Mya (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mýa
Mya in 2018
Born	Mya Marie Harrison (1979-10-10) October 10, 1979 (age 45) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Other names	My My Mya-Re Smoove Jones Mýa Lan$ky
Education	Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Occupation	Singer songwriter dancer record producer actress
Years active	1996–present
Works	Discography songs performances filmography videos
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop hip hop
Labels	Interscope A&M Universal Motown Manhattan University Music Planet 9 The Orchard
Associated acts	MyGuyMars Tricky Stewart Young Yonny

Mya Marie Harrison (born October 10, 1979), known as Mýa, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and actress. She is famous for her music and has also acted in movies, TV shows, and even video games.

Mya has sold millions of records around the world. She has won many awards, including a Grammy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two MTV Video Music Awards. Billboard magazine even listed her as one of the top artists of the 2000s.

Mya's Early Life and Dance Journey

Mya Harrison grew up in Washington, D.C. She is the oldest of three children. Her dad, Sherman "Hajji" Harrison, was a singer in an R&B band, and her mom, Theresa, was an accountant.

When Mya was just two years old, her dad noticed she loved to dance. She started taking ballet classes in 1982, and later learned tap and jazz. When she was 12, she rediscovered her love for dance after watching old videos of herself.

Mya studied videos of famous tap dancer Savion Glover and learned his routines. She then joined a dance group called T.W.A. (Tappers With Attitude). Later, she went to New York to train with Glover at the famous Dance Theater of Harlem. She became known for her amazing improvisation skills. Glover was so impressed that he gave her a solo spot in a performance at the Kennedy Center.

Mya also appeared on BET's Teen Summit and taught dance to children from the age of 14. She also took violin lessons. Her parents taught her the importance of school and good grades. One day, her dad heard her sing and recorded some demo tapes. He took them to a club where he met A. Haqq Islam, who was the President and CEO of University Music. Islam was impressed by Mya's singing and signed her to a record deal. This deal helped her get a distribution deal with Interscope Records.

After finishing Eleanor Roosevelt High School at 16, Mya started college at the University of Maryland. However, working on her first album took up too much time, so she left after one semester.

Mya's Music Career Highlights

Starting with Her First Album (1996–1999)

After signing with Interscope Records, Mya spent two years making her first album, Mya. She worked with famous artists like Missy Elliott and Babyface. Interscope wanted Mya to be a big R&B star, like other young singers such as Aaliyah and Brandy.

Her debut album, released in April 1998, was well-received. It sold over a million copies in the U.S. and two million worldwide. The album had three popular songs: "It's All About Me" (featuring Sisqó), "Movin' On", and "My First Night with You". "It's All About Me" became a top-ten hit.

Mya received several awards for her first album. She also sang on the song "Take Me There" for The Rugrats Movie soundtrack, which was a big hit in New Zealand and other countries. In 1999, Mya also started acting in the film In Too Deep.

Fear of Flying and "Lady Marmalade" (2000–2002)

In late 1999, Mya began working on her next album, Fear of Flying. It featured many producers, including Rodney Jerkins and Wyclef Jean. The album came out in April 2000.

The first song from the album, "The Best of Me", didn't do as well as expected. However, the second song, "Case of the Ex", became a huge international hit. It was number one in Australia and reached the top three in the U.S. and the UK. This success made Fear of Flying a hit album.

Because of "Case of the Ex"'s popularity, Interscope re-released Fear of Flying with new songs. The album sold 1.2 million copies in the U.S. and received platinum certification.

In 2001, Mya performed Janet Jackson's "The Pleasure Principle" as a tribute on MTV Icon. By mid-2001, she had nine Top 10 hits and sold over six million albums worldwide. She also sang "Where the Dream Takes You" for the Atlantis: The Lost Empire movie soundtrack.

Later that year, Mya teamed up with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Pink to remake the song "Lady Marmalade" for the Moulin Rouge! movie soundtrack. This song was a massive global success, reaching number one in over fifteen countries, including the U.S. "Lady Marmalade" won two MTV Video Music Awards in 2001 and a Grammy in 2002.

After the success of her album and "Lady Marmalade", Mya took on a small role in the musical film Chicago (2002). The movie was very popular and won Mya awards as part of the cast, including a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Moodring and Liberation (2003–2007)

In July 2003, Mya released her third album, Moodring. It sold well and reached number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Mya helped write and produce most of the songs on Moodring, which featured different music styles like pop rock, soul, and hip hop.

The first song from Moodring, "My Love Is Like ... Wo" (produced by Missy Elliott), became a top twenty hit. The album was certified gold, selling over 589,000 copies.

In 2004, Mya had small roles in the movies Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and Shall We Dance?. Shall We Dance? was a big success. In 2005, she appeared in the horror film Cursed, which earned her an MTV Movie Award nomination. Mya also guest-starred in the TV show NCIS.

In 2006, Mya starred in the romantic comedy The Heart Specialist. She also signed with Universal Motown and quickly recorded her next album, Liberation. The album's first song, "Lock U Down" (with Lil Wayne), didn't do well. Due to budget cuts, the album was delayed and then accidentally leaked online in Japan. This led Universal Motown to release Liberation as a digital download in October 2007.

Recent Music and Projects (2014–Present)

Since 2014, Mya has released several shorter music collections called EPs on her own record label, Planet 9. These include With Love (2014) and Sweet XVI (2014), which celebrated her music career.

Mya's seventh album, Smoove Jones, was released on Valentine's Day 2016. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. She continued to release new songs like "Ready for Whatever" (2017) and "You Got Me" (2018).

