Star construction of Ciara

1. Star Construction:
Ciara
By Aminatta Sylva 13H

2. Biography
Ciara is an American R&B singer-song writer, dancer,
producer, actress and fashion model; she was born Ciara
Princess Harris on October 25th 1985 to parents Jackie
and Carlton Harris in Austin, Texas. Her parents were full
time military personnel; as a child she grew up in
Germany, New-York, Utah, California, Arizona and
Nevada. It was during her teens her family moved to
Atlanta Georgia., as she decided on music as a career.
She graduated from Riverdale High school in Riverdale
Georgia in 2003 and she was then signed by LaFace
Records exec L.A Reid whom she was introduced to by
Jazze Pha; by writing her first successful song “Got Me
Waiting” for R&B singer Fantasia Barrino’s debut album
Free Yourself in 2002.

3. Ciara and music
During her mid teens Ciara created a girl group
formed out of two friends, the group recorded
demos but at the end their differences arose and
made the group split. She was determined to have a
deal as a song-writer and her success came with the
track “Got Me Waiting”; she met record producer
Jazze Pha and he introduced her to LA Reid. By 2002
she recorded four demos; “1,2 Step” and others
which were featured on her debut album in 2004.
Her debut album Goodies was named after the hit
track “Goodies”; this attracted the likes of Lil Jon
and a remix of it was created.
Goodies was released on September 28 2004; it sold 124,750 copies
on the first week and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart.
The album was on the billboard 200 for seven weeks; it was certified
three times platinum by the RIAA on October 2006. The album sold
3 million copies in the U.S by 2010.
Goodies the lead single was conceived as a crunk female
counterpart to Usher’s Yeah!. The song peaked in the top ten in
many countries and went on to become Platinum or gold in many
countries.

4. 2006-2007
Ciara: The Evolution was released on December
5 2006 as her second album. This album
became Ciara’s first #1 album on the U.S
Billboard 200 and second on the Top R&B/Hip-
Hop Albums charts with sales more than 338,00
The album was certified platinum by the RIAA,
within five weeks of its release it had sold 1.3
million copies and two million copies
worldwide. The international lead single “Get
Up” featuring Chamillionaire reached #7 in the
U.S and gained a platinum accreditation. This
song was used in Step Up and featured on the
film’s soundtrack. The U.S lead single “Promise”
reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and
became her third #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop
albums chart. “Like A boy” was released as the
second international single and it reached the
top twenty in U.K, France, Ireland, Sweden,
Switzerland and also the U.S. She also debuted
her acting in the MTV Films production All
You’ve Got in May 2006.

5. 2008-2011
Fantasy Ride was released as her third album in May
2009. It became her first top ten album in the UK and
Canada; it sold 193,00 copies. The album’s lead single
“Never Ever” featuring Young Jeezy was released in the
U.S in January 2009 and peaked #9 on the U.S Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The second single “Love. Sex and
magic” featuring Justin Timberlake became a worldwide
hit, peaking within the top ten in 20 countries; it was
certified platinum in Australia.
Basic Instinct was released on December 14 2010; it debuted
#44 on the U.S Billboard 200 chart with its first week of sales of
37,000 becoming her only album to not peak within the top
three. However, the lead single “Ride” which features Ludacris
on the U.S Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart it reached #11. The
music video also won the award for best dance performance at
the 2010 Soul Train Awards.
In 2011 it was reported that Ciara was dropped from her record
label; Jive Records, but she managed to get signed on to L.A
Reid’s label Epic Records on September 2011.

6. 2012-2013
Ciara was released July 9 2013; it debuted at #2 on
the billboard 200 chart with the first week of sales
of 59,000 copies in the U.S. The album was
originally titled One Woman Army but it was
changed after the album’s track list was released.
Ciara also starred in two movies during this time;
Mama, I want to sing! and That’s My Boy in 2012.

7. Ciara- present
Ciara is currently working on her
sixth studio album “Jackie” ; the
single “I Bet” featuring her then
boyfriend Future was released on
January 26th 2015.

8. Musical style and influences
Ciara is known for her “breathy soprano
vocals” and she has the ability to convey
only three emotions; sad, sexy and sassy.
Ciara’s music is generally contemporary
R&B but she incorporates elements of
Hip-Hop, crunk, rap, dance-pop, electro
pop and funk into her songs. Her album
Goodies is said to be comparable to the
late singer Aaliyah.
Ciara cites Destiny’s child and Janet Jackson as
her inspiration for singing and also Michael
Jackson for her dancing. She also looks at
Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, TLC, SWV and Salt-n-
Pepper as influencers in her musical career.

9. Fashion
During Ciara’s career her fashion evolved as she matured; she
went from loose jogging bottoms to tight and lustful clothing. The
clothing that she wore in the early stages of her career
established her as a dancer because it revealed her physique.
As grew older she became a fashion icon through her choice of
clothing. Her hair is worn long with middle or side parting,
alongside with hoop earrings.
In 2009 Ciara became part of the modelling agency
Wilhelmina Models in a multi-million dollar deal.

10. Social media presence- YouTube
This YouTube channel allows Ciara’s fans to watch her official music videos/
audio videos. The fans can also comment and communicate with other fans
through his social media channel.

11. Twitter and Facebook
Ciara is a very active user of twitter and it
is way of letting fans into her life; they
get updates on what she is doing both in
her professional and personal life. As the
last tweet is about her 9 month old son,
this appeals to the target audience
because her fans will know more about
her and her family through this social
media channel.
Both Facebook and twitter
pages have been set up to
promote her new single “I Bet”
and her Facebook page links her
other artists that create the
same genre of music as hers. It
also allows her fans to directly
buy music when browsing her
social media platforms.

12. Instagram and official website
Ciara’s Instagram is just like any other
Instagram user’s page; she shares her
everyday with her fans; from fashion
events to pictures of her son. This makes
her appeal to a wider target audience
because they get a clear insight into what
the life of Ciara is like; fans can also send
her pictures, messaging and comment on
the pictures- this makes them feel
included.
Her official website is strictly
promoting her new single; “I
bet”. It uses the album cover as a
background and features a
player that allows us listen/buy
the single.