Shamari DeVoe ( Fears) is an American singer. DeVoe gained notice in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the girl group

Blaque Blaque ( ) is an American girl group; they had songs chart from 1999 to 2004. Outside of the United States and Canada, they are known as Blaque Ivory. Their self-titled debut album ''Blaque'' sold more than 1 million copies and was certified ...

. DeVoe portrayed Lava in the comedy film ''Bring It On'' (2000). She has also appeared on the

Bravo Bravo(s) or The Bravo(s) may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Groups and labels * Bravo (band), a Russian rock band * Bravo (Spanish group), represented Spain at Eurovision 1984 * Bravo Music, an American concert band music publishing compa ...

reality television series ''

The Real Housewives of Atlanta ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'', abbreviated ''RHOA'', is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on October 7, 2008. Developed as the third installment of '' The Real Housewives'' franchise, it has aired sixteen season ...

'' for its eleventh season; and the

VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism for Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the MTV Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global's networks division based in New Y ...

series ''Couples Retreat'' (2022–2023) alongside her husband R&B singer

Ronnie DeVoe Ronald Boyd DeVoe Jr. (born November 17, 1967), is an American singer and rapper known as one of the members of the R&B/ pop group New Edition, and the R&B/ hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Career DeVoe wa ...

Early life

DeVoe was born in

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

to Dawn Anderson and Raymond Fears. Raised in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, her interest in music and performing continued after participating in talent show at age of 13. The following year, she formed her first girl group with a rotation of members, including classmate

Natina Reed Natina Tiawana Reed (October 28, 1980 – October 26, 2012) was an American singer, rapper and actress. She was born in Queens and raised in Atlanta, where she pursued a career in music beginning in her early teens. Discovered by rapper Lisa Lop ...

. In 2013, DeVoe graduated from

Georgia State University Georgia State University (Georgia State, State, or GSU) is a Public university, public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1913, it is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities. It is al ...

with a bachelor of arts degree in Sociology.

Career

DeVoe was discovered by American rapper

Lisa Lopes Lisa Nicole Lopes (May 27, 1971 – April 25, 2002), also known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American singer and rapper. She was a member of the R&B girl group TLC, alongside Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Beside ...

, who mentored

. She formed Blaque with Brandi Williams and Reed. The group made their first appearance in 1997, in the music video for

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after ...

's " Not Tonight". Their debut album ''Blaque'' (1999) sold more than 1.5 million copies and was certified Platinum. ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' named Blaque as the fourth "Best New Artist" in 1999. In 2000, DeVoe portrayed a cheerleader named Lava in the comedy film '' Bring It On.'' Blaque went on hiatus until 2007 and eventually split in 2008. Natina Reed died after being hit by a car in 2012. DeVoe still performs with fellow group member Brandi Williams. In November 2018, DeVoe joined the cast of the

reality television series ''

'' for the show's eleventh season. On September 26, 2019, it was announced that DeVoe would not be returning for the twelfth season. She is working on a collaboration with her husband

called Me & Mari. The duo released a single called "Love Comes Through" on December 7, 2018.

Personal life

On March 10, 2006, she married

New Edition New Edition is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B/Pop music, pop group from the Roxbury, Boston, Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by singer/rapper Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a new edition of the Jackson ...

and

Bell Biv DeVoe Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, is an American music group from Boston, Massachusetts, formed from members of New Edition, consisting of Ricky Bell (singer), Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. The band is best known for their debut ...

. The couple have twin boys, Ronald and Roman, who were born in 2017. DeVoe became a member of

Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. () is an List of African American fraternities, historically African-American Fraternities and sororities, sorority. The sorority was founded in 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. Alpha Kappa Alpha ...

sorority in December 2014.

Discography

Album appearances

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video appearances

References

External links

* 1980 births 21st-century American singers 20th-century American singers 20th-century African-American women singers Living people American contemporary R&B singers Blaque members Singers from Detroit 20th-century American women singers 21st-century American women singers 21st-century African-American women singers {{US-RnB-singer-stub Alpha Kappa Alpha members