Biography
Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao was born on March 3, 1997, in Havana, Cuba. She moved to the United States with her family and later went to Miami Palmetto High School. Cabello first became known as a member of Fifth Harmony, one of the top-selling girl groups ever, formed during the second season of The X Factor USA in 2012. While with the group, she began carving out a solo career with singles like 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' with Shawn Mendes and 'Bad Things' with Machine Gun Kelly, the latter hit number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In late 2016, Cabello decided to leave Fifth Harmony to focus on her solo career. Her debut album, Camila, came out in 2018 and immediately hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was heavily inspired by Latin music, showing her Cuban background. Its lead single 'Havana,' featuring Young Thug, became a massive hit worldwide, recognized as the best-selling digital single of 2018 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. The next single from the album, 'Never Be the Same,' also did very well, reaching the top ten in several countries.
Cabello's second album, Romance, was released in 2019 and reached number three on the Billboard 200. The album featured another worldwide hit with 'Señorita,' a duet with Shawn Mendes that topped music charts globally. Her third album, Familia, came out in 2022, reaching number ten on the Billboard 200 and included the international hit 'Bam Bam' with Ed Sheeran. In 2024, she released her fourth studio album, C,XOXO, continuing her growth as a solo artist.
Beyond music, Cabello has also acted, playing the lead role in the 2021 film Cinderella. She has won various awards, including two Latin Grammy Awards, five American Music Awards, and one Billboard Music Award. Throughout her career, she has blended her Cuban roots and Latin influences into her music, helping bring Latin pop to mainstream American audiences while staying true to her cultural identity.
Before Fame
Camila Cabello was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved with her family to the United States when she was a child. They settled in Miami, where she later went to Miami Palmetto High School. Her journey to stardom started when she auditioned as a solo contestant for the second season of The X Factor USA in 2012. Although she didn't make it at first, she was brought back with four other contestants to form the girl group Fifth Harmony.
Forming Fifth Harmony was the start of Cabello's music career. The group quickly rose to fame and became one of the most successful acts from The X Factor franchise. While with Fifth Harmony, Cabello began to stand out with her unique voice and stage presence, setting up her future solo career and learning about the music industry from an early age.
Key Achievements
- Achieved two Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits with 'Havana' and 'Señorita'
- Won five American Music Awards in 2018 including New Artist of the Year
- Debuted at number one on Billboard 200 with solo album 'Camila' (2018)
- Starred as the title character in Amazon Prime's 'Cinderella' film (2021)
- Received two Latin Grammy Awards recognizing her contributions to Latin music
Did You Know?
- 01.She was initially eliminated from The X Factor as a solo contestant before being brought back to form Fifth Harmony
- 02.Her hit song 'Havana' was the best-selling digital single globally in 2018 according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
- 03.She speaks both English and Spanish fluently and often incorporates both languages in her music
- 04.Before pursuing music, she had considered becoming a teacher
- 05.Her stage name is actually her middle name - her full name is Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| American Music Award for New Artist of the Year | 2018 | — |
| American Music Award for Collaboration of the Year | 2018 | — |
| American Music Award for Video of the Year | 2018 | — |
| American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Song | 2018 | — |
| Billboard Music Award for Chart Achievement | 2018 | — |
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best Pop | 2017 | — |
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song | 2018 | — |
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video | 2018 | — |
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best Artist | 2018 | — |
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best US Act | 2018 | — |
| MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year | 2018 | — |
| MTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration | 2019 | — |
| Teen Choice Award for Choice Music – Break-Up Song | 2016 | — |
| Teen Choice Award for Choice Music – Single | 2017 | — |
| Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Music Star: Female | 2017 | — |
| Teen Choice Award for Choice Music – Female Artist | 2018 | — |
| Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Music Star: Female | 2018 | — |
| Teen Choice Award for Choice Music – Single | 2018 | — |
| Teen Choice Award for Choice Music – Summer Song | 2019 | — |
| Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year | 2019 | — |
| Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Song | 2019 | — |
| American Music Award for Collaboration of the Year | 2019 | — |