Samantha Mumba
- Profession: Singer
- Place/Date of Birth: Dublin , 18 January 2021
Apology over Mumba ’monkey’ remark - Mar 10 2007
Miss Scotland Nicola McLean has apologised for calling black singer Samantha Mumba a "monkey" on live radio.
But she insisted the remark made while presenting Friday’s Clyde 1 breakfast show was not racist.
The 22-year-old beauty queen made the remarks during a conversation about possible new judges for the X Factor talent show.
After the Irish actor, singer and model was described as attractive, Ms McLean said she thought she "looked like a monkey".
The current Miss Scotland admitted the remark was foolish but maintained she is not a racist.
"I was trying to be funny and I meant absolutely no harm, nor did I intend to offend anyone by this comment," she added.
"I am not a racist and I do not condone racist behaviour of any kind and wish to apologise to Samantha Mumba and the Radio Clyde listeners personally.
"I am new to this job and have learnt that sometimes flippant remarks can be perceived in a negative manner. There was no malice or premeditated thought here, just a simple mistake and for that I am truly sorry."
Ms McLean, from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, secured a contract to present the show with regular host George Bowie after a guest slot at the Clydebank-based station.
Publicist Ejay McEwan claimed her client has had an exemplary record during her reign and pointed to extensive charity work.
What a Doll - 06/06/03
Part-time Kensington resident Samantha Mumba is in talks to star in the big screen version of ’Guys and Dolls’.
Apparently Samantha signed a multi-million pound deal with Miramax who plan on making the musical with Samantha in the lead role. Watch this space!
Bald Mumba - 19/11/02 Courtesy of Heat Magazine
Samantha Mumba’s hair has been traumatised. She says, "My hairdresser friend put this permanent colour on me by mistake. My hair was breaking off in my hands. Now it’s not as thick as it used to be."
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Educated alongside some of Ireland’s most prominent pop stars (including Brian from the teen singing group Westlife, whom Mumba formed a close friendship with), the soulful-voiced beauty abandoned her education in pursuit of fame at age 17 and never looked back.
A chance encounter with famed talent manager Louis Walsh found Mumba stretching the truth to impress the impresario (she told him that she was an R&B singer from New York who was preparing to record her debut album), and it wasn’t long before Walsh was courting the aspiring pop princess to sign on the dotted line.
Soon gaining positive critical notice for both television appearances and her role in a jazzy 1998 production of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera The Hot Mikado, Mumba recorded Gotta Tell You shortly thereafter and was on her way to international stardom.
Though virtually unknown stateside, all of that would change when she starred opposite Guy Pearce and Jeremy Irons in the cinematic remake of author H.G. Welles’ influential novel The Time Machine.
Samantha is currently making her second album in Sweden, due to be released in the at the end of Summer 2002. When in London, Samantha lives in a luxury apartment in Kensington.
March 2007