Melanie Amaro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melanie Amaro
Melanie Amaro in Hollywood, California, in June 2013
Background information
Birth name	Melanie Ann Amaro
Born	(1992-06-26) June 26, 1992 (age 32) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Origin	Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Genres	Pop R&B Adult contemporary Soul Dance
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals Piano
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Moorehouse Music Group Syco Epic
Associated acts	R. Kelly

Melanie Ann Amaro (born June 26, 1992) is an American singer. She became famous after winning the first season of The X Factor USA in 2011. Her big win earned her a $5 million recording contract with Syco Music and Epic Records. Melanie was also the youngest person to win the competition while the show was on TV (from 2011 to 2013).

Melanie Amaro's Early Life

Melanie Amaro was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When she was three years old, she moved to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to live with her grandmother. Her parents, Hipolito Amaro and Debra Sylvester Amaro, felt her grandmother could provide for her better at that time. Melanie would visit her parents during summer and Christmas breaks. She has two brothers, Mark and Michael, and a younger sister named Maya. Her mother remembers Melanie singing in her crib when she was only about six months old! From a young age, Melanie would sing around her house using a hairbrush as a microphone. She realized she loved singing and acting when she was about eleven. She thanks her mother for always encouraging her to follow her dreams.

Melanie did not enter many singing competitions as a child. Instead, she performed at weddings, churches, and other local events. She went to Althea Scatliffe Primary School and then Elmore Stoutt High School (which was once called BVI High School). When Melanie was 15, she moved back to Florida. She graduated from Plantation High School in 2010. Her high school chorus teacher, Gary Rivenbark, helped her develop her voice. Sadly, he passed away in March 2012 at age 48.

Melanie Amaro's Music Journey

Winning The X Factor in 2011

In June 2011, Melanie's mother convinced her to try out for the first season of The X Factor USA. She sang "Listen" by Beyoncé Knowles for the judges: Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and L.A. Reid. Melanie first tried to get a "fast pass" audition but was not chosen. So, she auditioned with everyone else at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida.

After making it to the Top 32, she sang Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" at her mentor Simon Cowell's house. At first, Melanie was not picked for the Top 16 and was sent home. But two weeks later, Simon Cowell surprised her at her Florida home. He invited her back to the competition, saying he had made "a huge mistake" by not choosing her.

Melanie then moved on to the live shows as part of Simon Cowell's girls' team. She competed alongside Rachel Crow, Drew, Tiah Tolliver, and Simone Battle. On December 15, Melanie earned a spot in the final round with Chris Rene and Josh Krajcik. The next week, she was announced as the winner! At 19, Melanie was the youngest winner of the show. Her prize was a $5 million recording contract with Syco Music and a Sony Music label. This was the biggest prize ever guaranteed in TV history. Soon after winning, Epic Records signed Melanie, and she began working with L.A. Reid. Melanie also appeared in a Pepsi commercial with Sir Elton John, which was shown during Super Bowl XLVI on NBC.

Melanie Amaro's Performances on The X Factor

Here are the songs Melanie Amaro performed during her time on The X Factor:

Melanie Amaro did not originally make it through to the live shows, but was later brought back as a wildcard.

Music Releases and Other Projects (2012-Present)

Melanie's first album, Truly, was planned for release in December 2012. Her Pepsi commercial, which was part of her X Factor prize, aired during Super Bowl XLVI. In the commercial, Melanie sang a dance version of "Respect" with Elton John, Flavor Flav, and Annie Ilonzeh. This song was released online in February 2012 and reached number 3 on the Billboard Dance/Club Chart.

On August 1, Melanie released her first single, "Don't Fail Me Now". The music video for this song came out in October 2012. However, the song did not become a big hit, and her album release was delayed to 2013. She performed a new song, "Long Distance," live on The X Factor in December 2012. The album Truly was then rescheduled for March 2013, but it was never officially released.

In August 2013, Melanie performed in Indonesia for a TV special called X Factor Around the World. She sang her song "Long Distance" and then "The World's Greatest" as a duet with another singer, Fatin Shidqia. On October 4, 2013, Melanie also started her musical theater career in a play called "You're Never Alone."

In 2014, Melanie moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and started working with new management. She began touring and performing in places like the Cayman Islands and different cities in the USA. On June 19, 2014, she released a new song called "Fuel My Fire" on SoundCloud. She said the song was about her feelings about her music label not releasing her songs. This song was released on her own, not through Epic or Sony. By September 2014, it seemed her album would not be released. "Fuel My Fire" was later removed from online stores.

On May 6, 2015, Melanie released a new song called "Dust," which featured hip-hop artist Fabolous. "Dust" quickly reached number 1 on the independent music charts and stayed there for six weeks. It remained on the independent charts for six months! This was her second song released independently after she left Syco Music and Epic Records. A version of "Dust" without Fabolous was also released. On February 17, 2016, Melanie released another new song called "The One."

In January 2018, Melanie Amaro was living in Atlanta, Georgia, with her newborn son. She signed with a new independent music label called Moorehouse Music Group, LLC. Melanie is the first female artist signed to this label. With Moorehouse Music Group, Melanie has released singles like 'Whole Mood', 'Enough', and 'Play No Games'.

Melanie Amaro's Music (Discography)

Singles

Songs as the Main Artist

Songs Featuring Melanie Amaro

Other Songs That Charted

Awards and Nominations

Melanie Amaro has been recognized for her work: