Rosita Vai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rosita Vai | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Rosita Gibbons, Rosie |
| Born | Rosita Angelica Vai 4 June 1981 |
| Origin | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Genres | Pop, soul |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Label | Independent (2005–2007) |
| Website | www.facebook.com |
Rosita Angelica Gibbons née Vai (born 4 June 1981) is a New Zealand singer who rose to musical fame as the winner of the second season of New Zealand Idol in 2005.
Rosita Gibbons was born in Wellington, brought up by her grandmother whom she acknowledges as one of the main influences in her life. She started singing at a very young age, at church and within family gatherings. Her parents were the caretakers of Wesley Methodist Church in Wellington. Gibbons' mother Niutao was a secretary, and her father Peniamina a mechanic.
In 1986, Gibbons moved with her family to Auckland. She was involved with music from an early age, and a At the age of seven, she started learning the piano with a neighbour and at age 13, she won a scholarship to study classical singing which allowed her to attend Westlake Girls High School, on Auckland's North Shore where she studied under the direction of Isabel Barnes, Beatrice Webster and Sheila Richardson. She also travelled internationally with her school choir.
After high school, she was accepted for a placement at the University of Auckland for the performing arts degree in classical singing, but withdrew after her second year to pursue dreams of becoming a songwriter in the music industry.
NZ Idol
In 2005, Gibbons rose to fame as the winner of the second season of NZ Idol. Prior to her win, Gibbons managed to stay out of the "bottom three" placings for the entire competition, the only contestant to have done so in the history of NZ Idol. The very first female crowned New Zealand Idol, she also appeared on TV2's Showstoppers and Pop's Ultimate Star, which featured various winners from New Zealand Idol and PopStars; however, she was voted out in the second week of the competition.
After she won Idol, entertainer Sir Howard Morrison made comments about her large body size, saying it would affect her career and give the wrong image to her fans. Morrison and Gibbons reconciled on the TVNZ television show Close Up,[1] and the two performed a duet together at a live concert in 2006.[2]
She released an album titled Golden which made the Top 20 NZ Albums chart. She also won a Tui Award for Best Selling Single for her #1 hit "All I Ask" - her winners single for NZ Idol. She was nominated as the best female artist at the Pacific Music awards 2006.
