Lizzo

Lizzo
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Name:
Lizzo
Real name:
Melissa Viviane Jefferson
Who is:
,
Birth date:
(27 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:
5'10 ft ()
Weight:
209 lb (95 kg)
Relationship:
single
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:

Biography of Lizzo

Lizzo burst onto the scene as a breakout sensation in 2016. Through her music, the plus-size Black star champions self-acceptance and body positivity. Her powerhouse vocals and magnetic presence draw fans from across musical genres, even winning over listeners who typically avoid hip-hop. In 2019, she made her big-screen debut in the movie "Hustlers."
Lizzo (Melissa Viviane Jefferson)
Lizzo (Melissa Viviane Jefferson)

Childhood

The singer's full name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, and she was born on April 27, 1988, in Detroit. She grew up in a deeply religious Pentecostal household where the music Lizzo now creates was strictly forbidden. Instead, Melissa listened to gospel music.
Lizzo's Family
Lizzo's Family
Hip-hop first entered her world in 1996 when her cousin grieved Tupac Shakur's death. A confused Melissa had to ask who Tupac even was.
Lizzo (right) as a child with her brother and sister
Lizzo (right) as a child with her brother and sister
In the early 2000s, the Jefferson family moved to Houston, Texas. From eighth grade through high school graduation, Melissa played flute in the school orchestra. Though she initially struggled with breath control, she practiced relentlessly, drawing inspiration from Irish flutist James Galway.
Lizzo trained to play the flute from a young age
Lizzo trained to play the flute from a young age
Around the same time, Melissa developed a passion for hip-hop culture. She loved crafting rhymes and, just like with the flute, devoted her free time to perfecting this new skill.
Lizzo playing a flute

First Steps to Fame

At 15, the future rap star joined a three-member girl group called "The Chalice." Though the group never broke through, Melissa left in 2012 and relocated to Minneapolis.
Lizzo at the beginning of her career
Lizzo at the beginning of her career
After landing work at a recording studio, she met Aaron Mader, better known in hip-hop circles as Lazerbeak. He became the producer of her debut album, "Lizzobangers."

The album became a hit, topping the Star Critics Tally 2013. Bold music videos for tracks like "Faded," "Paris," and "Batches & Cookies" racked up record YouTube views for the rising star.
Lizzo - Batches & Cookies
An appearance on the David Letterman show became a major milestone in Melissa's—now Lizzo's—career. She toured American cities for a year and, in 2015, released her second album, "Big Grrrl Small World," which made it to the 17th spot in the top 50 hip-hop albums of 2015.

Career Development

Back in 2013, Time magazine spotted Melissa's potential, featuring her on their list of young artists to watch. Many critics believe that the rise of the body positivity movement contributed to Lizzo's growing popularity.
Time predicted Lizzo's success as early as 2013
Time predicted Lizzo's success as early as 2013
Lizzo's commercial breakthrough came after her appearance on the popular project StyleLikeU. On the show, she stripped down, embracing her body completely while discussing her journey to self-love.
Lizzo on StyleLikeU Project
In early 2016, she released the song "Coconut Oil," which surpassed all her expectations. The track captivated audiences with its melodic, delicate rap layered with flute melodies, creating an almost meditative experience for listeners, especially women.
Lizzo - Coconut Oil (Live on KEXP)
Lizzo continued to promote body positivity with her music video for the song "Good As Hell," released in the spring of 2016.
"Love yourself as God created you," Lizzo urged, and her call was echoed by women around the world.
Through 2018, Melissa continued championing self-acceptance at events while crafting new songs and experimenting with different pop genres. Her music video for "Boys," dropped in summer 2018, racked up millions of views within days. Fans had been craving new music and let their excitement explode in the comments.
Lizzo - Boys (Official Video)
Spring 2019 saw Melissa complete her third album, "Cuz I Love You." In April, Lizzo went on tour to promote her new album, featuring her fully nude on the cover. She released glamorous music videos for the tracks "Juice," "Like a Girl," and "Cuz I Love You," and collaborated with Missy Elliot on the song "Tempo." Critics universally praised the album across 100 reviews, describing its style as "addictive neo-soul."
Lizzo - Cuz I Love You (Official Video)
Soon after its release, the album "Cuz I Love You," both declarative and seductively appealing, became a sensation in the global music industry. Lizzo received a nomination for "Artist of the Year" at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Personal Life of Lizzo

Melissa supports the LGBTQ+ community. She's said she prefers not to use labels while identifying as bisexual. Lizzo also keeps things open when it comes to questions about her gender.

In one interview, she shared that back in school, she was a "curvy girl with a cute face" and while many boys liked her, they were too shy to make a move, fearing public scorn. Now that she's achieved success, she's wary of men who ask her out.

The lack of details has fueled plenty of rumors. Back in August 2019, media outlets speculated that Lizzo was dating a Minnesota Vikings football player. She was also rumored to have a relationship with Chris Evans.
Chris Evans Responds After Lizzo Jokes She's Pregnant With His Baby
By 2021, rumors started swirling about Lizzo and Myke Wright, which they confirmed in 2022. Myke's also a musician who's played in bands like The Grey Level and Phresh Heir.
Lizzo and Myke Wright
Lizzo and Myke Wright

Lizzo Now

In early 2023, Lizzo took home the Grammy for "Record of the Year" with "About Damn Time," winning out of five nominations. She dedicated the award to Prince, crediting him with inspiring her uplifting, feel-good sound.
Lizzo Wins Record Of The Year For 'About Damn Time'
That summer, the singer found herself at the center of a major scandal. Three backup dancers—Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noel Rodriguez—filed a lawsuit against her, alleging humiliation and specifically fatphobia.
Lizzo was accused of fatphobia against her dancers
Lizzo was accused of fatphobia against her dancers
The lawsuit detailed unacceptable demands and boundary violations, including allegedly organizing demeaning scenes with nude performers and sex toys, plus pressure and firing threats. In spring 2023, Lizzo allegedly ran a grueling 12-hour rehearsal, threatening to fire anyone who didn't meet her standards—resulting in one dancer being fired and another quitting in solidarity. The suit also cited salary issues and inappropriate behavior. Dance team manager Sherlyn Quigley was accused of pushing Christian views on employees and prying into their personal lives.
Three former dancers accuse Lizzo of weight-shaming, sexual harassment
The scandal seriously damaged her reputation. Lizzo's performance at Philadelphia's Made in America festival was canceled, and she was dropped from the Super Bowl headliner list.