Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, professionally known on stage as Ayra Starr, is a beninese-born Nigerian singer, songwriter, and model from Kwara State.
This article highlights her complete biography and rise to fame in Afrobeats.
| Real Name | Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe |
| Stage Name | Ayra Starr |
| Age | 23 Years |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of Birth | 14th June 2002 |
| State of Origin | Kwara State |
| Nationality | Beninise-Nigerian |
| Profession | Musician, Social Media Influencer, Fashion Model |
| Record Label(s): | Mavin Records, UMG, Roc Nation. |
| Related Acts | Tiwa Savage, Tems, Tyla, Bloody Civilian. |
| @ayrastarr | |
| Net Worth | ₦2.5 billion – ₦4.5 billion |
Early Life and Education
Ayra Starr was born on June 14, 2002, in Cotonou Benin Republic, before moving to Lagos, where she grew up.
Her passion for music began at the age of 10 when she joined a high school choir, and from that point on, she began writing and recording songs with her brother, who is also a singer.
By the age of 16, Ayra signed with Quove Models, a top model management and scouting brand, where she started developing her modelling career.
READ: Rema Biography
During this time, she worked for numerous brands such as Mazelle Studio, Concept Fashion Magazine, and others.
Education
Ayra graduated from Les Cours Sonou University, where she obtained a degree in political science and international relations at the age of 18.
Her music career did not begin immediately after graduation due to her mother’s insistence that she wait.
According to the singer, she graduated with excellent grades, and she also plans to further her education.
However, due to her hectic schedule, she cannot make time for additional studies at the moment.
Family Background
She was born to Nigerian parents from Kwara State in a family size of 6.
Her father Mr Oyinkansola was from Kwara state, while her mother Mr Oyinkansola hails from Delta state.
After Ayra’s birth, the family lived in Cotonou for a while, before eventually moving to Lagos due to her father’s job.
Sadly, Ayra’s father passed away in 2018. His death was a great loss to the family, as they were very close.
Despite the loss, Ayra’s mother did an excellent job of raising her four children as a single mother.
She has been a pillar of support for Ayra throughout her career and continues to be so to this day.
Siblings
Ayra Starr has three siblings, two brothers – Ade and Dami – and a sister – Jesutunmiss.
Dami, her older brother, is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and composer, who has co-written some of Ayra’s biggest hits.
Born in 2000, he is two years older than Ayra and was also signed to Mavins Record in 2022.
Ade, her younger brother, is also doing wella for himself, while her youngest sister Jesutunmise has made a name for herself as a TikTok influencer and has a decent following on the platform.
In various interviews, Ayra has spoken about how supportive her siblings have been throughout her journey.
Career
Ayra’s music career began spectacularly in 2019 after she uploaded an original song called “Damage” on her Instagram page.
Her singing talent was then discovered by Don Jazzy who signed her to Mavin Records in 2021. She would go on to release her first EP titled ‘Ayra Starr‘ which shot to the number-one spot on Nigerian iTunes and Apple Music shortly after its release, featuring tracks like: Sare, Away, Ija and ‘DITR‘.
In the same year, she released her 16 track debut studio album, “19 and Dangerous,” with chart topping singles like Bloody Samaritan, Fashion Killer and Rush which earned her a Grammy nomination.
In 2024, Ayra Starr was signed to Universal Music Group after the company bought stakes in Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records. Later that year, she signed a joint partnership deal Roc Nation, further boosting her international influence, paving the way for bigger collaborations.
She release her second album ”The Year I Turned 21”, and off the project came chart topping hits like ”Bad Vibes” with Seyi Vibez and ”Last Heartbreak Song” featuring Giveon which won her a Headies award.
In 2025, she released her single ‘Hot Body‘ which instantly became a hit and collaborated with other artists like Wizkid on ‘Gimme Dat‘ and rising Nigerian singer Mavo on his hit track, ‘Escaladizzy‘.
Achievements and Awards
Since her rise fame, Ayra has earned major local and international acollades with a BET, MOBO and Headies award to her name, a Grammy nomination and several Bilboard hits in 2025
Her single ‘Bloody Samaritan‘ became one of the highest-charting songs in Nigeria. The track climbed up the top 50 list for several weeks, and on September 27, 2021, it reached the number one spot, making her the first and youngest female Nigerian artist to achieve this feat with a solo single. The track also won the viewer’s choice award at the Net Honours Awards.
Additionally, in 2022, she became the youngest African female artist to get over 100 million views on a single YouTube video with her song “Rush.”
Net Worth
Her net worth is estimated at ₦2.5 billion – ₦4.5 billion (US$1.6M – $3M), making her one of the youngest highest-earning female artists in Nigeria as of 2025.
Source Of Income
- Album sales and royalties from music streams and features.
- Sold-out tours, and live performance.
- Fashion & Beauty Collaborations with several Nigerian and international fashion brands, including Darling, Maybelline New York, and L’Avynna.
- Brand endorsement deals with Pepsi and sportswear giant New Balance (signed in 2025).
How Much Does Ayra Starr Charge for a show?
According to reports, she now charges up to $500k per show in 2025.
Personal Life
In addition to her music career, she is also a successful fashion model and social media influencer, who has worked with many top brands around the world.
The singer is known for always wearing short skirts and crop tops which she sometimes faces criticism over.
Ayra Starr speaks Yoruba fluently and French is her second language. She is a practicing Christian who believes in God and lives in Lagos with her mom and her siblings.
How Old Is Ayra Starr?
Born June 14, 2002, Ayra Starr is 23 years old as of 2025.
Height
Ayra Starr’s is 5’6 inches tall.
Does She Have a Boyfriend or Husband?
Ayra Starr does not have a husband as of 2025. In fact, the singer has never been engaged or married to any man. She is rumoured to be dating Rema, with the two sharing a kiss on stage during a recent performance at the Global Citizen Festival in New York. However she is yet to confirmed if they are in a relationship and continues to maintain that they are ‘just friends’.
What does Sabi girl mean?
According to Ayra, a “Sabi girl” is a woman who exudes self-confidence, regardless of her age, background, or social status.
The American equivalent to a Sabi girl is a “Baddie” – a woman who is sure of herself and knows how to carry and present herself properly.
