School Gyrls
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Nick Cannon |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums, television films |
The School Gyrls—briefly known as Forever—were an American female vocal ensemble established in 2009 and signed under Nick Cannon's NCredible Entertainment label. They headlined a self-titled Nickelodeon television film that debuted on February 21, 2010. Their initial album, which dropped on March 23, 2010, reached number 118 on the Billboard 200 chart, propelled by the singles "Something Like a Party" and "Get Like Me". Later that year, they released a follow-up film titled A Very School Gyrls Holla-Day, accompanied by an album sharing the same name. After original members Mandy Rain and Jacque Pyles departed to focus on solo endeavors, Brittany Oaks and Natalie Aguero were added to the lineup.
With these changes, the group adopted the new name Forever, signaling a shift toward a more grown-up image. Subsequent exits of Rae Bello, Sade Austin, and Monica Parales eventually led to the group's dissolution.
2008–10: Formation and School Gyrls
Nick Cannon discovered Mandy Rain during his reality series Star Camp, where she was part of a segment called "The Giggle Club". He assembled the School Gyrls around her, crafting a movie concept inspired by Rain’s track "Detention", which later appeared on their debut album.
Monica Anne Parales joined after auditioning for "The Giggle Club", while Jasmine Villegas was originally included but left early on, being replaced by Jacque Rae Pyles. The group made their television debut alongside Cannon during the finale of E!'s Party Monsters Cabo in January 2009.
Their Nickelodeon film School Gyrls, written and directed by Cannon, premiered in February 2010 and featured cameo appearances from celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Soulja Boy. Their first album was subsequently released through Island Def Jam. In June 2010, they served as opening acts for K-pop groups Wonder Girls and 2PM at the House of Blues in West Hollywood.
On December 4, 2010, their second television movie A Very School Gyrls Holla-Day aired on Nickelodeon, introducing new members Sade Austin (aged 15) and Lauren Chavez (aged 18). This release coincided with their sophomore studio album bearing the same title.
2011–12: Line-up changes, Wonder Girls movie, and disbandment
Following their second film release, Mandy Rain and Jacque Pyles exited the School Gyrls to pursue individual careers. In 2011, Natalie Aguero and Brittany Oaks joined as replacements. The revamped group made their first public appearance at the Kids Choice Awards in 2011. Shortly thereafter, Oaks departed and was succeeded by Briana "Rae" Bello, who debuted with the ensemble on September 9, 2011, at Crenshaw Plaza.
Towards the end of 2011, the School Gyrls appeared in the television movie The Wonder Girls, featuring the Korean pop group Wonder Girls. The film premiered on TeenNick on February 2, 2012. Tracks by the School Gyrls titled "The Power Goes Out" and "We Just Got It All" were part of the soundtrack. To promote this film, Wonder Girls released a collaborative single "The DJ is Mine" featuring the School Gyrls, which climbed to number nine on the K-pop Hot 100. The group announced intentions to release a third album by late 2012 or early 2013.
On July 20, 2012, following a performance at Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park, their Twitter account disclosed a rebranding under the name Forever. Rae Bello left to embark on her solo career, reducing membership to four. On September 5, 2012, Sade Austin declared her departure. Prior to this announcement, they had filmed their inaugural music video as FOREVER for the track "Can't Stop This Night," credited as "Forever featuring Sade." Monica Parales announced her exit on November 14, which marked the official end of the group.
Current Lineup
- Final Roster
- Monica Parales
- Lauren Chavez
- Natalie Aguero
- Previous Members
- Mandy Rain
- Jacque Pyles
- Sade Austin
- Rae Bello
- Brittany Oaks
Membership Timeline
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color:blue width:7 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from bar:Parales from:start till:end color:claret bar:Rain from:start till:12/31/2010 color:oceanblue bar:Pyles from:start till:12/31/2010 color:kelleygreen bar:Austin from:12/01/2010 till:08/30/2012 color:lavender bar:Chavez from:12/01/2010 till:end color:magenta bar:Aguero from:04/01/2011 till:end color:orange bar:Bello from:09/09/2011 till:07/20/2012 color:powderblue
</timeline>
- Brittany Oaks is not included due to her short tenure.
Discography
- School Gyrls (2010)
- A Very School Gyrls Holla-Day (2010)
Filmography
- School Gyrls (2010)
- A Very School Gyrls Holla-Day (2010)
- The Wonder Girls (2012)