Ashanti

Born: October 13 1980
Where: Long Island, New York, USA

The record-shattering R&B singer made her big screen debut in the basketball drama Coach Carter.

She began singing at the age of 12 and turned down a track scholarship at Hampton University to continue her music career.

In 2002, her self-titled debut album sold more copies in its first week of release than any first-time female solo artist in American chart history.

The disc - on which she wrote all 12 songs - outsold debuts by singing stars including Beyonce, Tweet, Alicia Keys and Lauren Hill.

She rocked the Billboard charts when her first three chart entries made it to the top ten - a feat not achieved since The Beatles.

An acclaimed songwriter, she co-wrote the Jennifer Lopez/Ja Rule hit Ain't It Funny and has also had a book of poetry and essays - Reflections on Love - published.

In 2004, she was cast opposite Kenyan Stone and alongside Samuel L Jackson in her movie debut Coach Carter.