Attaining fame in this generation can be quite as easy as owning a smartphone, unlike the past where one needs to work so hard to gain a spot in the limelight. Uploading songs, inspirational talks, and even pictures on social media can push anyone to fame. For Pia Mia, she gained popularity after she started uploading covers of songs on YouTube.

She started as a model but moved on to become a singer-songwriter. Mia has gathered a lot of fans with her heart-melting and amazing voice, bagging a lot of recognition in the process.

The Struggles of Kicking-off Her Career

Born in Guam on September 19th, 1996 to Peter Perez Jr. and Angela Terlaje Perez, Mia overcame many hurdles to become a prominent music artist. Everything was normal for her while growing up until she had a life-changing experience that ignited her passion for music at the age of 8.

It happened after her portrayal of Cinderella in her school production of a play; that experience set the tone for other great things to come. Having been influenced by the voices of several iconic music artists including Celine Dion and Whitney Houston, Pia Mia began to perform at wedding ceremonies and other community events in Guam at the age of 11.

To become a part of the music industry, Pia Mia was accompanied by her mother to Los Angeles in 2010. With the little fund she had, she enrolled in several vocals, dance, and acting classes while attending a plethora of auditions.

The Guamanian singer ventured into modeling to make ends meet and was later discovered by the multi-Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and record producer, Babyface. She stayed under his management for a year and continued her modeling career afterward.

Mia’s Friendship With Kylie Jenner Dragged Her Into The Limelight

The social media personality’s rise to stardom started gradually when she began making cover songs and putting them up on YouTube. With time, she gathered a lot of fans on several social media platforms, announcing her career to the world.

She struggled with her career until she met the famous television personality, Kylie Jenner, who helped her meet other celebrated artists in the industry. For instance, she was opportune to meet with AbouThiam, Chris Brown‘s manager. Around the same period, she also got acquainted with Nicholas Balding (Nic Nac).

In late 2013, Kylie Jenner invited Mia over for a family dinner with the Kardashians and other celebrities including Drake. During the dinner, Pia Mia was requested to perform her cover version of ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ by Drake. She mesmerized everyone with her performance, which was later uploaded by Kim Kardashian on her social media handle and it garnered over one million views as it went viral.

The release of that cover song was followed by the release of her single ‘Red Love’, a song selected from her debut EP, ‘The Gift’. It received lots of praise and topped on iTunes Playlist.

Landing a Record Deal With Interscope Records 

Pia Mia attracted the attention of Interscope Records and sealed a deal with them. She got the chance to roll with Chance The Rapper in the soundtrack for the Sci-Fi movie, Divergent (2014). The following year, the elegant model started working on her debut album as she recorded a compilation of 100 songs.

She then cemented her celebrity status with the release of her single, ‘Do It Again’ Feat. Chris Brown and Tyga on May 4th, 2015. The single became a big hit as it clinched number 8 on the UK Top 40, number 19 on the Rhythmic Songs chart, number 70 on the Canadian Hot 100, and number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single sold over 4 million copies globally.

The gifted singer went on to drop several commercially successful singles like ‘Touch’, ‘I’m a Fan’, and ‘We Should Be Together’, before parting ways with Interscope Records and Wolfpack Entertainment in late 2019 because of the delays in producing her studio album.

Following her separation from Interscope Records, Pia Mia hit her all-time low as an independent artist. She released four singles under her indie record label, Cherry Pie Records in 2019. They include ‘Bitter Love’, ‘Crybaby’ Feat. Theron Theron, and ‘Feel Up’ with YG.

Eventually, luck came her way when she got acquainted with Austin Rosen, the co-founder of Electric Feel Entertainment. That acquaintance was followed by a reconnection with her current manager, Troy Carter, founder and CEO of Q&A, who left Interscope Records after she signed up with the record label. The good rapport they share prompted her to sign a record deal with Electric Feel Entertainment and Republic Records on May 14th, 2020. Pia Mia got her mojo back and dropped a single titled ‘Princess’ under the new label on May 15th, 2020.

Financial Value and Other Career Interests

The singer gained attention as an actress when she scored the role of Tristan in the 2019 romantic drama film, After. She reprised the role in the sequel titled After We Collided, which is currently in the post-production stage. Her other TV credits include High Los High (2016) and Happy Together (2018).

As a fashionista, Pia Mia has appeared on the cover of several A-list magazines including Nylon, Modeliste, Vogue, and Paper Magazines. She has also partnered with many top brands such as Bebe, Guess, and Macy’s Material Girl, working as their fashion director. Since May 2020, Mia has been penning down a free fictional book series entitled “Princess Diaries: Sand, Glitter & Silicone”. With all her numerous business ventures, it’s not surprising the singer has amassed an estimated net worth of $3.5 million.

Pia Mia’s Long-term Relationship With Nic Nac

Pia Mia is currently in a romantic relationship with Nicholas Matthew Balding. He’s an American record producer and songwriter who goes by the stage name Nic Nac. The duo started as friends before they officially began dating in November 2014. Their love is still waxing strong and there is no sign of break-up as they are often seen spending time together.

Mia’s beau produced ‘Beat It’ by Sean Kingston, DJ Khaled‘s hit singles ‘No Brainer’, and ‘I’m The One’, as well as ‘Loyal’ by Chris Brown.

Before her romance with Nic Nac, Pia dated Remy Thorne, Bella Thorne‘s brother back in the year 2012. However, the relationship didn’t last and Pia has been accused of using the singer’s brother to build her career.