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Normani is an original member of Fifth Harmony, a group put together by Simon Cowell after each girl auditioned as a solo artist on the singing competition The X Factor in 2012.
Simon Cowell has a knack for putting the right group of vocalists and personalities together to create something more powerful than each of them could do alone at the time. With practice and exposure, their status as a group elevates each of their careers enough that they can embark on successful solo ventures.
Often seen as the girl-group counterpart to One Direction, who also came from The X Factor, the ladies of Fifth Harmony ended up releasing three studio albums that all charted in the top ten of the U.S. Billboard 200.
However, just like Harry Styles was the unspoken leader of One Direction, Camila Cabello was promoted as the leader of Fifth Harmony. This left the other members, Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and Normani to prove themselves as legit solo acts when the group decided to take an “indefinite hiatus” in 2018.
Normani recently spoke to Allure about the release of her debut solo album, which she sees as a chance to show the public that she’s more than just a member of Fifth Harmony. Normani seems ready to take over the world with newfound confidence.
“I’ve always felt like the underdog in everything that I’ve ever done,” she told the outlet. “I didn’t get to really sing in [Fifth Harmony]. I felt like I was overlooked.”
It’s easy to see why–Camila Cabello was treated by the media as the true “leader” of the band, whether it was spoken aloud or not. The other girls seemed to have to fight to be taken as seriously as Cabello, who has been successfully working as a solo artist for a few years now.
Well, Normani is done being the underdog – she’s looking to be top dog. With the release of her first studio album drawing closer and closer, it won’t be long before she’s able to show the world how she really feels about her abilities and her future.
“I feel like a woman now,” the “Wild Side” singer told Allure. “Now, you all are finally going to be able to see me tap into that awareness–that I know I’m the s**t.”
Normani’s already got everything she needs to set her up for a massively successful career: Experience in the business, a determination to show the world exactly what she’s about, and above all, incredible talent.
Some have already likened her powerful persona (and unworldly dancing abilities) to Beyoncé. And of course, Beyoncé’s career after she left Destiny’s Child was more successful than even her biggest fans expected. These two stars have some serious similarities, which is a pretty good sign for Normani’s future in the business.
Keep checking back for updates on Normani’s upcoming studio album–it’s going to be worth a listen!
