She was also a spokesperson for the"Secret to Self-Esteem Program"for teen girls in 2001.
Makin' my own money" (viaYouTube).
Lights, camera, action!
Mya’s acting took center stage
Mya became a triple threat by singing, acting, and dancing.
In 1999, she crossed over from singing to acting with the crime thriller “In Too Deep.”
“I would love for people to connect to the human experience,” Mya said (viaEbony).
Faith, love and hope are the lessons," she said.
It began after they decided not to include “Girls Like That” on the album.
But due to label budget cuts and delays, the album suffered a commercial failure.
Her lawyers gave her advice to either go through a lengthy legal process and sue or go independent.
So, she decided to embark on a journey as an independent artist (viaThe Culture).
The arduous process of starting her label,Planet 9, kept Mya extremely busy.
She executive produced, self-engineered, self-funded, and released seven different compilations.
The learning curveslowed her star power, but now she’s more familiar with the process.
Solo Mya also has a unique relationship with fans, hiring them for various aspects of her work.
At the beginning of her independence, Mya got a partnership offer from the Japanese label Manhattan Records.
(Keep It Sexy & Simple) in 2011 (viaMya).
Watching the music video today hits with a rush of millennial nostalgia.
It’s safe to say that anyone into"Euphoria" fashionwill love Mya’s look here.
Mya stacked up awards and nominations
Mya has cleaned up in nominations and awards throughout her career.
Her first Grammy nomination was when she sang the hook for “Ghetto Supastar” (viaGrammy).
Mya joined the iconic collaboration withPink, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Missy Elliot.
The queens truly mopped the floor with this track.
The achievements just keep stacking up!
Apparently, she watchedSavion Glover a child tap prodigy in the movie “Tap” and was hooked.
She eventually joined theTappers With Attitudedance troupe and stayed with them for a few years before auditioning for Glover.
After two auditions, she made the cut at 13 years old.
Later, Mya would go on to compete on Season 9 of “Dancing with the Stars.”
The pair wowed with their complicatedsamba, sexysalsa, and epicpaso doble.
Winning 10s across the board for all three!
Their energeticjiveearned straight 9s, as well as her the title, “Mya the magnificent!”
from Bruno Tonioli (viaPeople).
Execs urged her to date superstars for publicity, and even though she refused, misogynistic rumors spread.
According toVibe, her self-confidence and autonomous decisions were equated with an “attitude and cattiness.”
Whenever she recorded with an eligible bachelor, the rumor mill ran wild.
In 2009, gossip spread that she was dating Gucci Mane.
“People will always have an opinion.
Mya’s perseverance and fight to remain authentic acts as a guiding light for future female artists.
Unfortunately, she experienced losses in her career while going through emotional turmoil.
“I did a lot of praying.
I did a lot of writing.
I did a lot of crying,” she said (via Yahoo!
“How can I get around being that woman?
I have to break this cycle,” she said (viaMadamenoire).
So, Mya made the important decision to put her mental well-being first and slow down.
She left the music industry behind in 2005 to figure out what made her feel like herself.
“I’m solid as a woman.
There’s really nothing now that can break or shake me,” she explained (viaVibe).
For Mya, philanthropy has been a way to heal.
Mya is also very devoted to animal welfare and has participated in various campaigns (viaMya).
In 2022, she was made the first U.S. ambassador for World Animal Protection (viaPR Newswire).
We’re wondering when she finds the time to sleep!
However, she created a free online guide to help beginners when making the switch.
Mya also released a vegan wine,Planet 9 Fine Wine.
This woman does it all!
