Just over two years ago Mandisa shot to instant fame when millions of TV viewers across the nation were captivated by her winning smile and powerhouse vocals as she sang her way into the final rounds of “American Idol’s” fifth season. Showcasing Mandisa’s stylistic range was the task set before the five sets of producers who lined up to work with her on her debut, “True Beauty.” The end result is a seamless flow oftracks that create a diverse landscape for messages of hope, inspiration and faith. “Only the World” is thealbum’s funky, energetic first single, and has already spent five consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Top Single Sales chart.
Mandisa’s desire to live free of society’s expectations sits at the heart of the messages interwoven throughout True Beauty. Issues of self-esteem and self-worth are front-and-center among those that mostyoung women struggle with today, and Mandisa admits she is no different.
"Mandisa is powerful and has tremendous breath and pitch control, and there's no reason that woman should be working as anything other than a singer," Daily Variety associate editor Phil Gallo told USA Today afterwatching Mandisa’s performances on “Idol.” Working as a singer is indeed what has happened, and whether recognizing her “Bold, Natural Talent,” (US) her “considerable pipes” (Entertainment weekly), her “passion and musical aplomb” (San Francisco Chronicle), her “Effervescent gospel-pop” (USA Today) or giving her 3 out of 4 stars (People), critics agree on one thing: this girl can sing!
“More than just a career, I really want to have a ministry that has an impact on people. I just want to follow through with what is in my heart. I never want to look back and wonder, ‘What would have happened if….’”
