The Voice judge, pop diva, Australian Idol contestant, inspirational role model for young Indigenous women: Jessica Mauboy is many things to many people.
It’s hard to believe that the glamorous, stage-commanding performer of today was once a shy Darwin teenager, nervously waiting to audition on Australian Idol in 2006.
Back then, the young woman sang I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston in front of Marcia Hines, Mark Holden and Kyle Sandilands, who went to the Northern Territory to hear her sing.
Stream the world’s best reality, entertainment and true crime shows for free on 7Bravo on 7plus >>
Taking on any Whitney song, especially at the tender age of 16, seemed like an immense hill to climb – but Mauboy smashed it out of the park.
It was an immediate yes from all three judges, effectively kick-starting her career.
Although Mauboy didn’t win the competition – that year’s Idol was Damien Leith – she scored a recording contract with Sony.
Her debut album, Been Waiting, was the second highest selling album of 2009 and produced the number-one single, Burn.
Many more albums – and hits – were to follow, from Pop a Bottle (Fill Me Up) and Can I Get A Moment? to Never Be The Same, and her most recent single, Give You Love, featuring fellow The Voice judge and American singer-songwriter Jason Derulo.
But apart from her stellar music career – and proving herself as an actress, too – Mauboy has come to be loved for many other reasons as well.
Over the years, she’s become something of a role model for young girls thanks to her clean image, scandal-free career and body positivity.
She’s variously been described as the “wholesome girl next door”, “genuine”, and “really nice” by journalists who have interviewed her.
Body positivity
Her body-positive stance has been a hit with many young people, with Mauboy repeatedly affirming in interviews that she loves being a “curvy girl”.
Perhaps that stems from the moment when, aged 16, she was told by Australian Idol judge and radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands that she needed to “lose the jelly belly.”
Hitting back in an interview after that controversial moment, Mauboy said: “Having curves is one of my favourite things.”
The multi-talented performer has cited Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez as major inspirations, calling Beyonce “magnificent” and “so inspiring”.
In a recent episode of The Voice Australia, Mauboy opened up on her own struggles with body image after one contestant’s Blind Audition.
David, 24, told the judges that his low self-esteem had stopped him from auditioning on previous seasons of The Voice.
“I watch The Voice every year, I just felt like I wasn’t ready,” he said.
“I felt like there was a lot more to learn.
“And also, I was more embarrassed to show myself.”
His words inspired a raucous reaction from the Voice crowd, and an inspiring message from Mauboy.
“I think that’s the crazy thing that we apply in our head – and it’s understandable because we see it everywhere,” she said.
“You know, society bringing us what we should be, what we should look like and how to act.
“It hurts me to hear you say that you didn’t feel worthy enough, that you didn’t feel good enough.
“Our mind, you know, it definitely plays tricks on us when we have all the noise on the outside.”
Mauboy then became choked up with tears, clearly emotional.
“And I just love that you have come to a moment in your life that you’ve realised how great you are,” she said.
“How great, you really are.”
Indigenous role model
As the child of an Indonesian father and Indigenous mum (her mother is a Kuku Yalanji woman from the rainforest regions of Far North Queensland), Mauboy has also become a major role model for young Indigenous people.
She is heavily involved in advocating for Indigenous literacy and constitutional recognition.
An ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), she is clearly proud of her heritage and her culture, regularly visiting different communities around Australia and spending time on Country.
“Kids in these communities are smart and often speak 2-3 languages, but English is often not their first language and they can therefore struggle to cope at school,” she said in 2021.
“I passionately support ILF’s belief that literacy opens the door to a world of opportunities – including jobs, better health and general wellbeing.”
Wedding bells
On the personal front, Mauboy wed her long-term partner, soccer player Themeli Magripilis, in Darwin on July 9, 2022.
Born and raised in Darwin, Magripilis, nicknamed “Magoo”, played for Darwin club Hellenic Athletic, where Mauboy’s younger sister Sophia also played.
After Mauboy’s Idol success she relocated to Sydney and for seven years the pair conducted a long-distance relationship, before Magripilis eventually moved to the NSW capital.
The couple married in a small church in Darwin, with the reception at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Mauboy told PerthNow at the time, referring to wedding delays brought about by the COVID pandemic.
“We always spoke about it (getting married) and we would talk about how strong our families are and they get along really well.
“He’s such a good fella and I think it really helps that he doesn’t work in the music industry.”
The pair became engaged in October 2019, with Magripilis proposing to the singer in Greece.
“The love of my life proposed to me in his family’s home town of Kalymnos, Greece, on the beach at sunset,” she said on Instagram at the time.
“We are so happy. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.
“Thank you for all the love.”
For more engaging celebrity content, visit 7Life on Facebook.
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.