Born in Nice, France, on November 15, 1983, Francophone pop singer Jenifer, born Jenifer Yaël Dadouche-Bartoli, first captured widespread attention in 2002 by claiming victory on the inaugural season of the reality talent competition Star Academy. That achievement eclipsed an earlier setback from 1997, when she had competed unsuccessfully on Graines de Star, and quickly secured her a recording deal. Her debut single, "J'attends L'amour," appeared soon afterward, followed closely by a self-titled first album that sold more than 750,000 copies. Extensive touring ensued until she paused briefly after the December 2003 birth of her son. She resumed activity in 2004 with the release of her sophomore album, Le Passage. A concert trek and the accompanying live recording Jenifer Fait Son Live arrived the next year. In November 2007 she reached the top of the French album charts for the first time with Lunatique. Additional honors included NRJ Radio prizes for Best French Female Artist and Best French Album tied to the 2010 project Appelle-Moi Jen, plus the 2004 MTV Europe Music Award for Best French Artist. Her fifth studio effort, L'amour et Moi, surfaced in 2012, entered the French Top Five, and coincided with her debut as a judge on the French edition of The Voice, the same format that had launched her own career. Ma Déclaration followed in 2013 and featured her interpretations of material first performed by France Gall, plus a collaboration with the Corsican ensemble Chjami Aghjalesi and a duet alongside Christophe Willem.
