Sophia Grace Brownlee
British grade schooler Sophia Grace Brownlee vaulted to international attention in 2011, thanks to the viral success of homemade music videos recorded with her cousin, which led to guest appearances on television, book opportunities and eventually, a solo music career. Born Sophia Grace Brownlee in Essex, England, she became an overnight sensation in 2011 when she posted a video that featured her singing the Nicki Minaj single "Super Bass" with her cousin, Rosie McClelland. The performance by the two girls - who were at the time just eight and five years of age, respectively - quickly millions of views in just two weeks' time, and caught the attention of comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. She invited the girls to performer on her daytime series, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (syndicated, 2003-), and eventually gave them their own slot on the program, an interview segment called "Tea Time with Sophia Grace and Rosie," in which the pair chatted with celebrities over tea. The segment helped to earn Sophia Grace and Rosie the 2012 Teen Choice Award for "Choice Webstar," and furthered their climb up the pop culture ladder. They were featured on two episodes of the critically praised Nickeloden series "Sam & Cat" (2013-14), while Brownlee was briefly linked to the role of Little Red Riding Hood in the Disney feature film adaptation of "Into the Woods." She eventually withdrew from the project, due either to parental objection over the adult themes of the musical or a premature announcement of her casting by her representatives; whatever the case, Brownlee and McClelland bounced back quickly with their own movie, "Sophia Grace & Rosie's Royal Adventure" (2014), and a pair of best-selling children's books in 2013 and 2014. Soon after, the pair appeared to part ways, at least from a professional standpoint, while Brownlee continued to pursue a music career with the singles "Girls Just Gotta Have Fun" and "Best Friends," the latter of which reached No. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2016, she teamed with Silento of "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" fame to record a third single, "Girl in the Mirror."