From her viral &ldquo;Water&rdquo; dance challenge to her history-making Grammy win, discover some things about the singer you may not know.

<a href="https://lofficielusa.org/tags/tyla">Tyla</a> is the global pop sensation on our radars.
The South African singer skyrocketed to fame with her hypnotic voice, magnetic stage presence, and genre-defying sound. She first captured hearts in 2022 with her breakout hit &ldquo;Getting Late,&rdquo; a shimmering amapiano anthem that put her on the map. But her <a href="https://lofficielusa.org/pop-culture/grammy-awards-nominations-2025-pop-artists-lead">Grammy Award</a>-winning hit &ldquo;Water&rdquo; truly cemented her as one of the most exciting new artists of her generation. The single&mdash;released in 2023&mdash;went on to dominate global charts and spawned a viral dance challenge in TikTok, proving the 23 year-old-is here to stay.
Tyla&rsquo;s star power doesn&rsquo;t stop at her music. Known for her captivating performances, she&rsquo;s brought her signature mix of sultry choreography and soaring vocals to stages worldwide. Her ability to fuse amapiano, pop, and R&amp;B has not only showcased her versatility but also introduced South African sounds to a broader audience. (Her music is often described as "popiano" for its blended styles.) Beyond her artistry, her influence in fashion is undeniable too. She&rsquo;s become a trendsetting icon in just a few years, gracing red carpets in daring, high-fashion looks (courtesy of stylist Ron Hartleben) that reflect her bold personality. Remember that sheer, cutout <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fashionplutus/p/C29Zp6Dub8M/">Versace dress</a> in 2024? Her music videos also inspire, like her look that made quite the wave in <a href="https://lofficielusa.org/music/tyla-fringed-bra-push-2-start-music-video-watch">&ldquo;Push 2 Start&rdquo;</a> last year.
Keep scrolling to read some surprising facts about the Popiano Princess and her ongoing journey to the top.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">She has three siblings.</h2>

The Johannesburg-born singer&mdash;born Tyla Laura Seethal&mdash;is the one of four. Her siblings include Whitney Jasmin, Sydney, and Tyrese Seethal. Whitney Jasmine is an audiologist, Sydney is a TikTok influencer, and Tyrese is an entrepreneur. &nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">She used her eye for design went she was coming up.</h2>

Tyla&rsquo;s flair for eccentric fashion traces back to her early days in South Africa, where her resourcefulness and creativity laid the foundation for her unique style. "When I was still coming up in South Africa, I didn't have money to spend on custom looks. So me and my best friend used to grab a bunch of things and tie it everywhere and cut them up just to make a cute performance outfit," she told <a href="https://fashionista.com/2024/10/tyla-fashion-style-interview">Fashionista</a> last year.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">She was discovered by her manager on Instagram.</h2>

Just a few years ago, Tyla began sharing videos of herself singing both covers and original songs on Instagram, hoping to catch the attention of industry professionals. Despite sending them to &ldquo;literally everyone in the industry,&rdquo; her messages were left unopened, she told <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230814120737/https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/wx8939/south-africa-popstar-tyla-getting-late-interview">i-D</a> in 2021. But one day, an email from a potential manager landed in her inbox. Convinced it was a scam, she ignored it&mdash;until his persistence paid off. Once she finally responded, everything changed.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">She's never taken dance classes or had formal training.</h2>

Despite her mesmerizing onstage presence and fluid choreography, Tyla has never had formal dance training. Instead, her passion for movement has been entirely self-taught, fueled by an innate love for dance. &ldquo;When I was small, I was convinced that I was the best dancer,&rdquo; she recalled to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230814120737/https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/wx8939/south-africa-popstar-tyla-getting-late-interview">i-D</a>. Without ever stepping into a structured class, she experimented with everything from belly dancing to krumping, eventually embracing the amapiano-inspired moves that now define her style.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">She's the youngest African artist to win a Grammy&nbsp;</h2>

Tyla received the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for her hit song &ldquo;Water&rdquo; at the 2024 ceremony. And she made history in the process, becoming the youngest African artist to win a Grammy award ever. The honor wasn&rsquo;t lost on her: "I never thought I&rsquo;d say I won a Grammy at 22 years old," the South African singer said in her acceptance speech.

5 Surprising Facts About Tyla, the Popiano Princess

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