From the pageant stage to the Broadway stage, to center stage with Grammy-nominated artist Jason Mraz, triple-threat Margot B. makes a habit of working hard and moving forward.
The Pittsburgh native began her career in front of the cameras at the age of nine, modeling for local and national talent agencies. It's been a steady, accomplished rise ever since. At 13, she wrote a tribute to the late Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. called In My Dreams, which continues to be featured at MLK events nationwide. While her friends planned 'Sweet Sixteen' parties, Margot was winning the National Miss Black Teen title and spending the year visiting Veterans Hospitals, performing at charity fundraisers, and volunteering for Make-A-Wish and Children’s Hospital.
“She is so stunningly beautiful, mature, and poised, it is easy to forget that she is just 16 years old,” wrote Dana Black McGrath of Whirl Magazine.
2005 saw two major milestones: her first full-length CD Unframed was released to a sold-out crowd at the Hard Rock Cafe, and she was a main force behind Pittsburgh's Katrina Relief Benefit Concert (both planning and performing) at Mellon Arena. The city-wide event featured 10 acts, garnered major media attention, and raised $185,000 for the American Red Cross.
The Creative and Performing Arts High School student went on to perform the title role in AIDA during her senior year, and appeared in commercials for GNC, Dad’s Dog Food, and the Black Family Channel. Margot continued her training through the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Civic Light Opera, studied with vocal coach Claudia Benack, at Carnegie Mellon University, and completed Dance/Musical Theatre classes in the nationally-ranked dance program at Point Park University. While sharing the stage with Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Nelly Furtado, and Lupe Fiasco, Margot released Inspired – an EP featuring covers of songs by five African-American artists who truly inspired her to live her own dream. Margot also performed the National Anthem for countless sporting events (Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Cleveland Cavaliers) and charity fundraisers, and lent her talents to many regional entertainment acts. Her relentless desire to give back found her touring with Armed Forces Entertainment, performing for troops stationed in Cuba.
“Focused is how most people would define this young lady,” said Carlo Taylor of The Pittsburgh Courier, “as she always looks for ways to make a difference in the lives of other despite her busy schedule.”
2009 kicked off with Margot being named Best Female Vocalist at the Pittsburgh Hip Hop Awards, and hitting the recording studio to finish her second full-length CDTwo Thousand Mine with a plan.
“She talks of working on her weaknesses, being hard on herself and paying dues, with an odd humility,” said Aaron Jentzen of Pittsburgh City Paper. Margot saves that swagger for her music -- it's in ample supply in her new album…(full of) snappy, harder-edged dance-floor tracks with electro-disco touches.”
The summer release coincided with her joining Jason Mraz on select tour dates. Margot performed the duet Lucky with Jason in venues such as Nikon at Jones Beach in New York, Minneapolis’ Xcel Energy Center (on her 21st birthday), and in her hometown.
Now based out of New York City, Margot continues to write, take meetings with major labels, audition for roles, and wait for her moment. It wasn’t the currently shelved Janet Jackson-backed "triple-threat" MTV reality show project, for which she beat out thousands of others for one of 10 spots. A nine-time call back finalist for Broadway's 'Spring Awakening', she knows her big break could be right around the corner.it's just a matter of keeping at it, staying focused, and working hard. Nobody does that better than Margot B!
Look for Margot in the upcoming feature film ‘Love and Other Drugs’ (with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway); and the made-for-TV movie "My Destiny", a two-part film/documentary showcasing both her acting and singing.
NEW SUMMER 2009 VIDEOS: Minneapolis
Jones Beach
Pittsburgh
View Margot B.'s EPK
