France

1981

Winner of season three of Nouvelle Star, the French version of Pop Idol or American Idol, Myriam Abel was born in France to parents of Algerian descent. She grew up singing, participating in local competitions starting at age ten and studying voice seriously throughout her teenage years. After moving to Paris, Abel found work singing in a jazz club, but she finally got her break in the music world in 2005, after she successfully came out on top in Nouvelle Star, a victory that awarded her a contract with Sony/BMG. Her debut album, La Vie Devant Toi, came out in 2006. ~ Marisa Brown