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Who is R&B star Ella Mai – and is she dating the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum?
STORYIshani Sarkar
- The Grammy-winning ‘Boo’d Up’ singer was named after Ella Fitzgerald, appeared on The X Factor, and is signed to DJ Mustard’s label
English singer-songwriter Ella Mai has been a mainstay in the R&B scene since she debuted in 2014. The chart-topping singer looked to trailblazers like Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys for inspiration, per The Fader and Billboard – but has curated her own unique sound that is resonating with fans all over the world.
With two studio albums, three EPs and a mixtape to her name, Mai defines success as the ability to inspire people and is excited to be at the forefront of British R&B, she told NME and The Guardian, respectively. She has also recently made headlines for her rumoured relationship with NBA player Jayson Tatum.
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Here’s everything we know about the songstress – who’s at the peak of her career.
Where is Ella Mai from?
The 29-year-old icon has Jamaican-Irish roots and is named after Ella Fitzgerald, inspired by her mother’s love for jazz, per NME. Her parents split when she was young and she moved to New York with her mother at age 12. She later returned to England when she was 17 and studied at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute.
She was on The X Factor
In 2014, Mai auditioned for The X Factor’s season 11. Her appearance on the show as a part of the now disbanded trio Arize gave her a boost in recognition. She started posting covers on Instagram, and that was when she caught the attention of DJ Mustard, who has also worked with Rihanna and Travis Scott, per NME. He signed her to his label 10 Summers Records, an imprint of the renowned Interscope Records.