Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, is a Beninese-born Nigerian singer who began a fashion career at the age of 16 before deciding to pursue a career in music. Starr's ascent occurred within a vital context: As worldwide interest in new African sounds has crystallized the mainstream presence of Afrobeats on the global stage, the genre's most established and lauded male musicians have captured the international lens of recognition; simultaneously, the proliferation of social media has cut down the barrier to entry for new stars.