Rosita Vai
Encyclopedia
Rosita Vai is a New Zealand R&B singer who rose to musical fame as the winner of the Second season of New Zealand Idol
in 2005.
Prior to her win, Rosita managed to stay out of the 'bottom three' contestants for the entire competition. She also appeared on TV2's Pop's Ultimate Star
, which featured various winners from New Zealand Idol
and PopStars
, however she was voted out in the second week of the competition.
After winning idol, entertainer Sir Howard Morrison
made comments about Vai's large body size, saying it would affect her career and give the wrong image to her fans. Morrison and Vai reconciled on the TVNZ television show Close Up
, and the two performed a duet together at a live concert in 2006.
Like NZ Idol season one winner Ben Lummis
, Rosita is no longer signed to SonyBMG. However she is currently in the studio recording her first independent album, following the album she released as part of Idol, Golden
, with the first single Could This Be? due in August 2008. She has also been making appearances with her new backing band and played at Out in the Square - Wellington
's gay
and lesbian
fair as a special guest on 1 March, and headlined the after-party, Idolised, alongside The Glamazons — a move that many believe set in motion Vai's 'gay icon' status.
Vai began the production of her first music video, to the track Could This Be — a song she penned herself — although that video has not yet premiered.
She is of Samoan
ethnicity and performed at the opening ceremony
to the 2007 Pacific Games
, held in Apia, Samoa
.
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
in 2005.
Prior to her win, Rosita managed to stay out of the 'bottom three' contestants for the entire competition. She also appeared on TV2's Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star was TV2's reality television show which pits former reality contestants againest each other, most of whom are former NZ Idol contestants. The show was produced by Eyeworks Touchdown, with first prize $50,000 and a Kia 'Rio' car. It is hosted by Dominic Bowden and was originally...
, which featured various winners from New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
and PopStars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
, however she was voted out in the second week of the competition.
After winning idol, entertainer Sir Howard Morrison
Howard Morrison
Sir Howard Leslie Morrison, OBE, was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009 he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers.-Early life:...
made comments about Vai's large body size, saying it would affect her career and give the wrong image to her fans. Morrison and Vai reconciled on the TVNZ television show Close Up
Close Up
Close Up is a half-hour long New Zealand current affairs programme produced by Television New Zealand. The programme airs at 7.00pm weeknights on TV ONE and is presented by Mark Sainsbury with Paul Henry as the back up supporting host.The show remains the country's most watched night news and...
, and the two performed a duet together at a live concert in 2006.
Like NZ Idol season one winner Ben Lummis
Ben Lummis
Ben Lummis is a New Zealand R&B/Pop recording artist who rose to musical fame as the winner of the First season of New Zealand Idol in 2004. He is of Māori and Pākehā and Tongan descent...
, Rosita is no longer signed to SonyBMG. However she is currently in the studio recording her first independent album, following the album she released as part of Idol, Golden
Golden (Rosita Vai album)
Golden is the debut album from second-season NZ Idol winner Rosita Vai, released in New Zealand on November 1, 2005.-Chart:Golden debuted on the official New Zealand albums chart at number 15, but fell to number 25 its second week. In its third week, the album fell to number 33, and then it dropped...
, with the first single Could This Be? due in August 2008. She has also been making appearances with her new backing band and played at Out in the Square - Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
's gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
fair as a special guest on 1 March, and headlined the after-party, Idolised, alongside The Glamazons — a move that many believe set in motion Vai's 'gay icon' status.
Vai began the production of her first music video, to the track Could This Be — a song she penned herself — although that video has not yet premiered.
She is of Samoan
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
ethnicity and performed at the opening ceremony
Opening ceremony
An opening ceremony is the official opening of a building or event. The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup are huge events involving thousands of participants and watched by a massive worldwide audience. On a much smaller scale, some ceremonies mark the opening of a...
to the 2007 Pacific Games
2007 Pacific Games
The 2007 Pacific Games were held in Apia, Samoa, from 25 August to 8 September, 2007. The Games were also known as the XIII South Pacific Games....
, held in Apia, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
.