Bella-May

Bella May Hammond, known mononymously as Bella-May, (Born July 11th, 1991) is a worldwide based American recording artist, porn star, model and television actress.

Bella rose to fame in late 2010 with the release of her debut single "Boom Boom Bang" and album "The Escort". The album debuted at #8 in its first week and then later rose to #4 a few months later with the release of a second single, "Your Worst Nightmare". She achieved her first #1 single with the release of "The Orgy Song", the first single from her second album. The track is hailed as one of Bella's signature tunes and is known for its infamous sample of the children's nursery rhyme "Hickory, Dickory, Dock".

In 2011, while still pursuing her music career, Bella got the job as a judge on Cycle 18 of America's Next Top Model. The highly rated show proved as usefull to Bella when it launched her as a superstar in the United States. Bella released her self-titled sophmore album in August 2011 to critical praise and moderate success.

The final quarter of 2012 or early 2013 will see Bella-May release her third studio album. She has admitted to working on the album with RedOne and Dr. Luke. She has promised to "tease" some of the new material on her third tour in July 2012.

Early Life
Bella was born in New York City to an American mother (Sally Jenkins) and a British father (Malcom Hammond). When Bella was eight years old, her father was tragically killed in a car accident. She attended school in New York City until the age of 14 and her and her mother moved to the UK to be with Bella's grandmother (her father's mother) who was ill at the time.

It was when Bella won the National Lottery in 2008 that she decided to use a lot her winnings in making herself a popstar. She admitted to paying for medical care for her grandmother and buying her mother a home in London with the money also.

In early 2012, it was revealed that Bella was cousins with Jack Dawson of popular boy-band, Difused.

2008-2011 - Career Beginnings, "The Escort" and The Asda Tour
Bella-May began work on her debut album in late 2008. She confirmed on her Twitter page that she wanted to make an album that made people want to dance. If people didn't dance to her music, then she would have failed. The album was reportidly finished in April 2010 but Bella-May had no luck finding a record label. Fed up of trying to find a label, Bella tweeted on the 18th of September 2010 saying "Fuck the big labels, who needs one?! I'll set up my own". 'Vampire Crypt Records' was born.

On Saturday 27th November, the announcment of Bella-May's debut single, 'Boom Boom Bang' and debut album, 'The Escort' were revealed in an online interview. The video to 'Boom Boom Bang' was shot the week prior to the announcment and was directed by Taj. 'Boom Boom Bang' had recieved a negative review from Heat! Magazine. They claimed the song sounded "Dated and tacky" and requested Bella-May stop trying to be too sexy. The Sun, on the other hand, gave the song 9 stars, claiming it was "Exactly what the industry needs right now". 'Boom Boom Bang' was released on December 27th 2010. The album "The Escort" followed a week later and debuted at #8 on the albums charts before rising to #4 with the release of Bella's 2nd single. During promotion for the single, Bella's mother Sally sadly passed away due to breast cancer. The singer took some time off to grieve for her mother. She revealed in an interview that her father died when she was eight years old in a car accident.

In January 2010, Bella embarked on The ASDA Tour which visited 10 different ASDA stores accross the UK and Ireland. The tour came about due to Bella's partnership with ASDA to stock her debut single and album exclusively. Ruby and the Gems was the tour's special guest.

The 2nd single to be taken from the album was "Your Worst Nightmare" and featured Elle. The single recieved extremely positive reviews from critics. It peaked at #5 on the URAPS singles charts. The 3rd single(s) to be lifted from the album was title track "The Escort" and a new track called "Marble Cake", released as a Double A-Side on April 11th. They charted at #5 on the URAPS singles charts.

Bella was dropped form 'Vampire Crypt Records' on 15th March 2011. Despite founding the label, they still had the authority to drop her and they did. Their reason was because Bella was 'too slutty' for their liking. The contract would end after the release of The Escort/Marble Cake.

She supported duo Dresden & Bareilles on their 'ARES Tour' in April 2011.

