Ella Mai (born November 3, 1994) is an English Grammy Award-winning R&B singer-songwriter.
She rose to global fame with her 2018 smash hit "Boo'd Up," which won a Grammy for Best R&B Song. Known for her smooth vocals, she has released major albums like her self-titled debut (2018) and Heart on My Sleeve (2022).
Quick Facts & Background
Full Name: Ella Mai Howell
Birthplace: London, England (born to a Jamaican mother and an English-Irish father)
Early Life: She moved to New York City at age 12, later returning to England for high school and eventually attending the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM London).
Name Origin: Her mother was a huge American jazz fan and named her after the legendary Ella Fitzgerald.
Career Milestones
Early Beginnings: She started her career competing on The X Factor (UK) in 2014 as part of a trio named Arize.
Discovery: After the group disbanded, she posted an EP on SoundCloud and was discovered on Instagram by American hip-hop producer DJ Mustard. He signed her to his label, 10 Summers Records.
Breakthrough: Her 2017 EP Ready featured the single "Boo'd Up," which slowly went viral and became a triple-Platinum mega-hit. It dominated the R&B/Hip-Hop Billboard Airplay charts, breaking records for female artists.
Awards: At the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, she took home three major awards, including Top R&B Artist.
