Emily Williams

Early life

Emily Williams was born on 8 October 1984 in South Auckland, New Zealand, to a Samoan family. Williams' has an older sister — Lavina Williams, who was a contestant on Australian Idol in 2006 and also a younger brother — J.Williams, a singer/dancer in New Zealand. During Willams' early years, her father was very strict when it came to devoting yourself to religion and music. Before appearing on Idol, she worked as a forklift operator from Inala, Queensland.

2005: Australian Idol

Williams auditioned for the third season of Australian Idol in 2005. During the season, she scored three touchdowns from judge Mark Holden. On 15 November 2005, betting agency Centrebet announced their final-week prediction that Williams would win the competition, with her odds at $1.36 and Kate DeAraugo at $3.00. However, on 21 November 2005, it was announced that the winner was DeAraugo.

2006–07: Young Divas

In January 2006, Sony BMG Australia announced that William's had signed a recording contract with their label, and that she would release her debut album later in the year. She re-located to Melbourne to begin writing and co-writing tracks with both local and international songwriters. However, Williams' album was never released.

In May 2006, Williams was asked by her record label to be part of an all-girl band concept, which included previous Australian Idol contestants, Paulini, Ricki-Lee Coulter and Kate DeAraugo for a 17-date national tour to promote all four singers as solo artists. Alongside the national tour, they released a cover of the Donna Summer classic "This Time I Know It's For Real", under the name Young Divas. The song peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). A second single soon followed after—a cover of Lonnie Gordon's disco classic "Happenin' All Over Again". It peaked at number nine on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified gold. Following on from the success of their two singles and tour, the Young Divas released their self-titled debut album of remakes of classics, on 14 November 2006. The album debuted at number four on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified double platinum.

In May 2007, Williams contested the New Zealand reality television show Pop's Ultimate Star, and came fourth. In September 2007, it was revealed that season-four Australian Idol runner-up Jessica Mauboy was the new member of the Young Divas, replacing Coulter, who left the group to resume her solo career. They then went on to release their second studio album, New Attitude, on 26 November 2007. The lead single "Turn Me Loose" peaked at number fifteen on the ARIA Singles Chart. The album reached number ten on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified gold. Young Divas later disbanded in 2008.

2008–present: Solo career and Uncovered

Following the disbandment of the Young Divas, Williams revisited her hometown in New Zealand, and turned to songwriting. While she created her own music, she penned hits for many renowned recording artists both in Australia and internationally. She wrote her younger brother J. Williams' single "Ghetto Flower" (2008). In 2010, Williams became a reading ambassador for The Pyjama Foundation, which allows her to raise awareness and support to help children improve their literacy skills. On 21 October 2010, she made a television appearance on Ready Steady Cook with fellow Australian Idol contestant Cosima De Vito.

On 1 November 2010, she released her debut solo single "Spellbound", independently. The single was promoted by Williams through a live televised performance on The Morning Show. She also performed the song at clubs in Brisbane and Sydney, and also toured shopping malls in Melbourne and Gold Coast. The music video premiered on YouTube on 4 November 2010. In December 2010, Williams received a nomination for 'Australian Female Artist of the Year' at the IT List Awards and a nomination for Pop Republic.tv Awards 'Favourite Australian Female Artist'. Williams' second single "You're Mine" was made available for download on 14 February 2011, to coincide with Valentine's Day. She performed the song on The Morning Show. On 1 March 2011, she released a ballad titled "Never Alone", to raise support for the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. All proceeds from the single went to the New Zealand Red Cross. The Popstar remix of "Spellbound" was released digitally on 24 June 2011.

Williams' debut solo album Uncovered was released independently on 10 February 2012. In June 2012, she was featured on dance music producer The Popstar's single "Spotlight", which also appears on her album Uncovered. In April 2013, Williams released her fourth lead single "Get It". In July 2013, Williams was featured on British rapper and The Valleys star Leeroy Reed's single "Can't Get Enough" and scored her second nomination at the PopRepublic.tv Awards for Favourite Australian Female Artist. In January 2014, she was featured on Geordie Shore star Gary "Gaz" Beadle's debut single "Party Like a Rockstar (Up Your Game)" with UK group The Risk. 2014 also saw Williams score her third nomination at the PopRepublic.tv Award for Favourite Australian Female Artist.

July 2015 saw the release of Williams single 'The Way It Is' that charted at #7 on the Australian Independent Record Labels Association Chart. This was followed up with the release of 'Get Your Life' in November 2016, this subsequently scored her yet another nomination for Williams at the PopRepublic.tv Awards for Favourite Australian Female Artist.

In April 2017, Emily Williams made her musical theatre debut in the Australian Production of The Bodyguard where she played the alternate Rachel Marron. Emily will also make her feature film debut in Australian independent film BOAR (Universal Pictures) directed by Queensland local Christopher Sun, due for release late 2017.

Personal life

Williams' has a daughter named Asia with Richie Lio. She separated from Lio in 2007.