2011-2012 - Sophmore Album, The Hookertastic Show and Brief Hiatus
In early 2011, Bella was picked up by Strawberry Records and continued work on her second album, "Bella-May".

The first single to be taken from the album was the Max Martin penned dance anthem "The Orgy Song". The track was originaly meant to feature Butterscotch, but she backed out. Hoebag. Bella then got good mate Flaming SteffY and Polish beauty Kazimiera on the song. The track was described by Radio 1 as "the best thing she has ever recorded" and Heat! Magazine stated that the song was "surely her first number 1 single?". The song was released on CD single and Digital Download on May 30th, and got Bella her first #1 single! Since, the single has gone platinum, selling over 300,000 copies.

The second and final UK single lifted from the album was "Hooker On A Church Corner" and was released a week prior to the album. The track charted at #1, giving Bella her second consecutive #1 on the singles charts and the following week, the album charted at #1 also.

A week afer the release of the album, Bella embarked on The Hookertastic Show: Starring Bella-May! which visited 17 theatres around the United Kingdom and Ireland. The tour consisted of 16 songs performed and many costume changes and special effects which amazed critics and fans alike. To the disappointment of the fans, the tour was not filmed for a DVD release.

Strawberry Records officialy shut down on 22nd August 2011 and Bella then picked up a deal with Fusion Records due to befriending Syd as she appeared on a remix for her single and was support act for her tour.

Bella-May went on hiatus in September 2011 and was hospitalized for exhaustion. Reasons for this include promoting her second album, going on tour and being a judge on America's Next Top Model. She was advised to take a good 10-12 months off from working.

2012 - Present - Fifty Shades Of May and The Sex Before Marriage Tour
On Christmas Eve 2011, it was announced that Bella would be touring yet again, the Sex Before Marriage Tour would hit the USA in April 2012 and the UK in July 2012. It would be Bella's first USA tour and first arena tour of the UK and Ireland. Tickets went on sale on January 2nd 2012, with Wembley Arena in London being the first show to completley sell out; in 10 minutes! The UK leg of the tour visited 13 venues up and down the UK and Ireland with ever date being completely sold out.

Bella has confirmed her third studio album is due for release in spring 2013. She hopes to include 16 tracks on the album with "Sex Before Marriage", "Rainbow Cock", "Eat My Cunt (Cake)" and "A Song For Jesy" confirmed for the album and also being performed on the Sex Before Marriage Tour.

On September 2nd 2012, Bella-May won Best Live Act for the Sex Before Marriage Tour at the Urapopstar Awards 22. As a thank you to fans for getting digital single "Rainbow Cock" to #7 on the download charts and for getting her the Best Live Act award, she revealed the title of her upcoming third studio album: Fifty Shades of May

Other Work
Bella has featured on many different singles and album tracks over the past few years and even nicknames herself 'Pitbell' (a play of words on Pitbull, the weird spanish rapper guy). She also songwrites and has written hits for many other artists. Despite the racy lyrics she uses for her own records, she has strong songwriting skills and is well capable of writing any kind of songs, not just ones with sexual meaning.

Bella is known for being really close friends with Ruby and the Gems, Brett Clarkson, Flaming SteffY. In summer 2011, the singer had a half-year long relationship with Steffy's younger brother Damien. The relationship ended in winter 2011, which Bella stated was a "mutual decision". Bella is openly bisexual and has expressed interest in starting a relationship with Vixen. She says she has "the most fuckable face in music" and loves her "whacky Essex accent".

She was a Judge on Cycle 18 of America's Next Top Model, which helped launch her career in the USA. She is due to return as a judge on Cycle 19 also as confirmed by Tyra Banks.

Bella struck a deal with Dr. Dre product Beats in 2011 to release "Cockbeats", high quality in-ear headphones designed by Bella. She also has an endorsement deal with Yves Saint Laurent and Max Factor.

Discography
Main article: Bella-May Discography