Mya (singer)
A 90s R&B star with a dancer's precision who scored massive hits before championing artistic independence on her own label.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American singer and actress·Birthday: October 10·Generation X
Biography
Mýa arrived in the late 1990s as a polished, triple-threat performer: a singer with a distinctive, breathy tone, a trained dancer, and a poised presence. Her self-titled debut spawned the hit 'It's All About Me,' but it was her collaborations that catapulted her to ubiquity—the infectious 'Ghetto Supastar' with Pras and Ol' Dirty Bastard, and the 'Rugrats'-themed 'Take Me There.' The peak came with the 'Lady Marmalade' remake, which dominated airwaves and won a Grammy. Rather than remain tethered to the major-label system, Mýa took a fiercely independent path in the 2000s, releasing music on her own terms, advocating for animal rights, and maintaining a direct connection with her fans. Her career is a study in sustained relevance, built on talent, business savvy, and an unwavering sense of self.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mya was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mya Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Mya's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her collaboration on 'Lady Marmalade' (with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Pink) won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2002.
- Her debut single 'It's All About Me' (featuring Sisqó) reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- Starred in the film adaptation of the musical 'Chicago,' playing the role of Mona.
- Founded her own independent label, Planet 9, in 2011 to maintain creative and business control of her music.
Did You Know?
She is a trained dancer in ballet, tap, and jazz, studying at the prestigious Jones-Haywood Dance School in Washington, D.C.
She is a dedicated vegan and animal rights activist.
She holds a black belt in the Japanese martial art of Shōrin-ryū karate.
She worked as a radio host for a weekly show on SiriusXM called 'Sweet 16' in the mid-2010s.
“Independence is everything. It's freedom.”
