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Keshia Chanté
Canadian actress and musician (born 1988) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Keshia Chanté Harper (born June 16, 1988) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, television host, actress and entrepreneur.
She has served as a judge on the international music competition series The World's Best,[2] hosted The Legacy Awards,[3] been an on-air reporter and host for Entertainment Tonight Canada,[4][5] and is listed as an International Voter for the Golden Globe Awards.[6]
Chanté has appeared on, or hosted, several television programs including the BET Awards,[7] Paramount’s Peak of the Week,[2] hosted BB Rewind, the official after show of season 22 of Big Brother on CBS,[8] and Battle of the Blades.[9] She has also participated in community and charitable initiatives, including hosting We Day and supporting campaigns focused on mental health awareness.[10][11] In 2022, she founded the hair care brand KHAIR.[12]
In 2014, she received a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame for her contributions to Canadian entertainment.[13]
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Early life
Keshia Chanté Harper was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and spent summers with her grandparents in Hinesville, Georgia. Her father is of Afro-Trinidadian descent and her mother is of Puerto Rican and Portuguese descent.[14]
She moved to the Greater Toronto Area as a teenager and graduated from Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School in 2006.[15]
Career
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2003–2012
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In 2003, Chanté released the singles "Shook (The Answer)," and "Unpredictable",[16] in response to Shawn Desman’s "Shook".[17] The video for her single "Bad Boy"[18] was directed by Director X.[5]
Her self‑titled debut album was released in 2004.[17] In October 2004, at the Canadian Urban Music Awards, Chanté won Best New Artist, Video of the Year (for "Bad Boy"), and the Fan’s Choice Award.[19] That month she also performed the national anthem at the CFL’s Grey Cup championship game.[20]
Her second album, 2U, was released by Sony Music Canada in 2006, in Canada and Japan. That same year, her MTV special "The Diary of Keshia Chanté" aired in December.[21][22]
Her third album, Night & Day, was released in 2011 by Universal Music Canada.[23] Singles "Test Drive" and "Table Dancer" received Juno Award nominations (R&B/Soul Recording of the Year and Dance Recording of the Year, respectively).[24] She performed on ET Canada’s New Year’s Eve show in Niagara Falls.[25] In late 2012, "Table Dancer" reached the Billboard Japan charts, including Hot 100 and Digital & Airplay.[26][27]
2013–2015
Chanté co‑hosted 106 & Park on BET alongside Bow Wow during 2013–2014, and appeared as an on‑air correspondent at BET events.[28] In December 2014, she received a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame.[29][30]
2016–2022
BET premiered Chanté’s song "The Valley" in November 2016.[31] In March 2017, Noisey premiered "Red Light"[32] and A.Side (AUX) premiered "Harmless",[33] followed by the release of the EP Unbound 01 (2017) and Unbound 02 (2018).[32][34] Unbound 01 received a Juno nomination in 2018.[35]
In 2020, Chanté hosted Battle of the Blades with Ron MacLean on CBC Television.[36] She also hosted BB Rewind, the official after show of season 22 of Big Brother.[8]
2023–present
In 2022, Chanté launched the hair care brand KHAIR.[37] In April 2023, she was listed as an International Voter for the Golden Globe Awards.[38] In April 2025, she appeared in the Lifetime film Fame: A Temptations Story alongside Keri Hilson.[39]
In June 2025, Chanté participated in the 25th‑anniversary 106 & Park tribute segment at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.[40][41][42]
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Musical style
Tara Henley of The Georgia Straight wrote that Chanté has "an arresting voice, magnetic charisma, and driving ambition."[43] Denise Sheppard of Amazon.ca described Chanté as "a teen‑targeted pop phenom" whose "music has the one‑two punch of melodic hooks and the voice to back them up; a combination that can and will appeal to dance/pop music fans of any age."[44]
Influences
Chanté has cited Beyoncé, Aaliyah, and Brandy among her childhood influences, as well as Tupac Shakur, with whom she shares a birthday.[45]
Public image
On 106 & Park, Chanté was noted by Missy Elliott and Timbaland for her resemblance to Aaliyah. She was approached to portray Aaliyah in a planned biopic but declined after speaking with Aaliyah’s mother, who opposed the film.[46]
In Canada, Chanté has been described as a fashionista by national outlets, performing at Marchesa’s first Toronto runway show and appearing at a Chanel event during the Toronto International Film Festival.[47][30] She later served as a judge on Canada’s Best Beauty Talent alongside Coco Rocha and Flare editor‑in‑chief Lisa Tant.[48]
Endorsements
Chanté has endorsed brands such as CANON, Pepsi, Bacardi, Nestlé, Bell, Rogers, Stila Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics, Ecko Red and Sony.[30] In 2007, Chanté served as the face of Ontario Tourism and sang the theme song in their commercials.[49] In November 2010, Chanté became the face of the Pepsi Refresh Project campaign.[30]
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Personal life
Chanté divides her time between West Hollywood, California, and Toronto, Ontario.[50]
Philanthropy
Chanté has supported HIV/AIDS awareness and youth initiatives in Canada and abroad. [51]
She has worked with World Vision in the Dominican Republic.[52] She also participated in an AIDS awareness fundraiser with Alicia Keys in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.[53][54]
In 2014, Chanté appeared in an NBC public service announcement for Mariska Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation alongside Eli Manning and Hilary Swank to raise awareness of domestic violence.[30] She has hosted We Day events in Calgary and Ottawa and spoken about mental health awareness, including depression and anxiety.[10][11]
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Discography
Studio albums
- Keshia Chanté (2004)
- 2U (2006)
- Night & Day (2011)
- Unbound 02 (2018)
- Unbound 01 (2017)
Filmography
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Awards and nominations
2003
2004
- Canadian Urban Music Award for Best New Artist – Won [19]
- Canadian Urban Music Award for Video of the Year for "Bad Boy" – Won [19]
- Canadian Urban Music Award for Fans’ Choice – Won [19]
- Rising Star Award for Rising Star of the Year – Won [30]
- MuchMusic Video Award for "Best R&B Video" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won [56]
2005
- Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" – Won [57]
- Juno Award for "New Artist of the Year" – Nominee [58]
- Canadian Urban Music Award for "Video of the Year" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won [56]
- MuchMusic Video Award for "People's Choice: Favourite Canadian Artist" – Won [30]
- MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Pop Video" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won [30]
2007
- Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" for "Been Gone" – Nominee [59]
2008
- Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" for "2U" – Nominee [60]
2011
2018
- Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" for Unbound 01 (EP) – Nominee [63]
2022
- Canadian Screen Award — Best Entertainment News Program or Series for ET Canada – Winner [64]
2023
- Canadian Screen Award — Best Host, Web Program or Series for ET Canada Live – Winner [65]
2024
References
External links
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