SO SOULFUL
Eighties soul legend, 55, looks like she’s ageing backwards 36 years after first hit, EastEnders role and Prince song
THE Soul queen recently teased a new album on social media, and reflected on her friendship with a pop music icon
A UK Soul queen appears to have found the elixir of youth in glamorous new Instagram snaps.
Mica Paris, 55, seems to be ageing backwards, in gorgeous new Instagram pics.
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The Islington-born singer is as radiant as her 80s pop music heyday, sporting a in recent Instagram snaps.
Mica is best known for her 1988 platinum-selling debut album, So Good, which she released when she was just 19 years old.
It would be her debut single, My One Temptation, that made the young singer a household name and one of the countries most prolific soul vocalists.
The ageless star recently teased a new album on social media to her over 117,000 Instagram fans, with the use of a gorgeous pic and the caption: "Getting ready for the new album! More info to come very soon. Who' s excited?"
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Fans immediately flooded The Ivors Academy winners comment section, leaving positive messages, such as: "Congratulations! Can't wait to hear new music. You still look amazing!"
Another fan echoed a similar sentiment, telling the UK R&B icon: "At last! I'm looking forward to look forward to hearing the new album. This is an absolutely beautiful photo of you."
The soul queen kept tight-lipped about the name of her upcoming album.
The unnamed project will be Mica's ninth album. Her last album was 2020's inspirational album, Gospel.
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The singer-presenter had a string of successful hits in the 80s and 90s including 1989 top-20 hit, Where Is The Love, a duet with US R&B singer Will Downing, 60.
My One Temptation would also become her biggest hit, reaching top-10 in the UK's singles chart, as well as the US Adult Contemporary chart.
80s TV pin-up has barely aged a day 36 years after soap fame and starring in iconic Prince video
In addition to this, it was also a top-20 hit on the main US R&B singles chart that year.
Mica had a string of successful hits in the 80s and 90s including 1989 top-20 hit, Where Is The Love, a duet with US R&B singer Will Downing, 60.
Music critics picked up on the hit songs innovative R&B and jazz influences, and praised Mica for her sultry tone.
The South London-native has been recognised for opening the door for many British pop and r&b artists. In 2004, the BBC listed Mica in the top 10 of the top 100 Greatest Black Britons.
EARLY BEGINNINGS
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Mica grew up singing in her grandparents church as a young child, and at the age of 17, she became a background singer for the British band, Birmingham pop group, Hollywood Beyond.
In 1988, she would pivot away from being a backing vocalist, to release her debut solo album, the platinum-selling, So Good, which she released when she was only 18-years-old.
The album was a runaway success, and produced successful singles, My One Temptation and Where Is The Love.
Since then she released seven more albums, including 1990’s ‘Contribution’, 1993’s Whisper a Prayer, 1998’s Black Angel, 2005’s If You Love Me and Soul Classics, 2009’s Born Again and 2020’s Gospel.
Mica has collaborated with many artists and producers during her almost 40-year-career, most notably with the late pop musician Prince.
MICA PARIS AND PRINCE
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Mica's first met the late pop icon at an after-show party at Camden Palace, known today as Koko, in London back in 1988.
The Minnesotan superstar took to the stage, before spotting Misa in the audience and he recognised from watching UK music video channels.
The two would duet on Motown legends, The Temptations 1971 classic, Just My Imagination, at the after-show event.
In 1991, Prince invited Mica to his recording studio Paisley Park in Minneapolis, to record a song he had written for her to sing.
That same year, Mica released the Prince penned ballad, If I Love U 2Nite, which she included on her second album, 1990's Contribution.
Four years later, Prince would re-release the love ballad with his future first wife, Mayte Garcia, 50, in 1995.
Mica and Paris remained friends until his untimely passing in 2016. She visited ITV's Lorraine show in 2017, to and later befriending the pop giant.
Mica told TV host Lorraine Kelly: "The first place I saw him [Prince] was the Camden Palace, and the last place I saw him a year before he died, was the Camden Palace. That's weird and sad. Back in the early 90s, I flew to Minneapolis to record a song he wrote for me."
Mica continued: "Back in the 90s, I flew to Minneapolis to record a song he wrote specifically for me. He was a friend and I adored his music. He conquered music and then he left. At least we still have the music."
MICA'S RECENT CAREER
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In recent years, Mica has develed further into acting, after making her theatre debut back in 1993 for two West End shows: Sweet Lorraine and Mama I want to Sing.
In 2020, the multi-talented star played the role of headteacher, Miss Sherman, in the West End production of Fame back in 2020.
That same year, Mica played antagonist Ellie Nixon on BBC soap, EastEnders, and had been awarded an MBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours for her services to music and entertainment.
Mica has experienced both professional and personal success, and had her first daughter, Monet back in 1991, as well as her second daughter Russia-Mae in 2006, from her previous relationship with German film director Andreas Neumann, 57.
The timeless beauty can add author to her CV, as she released the self-help book Beautiful Within: Finding Happiness and Confidence in Your Own Skin in 2007.
When she isn't showcasing her acting chops, Mica spends some much needed downtime with her celeb friends, including funk queen Chaka Khan, 71.
The two first met while performing at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall back in 1988. Chaka is the Godmother to Mica's oldest daughter, Monet.
She also has famous family members, including her sister Paula Wallen who is also a singer, as well as a celeb cousin, boxer Chris Eubank, 57.
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Mica is still gracing stages around the country, including performing at the Platinum Party at the Palace concert to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022.
She will also be joining her on June 29th at London's Southbank Centre.
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