Irène Major

Irène Major
Irène Major
Irene Major in Dassault Falcon 2000 private jet
Born (1979-10-22) 22 October 1979
Cameroon
Occupation
  • Singer
  • businesswoman
  • model
  • human rights activist
Years active 1994–present
Musical career
Genres
  • Pop
Associated acts

Irène Major (born 22 October 1979) is a British-Cameroonian singer, model and activist.

Personal life

Irène Major was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Growing up, she lived in various locations in Cameroon as part of a military family (her father was in the army).[1]

Irène is married to oil and gas tycoon Sam Malin who is of dual Canadian and British citizenship. She has seven children Samantha (born 2000), Lulu-Marie (born 2007), Pearl (born 2010), Lincoln (born 2011), Mona-Swan (born 2015), Noah (born 2017) and Mason (born 2018).[2] She is currently based in the UK, although she was previously based in Paris.[3][4] She holds the Scottish feudal courtesy title of Lady Hailes.[5][6][7][8][9]

In 2012, Ingress Abbey was purchased by Irène Major, and was converted back into its original use as a family home.[10]

The European Communication School (ECS) awarded to Irène an Honorary Degree of Master in Communication in 2017.

Career

In Cameroon, Irène was a regular feature of the catwalk (she was Miss Lions Cameroon 1995), an occasional radio presenter and had parts in various films. From Cameroon, she moved first to Paris, France and then to the United Kingdom.[11]

Internationally, Irène has worked as a model and in film, TV shows, music videos and commercials, with roles credited and uncredited. She has appeared in Die Another Day, Ali G Indahouse, World of Our Own – Westlife, Black Betty by Tom Jones,[12] as the presenter of Ess'mode par Irene Major,[13] a guest judge on The One,[14] and as an on-screen hostess on the V Graham Norton show.[15] In 2015, she appeared in Million Pound Properties [16] and Britain's Flashiest Families, in 2016, in Shock Docs: Britain's Pushiest Parents[17][18] and Too Posh To Parent,[19], and in 2017, Billionaire Babies: 24 Carat Kids [20]. Irène is the model for a display mannequin in the Drama Diva collection by Rootstein.[21][22]

Irène has been embroiled in some controversy on skin bleaching and has spoken on TV[23] and in press[24] on this subject. She is a Fashion Consultant to Burke's Peerage. She is involved with various philanthropic and human rights causes presented in more detail below. Irène forms one half of the pop-duo Major (with her sister Elsa).

Philanthropy and Causes

Irène Major is involved with various philanthropic and human rights causes. In 2008, she founded IM Life, a charity with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean, to provide support, including food, shelter, training and logistics support, to those in desperate need.[25] She is also the founder of the Gay in Africa Foundation, a campaign which exists to boost awareness of the persecution and suffering of the African LGBT community and fight against homophobia and discrimination against the LGBT in Africa [26][27][28][29][30][31][32].

Irène is an ambassador for International Harbor, a charity founded by former US special operations veterans dedicated to eliminating human trafficking and abduction through advocacy and action [33] and works with other charities including African Revival and several organisations combatting FGM in sub-Saharan Africa.

Major

Irène set up the pop group Major in 2012 with her sister Elsa. They have released a number of songs and videos:

Love Me Boy (written by Pete Kirtley)[1]
Romeo (written by Pete Bellotte and Sylvester Levay, original performer: Donna Summer)[34]
Birds (written by Irene Major)[35]
Cannes Cannes Cannes (written by Pete Hammond and Jeff Chegwin)[36]
Umqombothi - African Heroes (original version written by Sello "Chicco" Twala and Attie van Wyk and performed by Yvonne Chaka Chaka)[37]

Major toured the UK in 2013 and, in 2014, Major participated in The X Factor (UK series 11) and made it through to the final 28 contestants (the six-seat challenge at bootcamp) with Louis Walsh as mentor.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Sister act bid for Major success".
  2. ↑ We live in a 47-bed castle and had 100 honeymoons – The Sun
  3. ↑ "Wives of multi-millionaires reveals how they splash the cash". Mail Online. 6 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "'I spend £200 every two weeks on my hair': How much does it cost to run your body?". Mail Online.
  5. ↑ Meet the owners of Ingress Abbey in Greenhithe - People - Kent Life
  6. ↑ "Lady Hailes stars on the X Factor". East Lothian Courier.
  7. ↑ "Burke's Peerage - The Official Website".
  8. ↑ Tatler
  9. ↑ The Times
  10. ↑ http://www.kent-life.co.uk/people/meet_the_owners_of_ingress_abbey_in_greenhithe_1_3759918 Meet the owners of Ingress Abbey in Greenhithe
  11. ↑ Greg Miles. "Sisters are doing it for themselves in a Major way". Kent News.
  12. ↑ The Sun - Sunday Magazine Article by John Marr "Sex Bomb - You Betty" 2002
  13. ↑ "Les sœurs Major à la porte de la RTA". Actualité en direct avec L'Express de Madagascar. 4 March 2014.
  14. ↑ Prezzo hooks up with Cameroonian beauty - Entertainment News
  15. ↑ V Graham Norton episodes 2.27 2.31, 2.40, 2.41, 3.36, 3.43, 5.39 amongst others
  16. 1 2 "Sam Malin and Irene Major's Principal House in Essex goes on sale for £1m". This is Money. 20 June 2015.
  17. ↑ "Sex or Shopping? Tough choice! Preview: Britain's Flashiest Families - Real Life - Tragic, Funny, Strange & Uplifting Stories from the UK - Daily Star". Dailystar.co.uk.
  18. ↑ Britain's Pushiest Parents - Channel 5
  19. ↑ "Too Posh to Parent". DailyMail.co.uk.
  20. ↑
  21. ↑ DI01 DI04 DI05 DI11
  22. ↑ Irene by Rootstein
  23. ↑ "I spend thousands to lighten my skin".
  24. ↑ "The women wholl do anything to have whiter skin". Mail Online. 26 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Singing sisters aim for major success".
  26. ↑ "Irene Major Launches Campaign to Bring Awareness to LGBT Abuse in Africa".
  27. ↑ "L'Egalité De Droit Face A L'Amour Au Cameroun By Irène Major".
  28. ↑ LGBT Abuse in Africa
  29. ↑ Championing LGBT rights in Africa
  30. ↑ Use of culture to deny universal rights is unacceptable
  31. ↑ Launch of GIA Foundation
  32. ↑ LGBT Rights in Afrca
  33. ↑ "The Queen of Ingress". ModeMaison PR Publishing Group.
  34. ↑ Abigail Dede (12 September 2013). "Major - The beautiful and bi-lingual music duo return". FLAVOURMAG.
  35. ↑ http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/tags/Major
  36. ↑ Major Empire. "Major releases new single - Cannes Cannes Cannes". PRLog.
  37. ↑ Major Empire. "Major Releases Single: Umqombothi - African Heroes". PRLog.
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