Mýa

Mýa in 2010, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Mýa Marie Harrison

Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.

Date of Birth: October 10, 1979

Ethnicity:
*African-American (father)
*Italian (mother)

Mýa is an American recording artist, songwriter, dancer, producer, and actress. She made her debut with her self-titled album in 1998, and has appeared in the films Love for Sale, Penthouse, and Shall We Dance? She is known for her beautiful vocals and can dance various styles from Hip-Hop to Tap. She appeared on season nine of Dancing with the Stars. She is also known as My My, Mya-Re, Smoove Jones, and Mýa Lan$ky.

Mýa was born in Washington, D.C., to an African-American father, Sherman Alphonso Harrison, Jr., a musician, and a mother of Italian descent, Theresa Marie, who is an accountant. She has stated:

My mother’s mother is from Italy, right outside of Rome. My dad is African-American. His grandmother is American Indian.

Mýa’s paternal grandfather was Sherman Alphonso Harrison (the son of Sherman Catlett Harrison and Lou Ethel Ware). Mýa’s grandfather Sherman was born in Essex County, Virginia. Mýa’s great-grandfather Sherman was the son of Catlett Alfonso Harrison and Carrie Muse Holmes. Lou was the daughter of Willie Allie Ware and Julia A. Fortune.

Source: http://randb.about.com

Mýa’s paternal grandfather, Sherman Alphonso Harrison, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Mýa’s paternal great-grandfather, Sherman Catlett Harrison, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Mýa’s paternal great-grandmother, Lou Ethel (Ware) Harrison – http://www.legacy.com