Mariah Carey
Marie Claire - UK|January 2018

‘When I Look Back and Think About My Career, It’s So Unbelievable. I Mean, It Really Is Like Cinderella’

Michelle Davies
Mariah Carey

Despite a career of highs and lows, she’s one of the most successful performers of all time. Now she’s back with a hotly tipped movie based on her festive hit

One night in November 1988, aspiring singer Mariah Carey was her friend’s plus one at a record-label party in New York. In her hand was a treasured demo tape she hoped to give to a music scout due to be there, but a stranger snatched it from her before she could hand it over and she left, disappointed that her chance at fame was dashed. Luckily for her, that stranger was Tommy Mottola, head of Sony Music. He played the tape in his limo on the way home and was transfixed. Mottola later admitted that he knew he’d discovered a superstar. ‘[I started] screaming, “Turn the car around! That may be the best voice you’ve ever heard in your life!”’ he said. But when he returned to the party, Carey had – like a modern day Cinderella – vanished. What’s more, she’d forgotten to put her name on the tape. And, like Prince Charming, Mottola scoured the city until he tracked her down. Now, as she releases her first animated children’s film based on her hit All I Want For Christmas Is You, Carey is one of the most successful recording artists ever, with a net worth estimated at £394 million and a rare five-octave vocal range that can hit the whistle register – the highest note a human voice can reach.

This story is from the January 2018 edition of Marie Claire - UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2018 edition of Marie Claire - UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MARIE CLAIRE - UKView All
Uma Thurman
Marie Claire - UK

Uma Thurman

‘I Managed To Stay In The Business That I Love All My Life, And I Know That’s Not A Given. I Can’t Not Feel Lucky About It, No Matter What The Downsides Can Be’.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2019
Pollution Proof Your Life
Marie Claire - UK

Pollution Proof Your Life

From your daily commute to your wood-burning stove, you’re unwittingly inhaling a variety of toxic substances. But you can take action to reduce their impact, reveals Claire Thorp.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2019
We Love Lucy
Marie Claire - UK

We Love Lucy

From a star-making turn in Bohemian Rhapsody to a leading role in sassy new Netflix show The Politician, Lucy Boynton is ready for her close-up. Here, she tells Jane Mulkerrins about her life-changing year.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2019
Human Touch
Marie Claire - UK

Human Touch

Connecting with others can have a confidence-boosting effect, support skin health and help you live longer. Here’s why the wonders of physical contact really matter...

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2019
Facing The Floods
Marie Claire - UK

Facing The Floods

Photographer Gideon Mendel has spent 12 years capturing the extreme rise in flooding across the globe. Here, he tells Marie Claire about the devastating human impact.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2019
'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums
Marie Claire - UK

'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums

Three mothers and daughters explain how talking openly to each other about sex, identity and pleasure has strengthened their relationship and enriched their love lives

time-read
9 mins  |
September 2019
10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being
Marie Claire - UK

10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being

From cortisol-free fitness to stress-busting diets and calm skin, Fiona Embleton reveals ten mindful ways to approach health and well-being

time-read
6 mins  |
May 2019
Sex Crimes on Campus
Marie Claire - UK

Sex Crimes on Campus

This month, thousands of female students will head for university, but many will become the victims of sexual assault and harassment.Polly Dunbar investigates the alarming rise of college rape culture.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2016
Fight The Fear
Marie Claire - UK

Fight The Fear

Approximately ten million people in the UK suffer with a debilitating phobia. When Charlotte Haigh’s fear of flying threatened to damage her mental health, she took action…

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2017
Celine Dion
Marie Claire - UK

Celine Dion

‘Growing Up, I Used to Feel Awkward and Insecure. I Remember Not Feeling or Looking My Best’

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2017