Jade Ewen

Jade Louise Ewen, born on 24 January 1988, is a talented British singer and actress who gained fame as a member of the girl group Sugababes. Her career has taken her from the pop music scene to the stages of London’s West End, showcasing her versatility and talent.

Early Life

Jade Ewen was born in Plaistow, London, to Trevor and Carol Ewen. Her father is Scottish with Italian ancestry, and her mother is Jamaican. Both of her parents have disabilities; her father is blind and partially deaf, while her mother is visually impaired. Because of her parents’ disabilities, Jade has been a caregiver to them and her two younger siblings, Shereen and Kiel, from a young age.

Jade’s passion for music and performance was evident early on. She began singing and taking dance classes before the age of four. She attended Brampton Manor Academy before earning a scholarship to the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School (SYTS). While at SYTS, Jade appeared in several television productions, including “The Bill,” “Casualty,” “Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle,” and “The Ghost Hunter.” At ten, she auditioned for and landed the role of Young Nala in the West End production of “The Lion King.”

Early Career and Eurovision (2002–2009)

Jade’s early career included appearances in children’s dance DVDs and music videos, such as Busted’s “What I Go to School For.” In 2005, she joined the girl group Trinity Stone, which signed with Sony BMG but disbanded in 2007 without releasing an album. Jade continued to pursue her music career, recording with rapper Kwamé and releasing a digital single, “Got You,” in 2008.

In January 2009, Jade was selected to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “It’s My Time,” written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren. She finished in fifth place, the UK’s highest placing at Eurovision from 2002 until 2022. This performance brought her significant recognition and led to a contract with Polydor Records.

Joining Sugababes (2009–2011)

In September 2009, Jade joined the well-known girl group Sugababes, replacing Keisha Buchanan. Although her single “My Man” was released around the same time, promotional activities were canceled due to her new commitment to the group. Despite this, “My Man” reached number 35 on the UK Singles Chart.

Jade quickly integrated into the group, recording and promoting new music. The Sugababes’ single “About a Girl” debuted at number eight in the UK, and their album “Sweet 7” reached number 14 on the UK Albums Chart. Another single, “Wear My Kiss,” peaked at number seven in the UK.

In 2010, Jade became the face of Miss Ultimo lingerie and continued to work with the Sugababes on new music. However, by 2011, the group had left their record label and signed a new deal with Sony Music’s RCA Records. They released a promotional single, “Freedom,” but it was offered for free and did not chart.

West End and Acting Career (2013–Present)

After her time with Sugababes, Jade shifted her focus to acting and musical theatre. In 2014, she played Clara in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of “Porgy and Bess,” receiving positive reviews for her performance. She was cast in the lead role for “Godspell” in 2015 but had to withdraw due to illness.

In September 2015, Jade made her West End debut in “In the Heights,” playing Vanessa. Her performance was well-received, and she continued to showcase her talent on stage. In November 2015, she was cast as Princess Jasmine in Disney’s “Aladdin” at the Prince Edward Theatre. However, she later sued Disney, alleging damage to her voice from having to sing too loudly during performances.

Television and Film

Jade has also made various television appearances, including roles in “Casualty,” in 2015, “Tracey Ullman’s Show in 2016,” “Lovesick,” in 2018 and “Luis Miguel: The Series.” in 2021. She played Mariah Carey in the latter.