Kristinia Jamie DeBarge (/krɪˈstɪniə/) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. DeBarge first appeared on national television in 2003 as a contestant on the American Idol spin-off, American Juniors. In 2009, DeBarge signed a contract with the Island Records department Sodapop, releasing her debut album, Exposed, in July of the same year. The first single, "Goodbye", reached the top 20 in the music charts US and Canada.

 

DeBarge is the daughter of James DeBarge. DeBarge began singing when she was 3 years old, but did not begin to take it seriously until she was 12. When she was 12, her father took her into a recording studio where they worked until 4 A.M. recording a duet titled "How I Feel Inside", which made her father realize that she was serious about beginning a singing career.

 

During the summer of 2003 she was a contestant on the American Idol spin-off, American Juniors. DeBarge progressed to the semi-final round of twenty contestants. She was featured in the first group of ten semi-finalists and sang the song "Reflection" from the Disney movie Mulan. However, she was not one of the five to progress from that group into the final ten.

 

DeBarge has a multicultural background. Her father is of African American, English and French Canadian descent. Her mother is of Mexican, Irish, Scottish, English, Norwegian, Spanish and French descent. DeBarge's ancestors on her mother's side include, 6th great grandfather Robert Sevier and 6th great granduncle John Sevier (first member of the Watauga Association/founding father of Tennessee), and first cousin twice removed Elías Nandino, a Mexican poet and confidant of Frida Kahlo. Among her mother’s distant relatives are Roger Williams (founder of the First Baptist Church in America, also known as the First Baptist Church of Providence), King Robert I of France and Lady Margaret Erskine. Source.