Wonder Woman of the Week: Kiah Victoria

The Wonder Woman this week has had a talent for music her entire life, but that didn’t mean her rise to Juke Box Hero was easy. Even after performing on Broadway as a nine year-old, this singer continued to have to work hard to break into the music business. She may not be well-known yet, but this week’s spotlight will certainly become a power-house of music in the foreseeable future. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Kiah Victoria.

Nine year-old Kiah Victoria auditioned for the role of (Young) Nala on Broadway, nailed her audition, and portrayed the role for six months. Victoria came a long way to get to that milestone in her life. The American singer was born in Berlin before her family relocated to the United States. After finishing her early role on Broadway, Victoria returned to her Maryland home to perform in community and school productions, but Victoria’s destiny led her back to New York. [1] Destiny, however, can be fickle trickster.

When Kiah Victoria started college at New York University, she auditioned for a television music show called The Voice. The program paid for Victoria to fly out for an audition, but when it came time for the singer to perform, her audition was cancelled. The last available slot had been filled by (literally) the person before her- meaning Victoria would never get an opportunity to perform. The young college student had put everything into this one opportunity at success, and she failed before she had a chance to perform. [2]

Kiah Victoria was faced with a situation that breaks many would-be heroes; and when squaring off against the painful truth of failure, Victoria kept going. When the singer returned to school, she continued to pursue her passion for music and found success on her own terms. In 2013, Victoria received the Desmond Child Anthem Award for talent and promise in young songwriters. Victoria not only works hard to improve her own skills, she also mentors other musicians and songwriters improve their skills, appeared in the short film Picasso Baby, and has released two albums- all before graduating college. [3]

I rarely write about women who have not yet achieved their greatest goals in life; but when I do, I write about women I am confident will become legends in their field. Kiah Victoria is one of those women on the cusp of stardom. Her skill at music, her devotion to achieving goals, and her attention to helping others excel in the field of music are all factors that will certainly lead to this NYC singer becoming a powerhouse in the music industry.

Menyes, Carolyn. “Kiah Victoria Looks To Go Worldwide With Her Soulful Pop Blend… But First, New Music Seminar in NYC.” 6 June 2014. MusicTimes.com. Accessed 25 May 2016. http://www.musictimes.com/articles/6592/20140606/kiah-victoria-looks-go-worldwide-soulful-pop-blend-first-new.htm

Sutton, Samantha. “This Up-&-Coming Artist is Jay-Z Approved.” 1 October 2014. Refinery29.com. Accessed 25 May 2016. http://www.refinery29.com/kiah-victoria-new-york-musician-career

Koegan, Shonna. “NYU Clive Davis Institute Student Kiah Victoria Wins 2013 Desmond Child Anthem Award.” 9 December 2013. New York University. Accessed 25 May 2016. https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2013/12/09/remus-kiah-victoria-wins-ascap-songwriting-award.html