Young Divas
| Company type | Pop girl group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Sony BMG Australia |
| Headquarters | Australia , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Paulini, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Kate DeAraugo, Emily Williams, Jessica Mauboy |
| Products | Music albums, singles, tours |
Number of employees | 4–5 (members) |
Young Divas was an Australian pop girl group established in 2006 by Sony BMG Australia. Originally created for a one-time single release and a nationwide tour, the project aimed to spotlight the members’ solo careers. The founding lineup consisted of former Australian Idol contestants: season one finalist Paulini, season two finalist Ricki-Lee Coulter, season three winner Kate DeAraugo, and runner-up Emily Williams. Their rendition of Donna Summer's "This Time I Know It's for Real" climbed to number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and earned a platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
Five months afterward, they released another single, a cover of Lonnie Gordon's "Happenin' All Over Again", which reached number nine and achieved gold status. This success paved the way for their self-titled debut album featuring disco and pop covers, which entered the ARIA Albums Chart at number four and was certified double platinum with shipments totaling 140,000.
In June 2007, Coulter departed to focus on her solo career and was succeeded by Idol season four runner-up Jessica Mauboy. Their second and final album, New Attitude (2007), debuted at number 10 on the charts and received gold certification. It was led by a cover of Loverboy's "Turn Me Loose", which peaked at number 15, marking their last single release. The group disbanded in 2008 as members returned to their individual careers.
2006–07: Formation and Young Divas
Sony BMG Australia formed Young Divas in 2006 specifically for a 17-date national tour designed to promote the solo careers of its members. To support this tour, they released a cover of Donna Summer’s 1989 hit "This Time I Know It's for Real" in May 2006. The single reached number two on the ARIA Singles Chart, remained within the top ten for 14 consecutive weeks, and was certified platinum with shipments exceeding 70,000 copies. Due to overwhelming demand, the originally planned two-week tour was extended to three months.
In November 2006, their follow-up single—a cover of Lonnie Gordon’s "Happenin' All Over Again"—peaked at number nine and received gold certification for shipping over 35,000 units. Building on this momentum, their debut album was released on 14 November 2006. It debuted at number four on the ARIA Albums Chart and attained double platinum status with shipments reaching 140,000 copies. Their third single, a rendition of Hazell Dean’s "Searchin'", charted at number 40 in March 2007.
2007–09: Line-up changes, New Attitude, and disbandment
In February 2007, Young Divas withdrew from their national tour supporting Irish boy band Westlife, amid speculation that Ricki-Lee Coulter intended to leave due to interpersonal conflicts within the group. Coulter temporarily stepped back to focus on her solo album and was briefly replaced by Lavina Williams, Emily Williams’ sister. The group’s management dismissed rumors of a split, attributing Coulter's absence solely to her solo commitments and emphasizing that their growing popularity made it inappropriate for them to serve as a supporting act. Nevertheless, on 22 June 2007, Coulter officially exited to concentrate on her solo career and personal life.
Rumors circulated regarding Coulter’s replacement, including Lavina Williams, Casey Donovan, and eventually Jessica Mauboy. On 26 September 2007, Mauboy was confirmed as the new member; her management regarded participation in Young Divas as an important industry experience. The group released their sophomore album, New Attitude, on 26 November 2007; it debuted at number ten and earned gold certification. The lead single—a cover of Loverboy’s "Turn Me Loose" featuring rapper Savage—peaked at number fifteen. Due to underwhelming sales of this single, Sony BMG opted not to issue a follow-up but affirmed that the group would continue recording.
By mid-2008, both Mauboy and Paulini shifted their focus back to solo endeavors; Sony BMG officially announced their departures in August 2008. Paulini left on good terms without any reported discord. The group’s manager described Young Divas as a "finishing school for future superstars" and anticipated releasing a third album with new members; however, this project never came to fruition as remaining members pursued individual careers.
On 4 April 2009, Paulini, Williams, and DeAraugo reunited for a performance of "This Time I Know It's for Real" at the Bendigo Says Thanks concert in Victoria, held in support of Black Saturday bushfire relief efforts.
In 2021, DeAraugo and Williams collaborated once more by releasing a digital cover of Kelly Clarkson’s "Underneath the Tree," produced by Max Kourilov and Bish Malik under A Young Divas Production.
Discography
- Young Divas (2006)
- New Attitude (2007)
Tours
- Young Divas Live! Tour (2006)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award Ceremony | Nominee | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards | "This Time I Know It's for Real" | Favourite Song | Template:Won |
| Young Divas | Favourite Australian Group | Template:Nom |