Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao was born on March 3, 1997, in Cojímar, Cuba. She spent her early years moving between Havana, Cuba, and Mexico City, Mexico. At the age of six, she and her mother relocated to Miami, Florida, and her father joined them about 18 months later. Cabello became a U.S. citizen in 2008.
The X Factor and Fifth Harmony
In 2012, at the age of 15, Cabello auditioned for the television show The X Factor. After being eliminated as a solo performer, she was brought back to form the girl group Fifth Harmony alongside Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah Jane, and Lauren Jauregui. The group finished in third place and subsequently signed a record deal. Fifth Harmony went on to release two studio albums, Reflection (2015) and 7/27 (2016), and achieved significant success with singles like "Worth It" and "Work from Home". While in the group, Cabello began to release music independently, collaborating with Shawn Mendes on "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and with Machine Gun Kelly on "Bad Things," which reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Cabello officially left Fifth Harmony in December 2016.
Solo Career
Cabello's solo career began with collaborations before she released her debut single. Her first studio album, Camila, was released in 2018 and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album's lead single, "Havana" featuring Young Thug, was a global success, topping the charts in numerous countries, including the US and the UK. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), "Havana" was the best-selling digital single of 2018. In October 2021, the song was certified Diamond by the RIAA, making Cabello the first Hispanic woman to achieve this.
Subsequent Albums and Acting Debut
Her second album, Romance, was released in 2019 and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. It included the hit single "Señorita," a duet with Shawn Mendes, which became her second number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2021, Cabello made her acting debut in the title role of the film Cinderella. Her third studio album, Familia, was released in April 2022 and featured the international hit "Bam Bam" with Ed Sheeran. The album reached number ten on the Billboard 200. Cabello's fourth album, C,XOXO, was released in June 2024.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout her career, Camila Cabello has received numerous awards, including two Latin Grammy Awards, five American Music Awards, and a Billboard Music Award.