Her thirteenth album, TKO (The Knock Out), came out in April 2018, marking 20 years since her first album. Mya also starred in the TV series 5th Ward The Series.

In 2019, Mya joined Lil' Kim and Chilli on the Vh1 reality show Girls Cruise. She has continued to release new singles, including "G.M.O. (Got My Own)" (2018), "Down" (2019), "Open" (2019), and "Space and Time" (2020).

In 2021, Mya starred in the action movie Lazarus and the Christmas movie My Favorite Christmas Melody. In 2022, she appeared on the TV show Shark Tank and reunited with Christina Aguilera to perform "Lady Marmalade" at L.A. Pride. She continues to release new music, like "Anytime" (2024) and "So Hype" (2024).

Mya's Artistic Style

Her Voice and Songwriting

Mya has a mezzo-soprano voice that can cover four octaves. People often describe her voice as "very special" because of its unique sound.

Mya is very involved in creating her music. She writes most of the songs for her albums. She says she writes almost all of her songs, and if someone else submits a song, she only uses it if it feels personal and she can perform it well. Her song lyrics often show feelings of hope or sadness.

Mya finds musical inspiration everywhere, from the sound of a fan to birds chirping or city noises. She even says she can hear melodies from natural sounds. Most of her songs are based on her own experiences or those of her friends.

Since 2000, Mya has also helped produce many of her songs. She has her own recording studio and record label, Planet 9. She is deeply involved in every step of making her music, from writing and recording to mixing and mastering her projects. She helps create the beat, comes up with the concept, and develops the melodies.

Who Inspired Mya?

Mya's musical inspirations include famous artists like Sade, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Prince, and Madonna. She admires Stevie Wonder for his ability to feel and share music, and Madonna for her bravery. Mya calls Minnie Riperton her favorite female singer and Prince her musical hero, saying he takes risks and is an amazing performer.

Her dance inspirations include Gregory Hines, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Savion Glover, and Fred Astaire. She looks up to Lena Horne and Liza Minnelli as her role models.

Other Things Mya Does

When she was 18, Mya became a model for Bongo Jeans and even had a Tommy Hilfiger lipstick color named after her. In 2000, she became a spokesperson for Iceberg jeans.

In 2002, Mya signed a deal with Coca-Cola, appearing in TV commercials. She recorded a song called "Real Compared To What" with rapper Common for a commercial. In 2003, Mya recorded an updated version of the song "Feeling Groovy" for GAP TV ads.

Later in 2003, Mya sang the theme song, "Everything or Nothing", for the video game 007: Everything or Nothing. She also appeared in the game as a secret agent named Mya Starling. In 2005, Mya was in a TV commercial for Motorola's first iPod music phone, alongside stars like Madonna and Iggy Pop. She also signed with Ford Modeling agency and appeared in many ad campaigns. In 2010, Mya hosted an event for the perfume brand Escada.

Mya's Personal Life and Wellness

Mya is a vegan, meaning she doesn't eat any animal products. She used to be a vegetarian and pescatarian. She promotes the vegan lifestyle for PETA and uses natural beauty products.

Mya has shared her beauty tips, including cutting out processed foods and sodas from her diet after starting her music career. She also talks about mental health, saying she keeps a diary to track her feelings and uses prayer to stay balanced. For performances and photo shoots, she uses vegan and cruelty-free makeup.

Since 2013, Mya has said she is "married to herself." She explained that this decision is about self-care and self-love, especially after a difficult relationship. She says it's about becoming your best self and improving all parts of your life.

Mya's Charity Work

In 2005, Mya started her own non-profit organization called The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation. This foundation helps young people who are facing challenges by giving them opportunities through arts and technology education.

In 2007, she participated in a fashion show for Lifeball in Vienna, Austria, to help fight Global AIDS. Mya has also hosted fundraisers to help homeless LGBT youth and supported gay rights.

In 2009, she helped lead an Operation Smile event, which provides surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates. She also received an award for her work with the NSAL, an animal rescue organization.

More recently, Mya collaborated with singer Dionne Warwick and other artists on the gospel song "Let There Be Light" in 2017. All the money from this song was donated to Feeding America, an organization that helps feed people in need. In March 2022, Mya became the first U.S. celebrity ambassador for World Animal Protection.

Mya's Achievements

Mya has sold over 7 million albums worldwide. In 2009, Billboard ranked her among the top 100 artists of the 2000s. Her song "Case of the Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)" was listed among Billboard's Top 100 Songs by Female Solo Artists. Her collaboration "Lady Marmalade" was listed among VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 2000s.

Mya has received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 2002, she won a Grammy for "Lady Marmalade". She also won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in the movie Chicago. She has won two MTV Video Music Awards, including the prestigious Video of the Year award for "Lady Marmalade". In 2006, she received the Cross Over Award at the Palm Beach International Film Festival for her success as both a singer and an actress.

Her independent album, Smoove Jones, was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2017.

Mya's Music Albums

Studio albums

• Mya (1998)
• Fear of Flying (2000)
• Moodring (2003)
• Liberation (2007)
• Sugar & Spice (2008)
• K.I.S.S. (Keep It ... & Simple)]] (2011)
• Smoove Jones (2016)
• T.K.O. (The Knock Out) (2018)

Mya's Concert Tours

Mya's Film Roles

Films starred

Images for kids

• 

  Mya at the 2003 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

See also

In Spanish: Mýa para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart