with three brothers and one sister. Her family background is a mix of Jamaican, Chinese, and Cuban heritage. 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 had a record deal and a publishing deal. She also worked as a singer-songwriter. Maria sang backing vocals for many famous artists. These included Gabrielle, Kelly Clarkson, and Lemar.

Maria's Music Journey

Singing with Ti.Pi.Cal

From 1997 to 1999, Maria Lawson, known as Kimara Lawson in Italy, sang with an Italian dance group called Ti.Pi.Cal.. They released several popular songs together. Some of their songs included "Hidden Passion," "Live For Today," and "Follow Your Heart."

Maria on The X Factor

Maria Lawson first tried out for The X Factor in 2004. She made it to the "bootcamp" stage but didn't get through. She tried again in 2005 for the second series of the show.

This time, judge Simon Cowell remembered her. He said he had "made a mistake" by not choosing her before. Maria sang "Stop" by Sam Brown at her audition. She then moved on to the bootcamp rounds. Sharon Osbourne became her mentor. Maria made it to the live shows as one of Sharon Osbourne's top four singers.

During the live shows, Maria performed songs like "Piece of My Heart" and "You're Beautiful". She became very popular and reached the top eight contestants. In week four, her performance of James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" received the most public votes.

Maria's X Factor Performances

Maria's Elimination from The X Factor

In the fifth week of the live shows, Maria sang "Brown Sugar". Some judges felt it wasn't the best song choice for her. After the public voted, Maria was in the bottom two with an Irish girl group called The Conway Sisters.

When it came time for the judges to vote, two out of three judges voted for Maria to leave the show. This meant she was eliminated. Maria's mentor, Sharon Osbourne, was very upset by this decision.

After The X Factor: Maria's First Album

After leaving The X Factor, Maria Lawson was offered deals by several record labels. In March 2006, she signed with Sony BMG. Her first single, "Sleepwalking", was released in August 2006. It became a popular song on BBC Radio 2 and reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart.

Maria's first album, also called Maria Lawson, was recorded in Los Angeles. She worked with famous songwriters and producers. The album was released in August 2006 and reached number 41 on the UK Albums Chart. Maria also signed a deal with a company called Bravissimo to be a model for their clothing line.

Maria had planned to release a second single, "Lover's Kiss," but her record company decided not to release it.

Maria in Thriller – Live

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 her new music and her book, Life Starts Now, which came out in November 2008. The book tells the story of her journey on The X Factor.

In April 2009, Maria Lawson joined the cast of the West End show Thriller – Live. This show celebrates the hit songs of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. Maria played the female lead role. She performed in the show from April 2009 until March 2010.

Maria's Second Album: Emotional Rollercoaster

In 2010, Maria signed another modeling deal, this time with Brastop.

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

Maria's second album, Emotional Rollercoaster, was produced by Brian Rawling. Maria went back to the studio to re-record some songs for the album. Emotional Rollercoaster was released in 2014 through Universal Music Operations.

Maria has also signed with Wilhelmina, a well-known modeling and celebrity agency in the United States.

Maria's Personal Life

Maria Lawson became a mother in February 2008 when she gave birth to her first son. In January 2012, she welcomed her second child, a daughter. Maria lives in Canary Wharf, London, with her husband Lawrence and their two children.

Maria Lawson's Music Releases

Albums

Singles

Collaborations