00s pop star with earworm hit has barely aged 16 years after debut --[Reported by Umva mag]

The 33-year-old's single appeared in a hit teen film.

Oct 11, 2024 - 07:58
00s pop star with earworm hit has barely aged 16 years after debut --[Reported by Umva mag]
Gabriella Cilmi singing into a microphone onstage in 2009
Gabriella Cilmi has barely aged a day since her debut single hit our airwaves (Picture: Martin Philbey/Redferns)

Gabriella Cilmi has wowed fans with her youthful appearance as she celebrated her birthday, 16 years since the release of her breakout hit single.

The Australian pop singer marked her 33rd birthday with a wholesome snap, in which she smiled at the camera in what appears to be a party setting.

‘I’ll cry if I want to,’ she captioned the online post, referencing the song lyric, ‘It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to,’ originally sung by Lesley Gore in the 1960s.

Having celebrated another year around the sun, the Noughties pop queen was inundated with well-wishes from around the world.

Fans left comments on her Facebook post from Ireland to Italy, with some saying they ‘miss’ her music.

Gabriella’s post comes not long after she shared a clip on her Instagram page from the music video of her 2008 debut single Sanctuary, which was featured on the St. Trinians soundtrack and propelled her career.

Gabriella Cilmi at her 33rd birthday party
Gabriella celebrated her 33rd birthday with a sweet snap (Picture: Facebook)

‘Days go past it’s autumn already ???????????? Sanctuary 2008,’ she wrote in the caption, with fans sharing how much they loved the hit song.

‘Used to play this on my cd player and dance around the room,’ Jarrahdollrey wrote.

Gabriellacilminews asked for ‘more songs like this’, while pierreantoinequette said Gabriella is the ‘perfect woman.’

The selfies the star posted on her page are identical to those of her singing in the video, despite her being just 16 years old then.

Gabriella regularly updates fans on social media about her music and tours and shares insights into her daily life.

Gabriella Cilmi taking a selfie while wearing a red patterned shirt
The singer regularly updates fans with music and personal news as well as age-defying selfies (Picture: Instagram/Gabriella Cilmi)
Gabriella Cilmi singing intro a microphone in 2009
She shared a post to celebrate 16 years since her song Sanctuary was released (Picture: Danny Martindale/Getty Images)

In an emotional post last year, she opened up about her ‘experience with OCD’ for Mental Health Awareness Week.

‘It’s Mental Health Awareness Week! Some of you may have heard me chat about my experience with OCD and intrusive thoughts,’ she wrote in the caption.

‘Growing up I was so afraid to speak up in case people thought badly of me. I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self that she was not alone, people all over the world experience similar thoughts and there are others who sometimes flick the light switch on and off 5 times to stop the world from ending… if you know you know????.

‘Conversation around mental health is so important and I love how @frogglesworld have created a safe and fun space to have dialogue around a topic that can so often feel scary and heavy. Stay tuned for a “Chilling with Cilmi” with the super dooper talented founders @ellamaestatham @limpet_store soon ❤️❤️❤️.’

Gabriella has enjoyed a long and successful career. Three years before she released Sanctuary, her tracks Don’t Tell Me and Sorry appeared in the 2005 film Hating Alison Ashley.

Gabriella Cilmi posing for a photo at an event in 2010. She is wearing a black dress and black tights.
She has released three full-length albums and toured across the world (Picture: Jon Furniss/WireImage)

Her first album, Lessons to Be Learned, was released in 2008 and included the song Sweet About Me, which reached number six on the UK Singles Chart.

The tune went on to become one of Gabriella’s most catchy and recognisable hits.

One month after its release, it topped the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and stayed there for five non-consecutive weeks. Then, a 2010 mix was included on her second album, Ten, released in March 2010.

Adding to her list of achievements, Gabriella has toured with Sugababes and James Blunt and, back in her heyday, played an MTV Greece concert alongside R.E.M. and Kaiser Chiefs.

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Gabriella also covered Connie Francis’ Warm This Winter, which was featured in the Co-Operative’s Christmas 2008 advertising campaign.

She has garnered several accolades, including six ARIA Music Awards and a Brit Award nomination.

The songwriter released two further albums – including 2013’s The Sting – before taking a lengthy break from solo performances until 2019 when she performed at St. Pancras New Church in London.

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