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Kirsty BertarelliBritish-born Swiss singer, songwriter and philanthropist
Date of Birth: 30.06.1971
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Kirsty Bertarelli: A Multifaceted Woman
- Music Career and Warner Records
- Marriage and Philanthropy
- Fashion and Business Ventures
- Record Deal and Debut Album
- Sony/ATV Contract and Recent Projects
- Wealth and Recognition
Kirsty Bertarelli: A Multifaceted Woman
Early Life and Miss UK TitleKirsty Bertarelli, née Roper, was born on June 30, 1971, in Staffordshire, England. Growing up in a family that owned Churchill China, one of the world's largest ceramics manufacturers, she developed a passion for music and fashion. In 1988, she won the Miss UK pageant, which led to her being named second runner-up in the Miss World competition.
Music Career and Warner Records
Moving to London after her pageant success, Bertarelli pursued songwriting professionally and signed with Warner Records. She co-wrote the All Saints hit "Black Coffee" in 2000, which became an international success, topping the UK charts and staying in the international charts for 20 weeks.
Marriage and Philanthropy
In 2000, Bertarelli married Ernesto Bertarelli, a Swiss businessman who owned biotechnology company Serono and won the America's Cup in 2003 and 2007 with the Swiss sailing team Alinghi. The couple and their children reside in Switzerland, where Kirsty is heavily involved in philanthropic endeavors. She primarily supports the Smiling Children Foundation, which assists underprivileged children and adolescents. She is also active in the Bertarelli Foundation, which sponsors projects such as EPFL's Centre for Neuroprosthetics and sailing grants in partnership with the Swiss Sailing Federation.
Fashion and Business Ventures
Bertarelli has ventured into fashion, designing women's clothing for the Alinghi brand and a jewelry collection for Audemars Piguet. She also continued her passion for music, recording songs for the Smiling Children Foundation.
Record Deal and Debut Album
In 2009, Bertarelli signed with Universal Music and released her debut single "Don't Say" in digital stores. Her debut album, "Elusive," was released on January 15, 2010, and peaked at number 20 on the Swiss charts. She released two additional singles in 2010 and performed at venues such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and as an opening act for Simply Red in Edinburgh and Zurich.
Sony/ATV Contract and Recent Projects
In January 2012, Bertarelli signed an exclusive long-term contract with Sony/ATV Music. She collaborated with renowned DJ Armin van Buuren, whose remix of her song "Twilight" spent nine weeks on the dance charts and reached number two on Music Week's club chart. In February 2012, she released her acoustic album "Green" digitally through iTunes. Bertarelli continues to work on new material with producer Don Mescall, with the release of her second album expected in late 2012.
Wealth and Recognition
Kirsty and Ernesto Bertarelli were ranked sixth on the Sunday Times Rich List 2012, with an estimated net worth of £7,400 million.
