Celebrity Bios
Ayra Starr: Meet the Celestial Being
Ayra Starr is a Nigerian singer and songwriter born on June 14, 2002, in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Her real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe. She rose to fame in 2021 with her hit single “Away”.
Early Life and Education:
Ayra Starr was born to Nigerian parents in Cotonou, Benin Republic. She spent her early years in the Benin Republic before moving to Lagos, Nigeria. She developed a passion for music at a young age and was influenced by artists like Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, 2face Idibia and Tiwa Savage. Ayra Starr attended Les Cours Sonou University in Cotonou, where she studied and bagged a BA in International Relations and Political Science.
Career:
Ayra Starr first began her career in 2018, she got signed by Quove models, a modelling agency based in Lagos. She modelled for Esperanza Woman, Mazelle Studios and complete Magazine etc.
However, Ayra began her music career in 2019, posting covers on social media platforms. After the release of her original song “Damage” on Instagram, she got recognized by the Mavin boss –Don Jazzy which led to her first record label contract with Mavin Records in January 2020. She gained more recognition after releasing her debut extended play “Away” in January 2021 under Mavin Records. Shortly after its release, The EP ranked first on Nigeria’s iTunes and Apple Music amassing over 16 million streams on Spotify, Audio Mack and YouTube. The EP also peaked number four on Nigeria’s TurnTable top 50 and number 17 at US Billboard Top Triller Global which brought her widespread attention and acclaim which paved the way for her full-length album “19 & dangerous” released on 6th August, 2021 with “Bloody Samaritan” as the lead track. The lead lone single reached the number one spot at TurnTable top 50 on 27 September, 2021, making Ayra the first female artist to do so with a solo single. She has since released several successful singles, including “Sare” and “Rush”. “Rush” performed so well that it became the most streamed song by a female artist on Spotify. This further gave her the recognition as she first youngest African female artist to surpass 100 million views on a single YouTube video.
In February 2024, she released her single titled “Commas” and later released her sophomore album titled “The year I turned 21” in May 2024.
Ayra Starr became the brand ambassador of Pepsi in September 2021.
Personal Life:
Ayra Starr is currently single and focused on her music career. She is known for her energetic live performances and has opened for notable artists like Wizkid.
Awards and Achievements:
-Won Breakout artist of the year female at Net honours awards in 2021.
-Won headiest viewer’s choice awards in 2022 with her lone single “bloody Samaritan”.
– Amassed over 100 million views on her “Rush” music video on YouTube.
-Nominated for Grammy awards in 2024 under her single “Rush”.
Ayra Starr’s rise to fame is a testament to her talent and dedication. With her unique sound and captivating stage presence, she is set to become a leading figure in the Nigerian music industry.