Sultry Irish export Samantha Mumba has cracked the US market and aims to be a role model across the Atlantic.
“Black kids in America can’t look to Britney Spears for how to do their hair and make-up or anything like that,” says the 18-year-old beauty. “It’s great for them to have someone to look up to for fashion and make-up tips because it is different. I think it’s definitely something that helps me over there.”
Samantha broke through on US soil with her album Gotta Tell You, an infectious debut which has already sold upwards of 500,000 copies in the States alone.
“When European R&B or pop artists go out there, the Americans already have it, but better,” she says. “But America has never heard the combination Irish R&B before. They can’t criticise it because it’s new.”
But Samantha, who has just signed a lucrative £2 million deal with popular clothing company The Gap, she never expected to succeed where Robbie Williams and other UK stars have not. “I’m still shocked over that,” she says. “I’m black and I’m from Ireland.” But, her differences may have been the key. “There are a lot of female artists my age around at the moment,” says the Dublin native. “But they’re all American and blonde and blue-eyed and smiley. I’m totally the opposite of that. I want to show a bit more attitude and I have an opinion.”
Samantha has struck a chord with many Americans, including Oscar winner Steven Spielberg. The AI director signed the pop princess to co-star in his upcoming film Minority Report alongside Tom Cruise and fellow Irish stunner Colin Farrell. Her big screen debut in The Time Machine, starring LA Confidential heart-throb Guy Pearce, hits US theatres in December.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
