Janelle Monáe is a famous American singer, rapper, and actress best known for her studio albums “The ArchAndroid”, “The Electric Lady” and “Dirty Computer”. She first became known to the outside world with the release of her EP titled “Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)”, which peaked at number 115 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. As an actress, she received critical acclaim for portraying Mary Jackson in the movie Hidden Figures. So far, she has received six Grammy Award nominations and several other prestigious awards and honors.
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Janelle Monáe Biography
Janelle Monáe was born on the 1st of December 1985, in Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America. She’s currently 38 years old.
| Birth Name | Janelle Monáe Robinson |
| Nickname | Janelle |
| Date of Birth | December 1, 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Sun Sign | Sagittarius |
| Profession | Singer, Rapper, Songwriter, Actress, Model |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Baptist |
Family and Education
Janelle Monáe is the daughter of Janet, a janitor, and Michael Robinson Summers, a truck driver.
Monae attended the F. L. Schlagle High School in Kansas City. She moved to New York City where she received a scholarship to study drama at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, however, she quit her studies midway citing that her creativity was stifled at the institute. She also attended a performing arts camp called Freedom Theatre, the oldest African-American theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Janelle Monáe Love Life
Janelle Monae is rumored to be dating fellow musician and actress Tessa Thompson. But, neither of them has confirmed nor denied their relationship affair.
She was romantically linked to British F1 racer Lewis Hamilton in the past.
Physical Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet Centimeters – 152 cm Meters – 1.52 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 52 kg Pounds – 115 lbs |
| Body Build | Slim |
| Body Measurements | 36-25-36 |
| Body Shape | Hourglass |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Sexuality | Non-Binary |
| Shoe Size | 7 (US) |
| Dress Size | 4 (US) |
| Distinctive Features | Short stature |
Professional Statistics
Album Debut
Janelle Monae released her first studio album titled “The ArchAndroid” on May 18, 2010, which charted at #17 on the US Billboard 200. It also managed to reach the top charts in many countries.
Her second album titled “The Electric Lady” was released on September 6, 2013, to critical acclaim and debuted at number 5 on Billboard 200, followed by her third album, “Dirty Computer” on April 27, 2018. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200.
Her first appearance in the Billboard Hot 100 chart was “We Are Young” by fun., in which she was featured as a.guest vocalist.
Genre
Psychedelic soul, R&B, funk, soul, pop, art rock
Instruments
Vocals, Guitar
Labels
Wondaland, Epic, Bad Boy, Atlantic Records
Film Debut
Janelle landed her first acting job as a voice actress in the 2014 3D animated film “Rio 2” in which she voiced the character Dr. Monae.
Her first acting role was as Teresa in the movie “Moonlight” in 2016.
Television Debut
In 2009, she appeared as herself in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series, “Stargate Universe”, in which she performed “Many Moons” in an episode titled “Earth”.
Famous For
She is popular for her dressings style, which is a tuxedo wardrobe, her signature style. Her black and white color code is her signature style with which she relates to her early years when she worked as a maid.
Her albums “The ArchAndroid”, “The Electric Lady” and “Dirty Computer”.
Her portrayal in the movie Hidden Figures, alongside actresses Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer, was released in December 2016.
Brand Endorsements
Janelle has appeared in a number of TV commercials for brands such as Pepsi, CoverGirl, Sonos Wireless HiFi home audio system, Target, Gap, and Sonos.
Janelle Monáe Favorite Things
- Favorite Movies – Psycho (1960), The Twilight Zone
- Favorite TV series – Game of Thrones
- Favorite Role Models – Josephine Baker, Grace Jones
- Favorite Writers – Aldous Huxley, Isaac Asimov, Octavia Butler
Janelle Monáe Net Worth
Janelle Monae has a net worth of $9 million, as of 2019.
Social Media Profiles
- Facebook – janellemonae
- Instagram – janellemonae
- Twitter – janellemonae
Janelle Monáe Facts
She had a very difficult upbringing due to the poor financial condition of her family.
Her inclination towards music began as a child when she was inspired by the fictional character from the musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’. She started singing and songwriting at a very young age. She was part of the choir in the local Baptist church.
She was a member of Kansas City’s Coterie Theater Young Playwrights’ Round Table when she was young.
In 2001, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she met OutKast’s Big Boi, and then founded the Wondaland Arts Society with some like-minded young artists.
Janelle got her first break in 2006 when she performed with ‘OutKast’ in their album titled ‘Idlewild’ where she appeared in the numbers ‘Call the Law’ and ‘In Your Dreams’.
In 2010, Monáe received the Vanguard Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers at the Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.
She was featured in the “Style 100” of InStyle magazine.
She supports the LGBTQ community.
She received the “Breakthrough Award” at the 10th annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood event in February 2017.
Janelle launched her own range of clothing products under the label of Electro Phi Beta Sorority.
Her movies Moonlight and Hidden Figures were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
She has been influenced by the music of Michael Jackson, James Brown and Stevie Wonder.
In April 2022, Monáe released her first cyberpunk story collection titled The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer.
She identifies herself as non-binary.
In October 2022, Janelle was honored with the “Trailblazer Award” at the 2022 Outfest Legacy Awards Gala.
On June 9, 2023, Janelle Monae released her fourth album “The Age of Pleasure”, which debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200. The album was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.