The Evolution of Estelle

International stardom didn't happen overnight.

Special Delivery - Estelle was brought into this world on Jan. 18, 1980, to a Senegalese mother who almost didn't make it through the rough childbirth. Her mother's near-death experience in labor was the inspiration behind the name of her debut album, The 18th Day. (Photo: Donna Ward/Getty Images)

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Special Delivery - Estelle was brought into this world on Jan. 18, 1980, to a Senegalese mother who almost didn't make it through the rough childbirth. Her mother's near-death experience in labor was the inspiration behind the name of her debut album, The 18th Day. (Photo: Donna Ward/Getty Images)

Estelle - @EstelleDarlings: Congrats B and Jay.  (Photo: John W. Ferguson/Getty Images)

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Fresh Face  - Estelle's first break-out singles, "1980" and "Free," helped her win the MOBO Award for Best Newcomer in 2004.(Photo: John W. Ferguson/Getty Images)

The 18th Day  - The English singer's first album The 18th Day peaked at No. 35 on the U.K. Albums Chart after its release in October 2004. Three years later she'd sign to John Legend's Homeschool label, which is distributed by Atlantic in the U.S. (Photo: V2 Records)

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The 18th Day  - The English singer's first album The 18th Day peaked at No. 35 on the U.K. Albums Chart after its release in October 2004. Three years later she'd sign to John Legend's Homeschool label, which is distributed by Atlantic in the U.S. (Photo: V2 Records)

Winning Big - After killing the music scene with "American Boy" featuring Kanye West, Estelle went on to receive her first Grammy for the Best Rap Sung Collaboration at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Grammy Winner - Estelle didn't become a household name in the States until "American Boy," her 2008 collaboration with Kanye West. The song was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Shine - Her sophomore LP, Shine, was released on the heels of the success of "American Boy." The project was certified gold in the U.K. (Photo: Atlantic Records)

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Shine - Her sophomore LP, Shine, was released on the heels of the success of "American Boy." The project was certified gold in the U.K. (Photo: Atlantic Records)

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Good Girl Gone Bad - Estelle made her first late night appearance on American television when she performed "Good Girls Go Bad" with Cobra Starship in Leighton Meester's absence on an August 11, 2009, episode of Conan O' Brien.  (Photo: Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

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Good Girl Gone Bad - Estelle made her first late night appearance on American television when she performed "Good Girls Go Bad" with Cobra Starship in Leighton Meester's absence on an August 11, 2009, episode of Conan O' Brien.  (Photo: Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

Shining Star - In Feb. 2009, Estelle's "Star" was released and would later be used in Crystal Light commercials as a part of their advertising campaign. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

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Shining Star - In Feb. 2009, Estelle's "Star" was released and would later be used in Crystal Light commercials as a part of their advertising campaign. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

Freaky Girl  - The David Guetta-produced "Freak" featuring Canada's Kardinal Offishall was slated to be the intended first single off Estelle's upcoming third album, All of Me. Although she debuted it in 2010 and performed it at BET's Rip the Runway, it was ultimately taken off the project and used for the Step Up 3D soundtrack and the reissue of Guetta's album One Love, titled "One More Love." (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

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Freaky Girl  - The David Guetta-produced "Freak" featuring Canada's Kardinal Offishall was slated to be the intended first single off Estelle's upcoming third album, All of Me. Although she debuted it in 2010 and performed it at BET's Rip the Runway, it was ultimately taken off the project and used for the Step Up 3D soundtrack and the reissue of Guetta's album One Love, titled "One More Love." (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

Hit the Catwalk  - Estelle strutted her stuff down the catwalk at Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief runway show for the White Ribbon Alliance to raise funds for Haiti in 2010.  (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

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Hit the Catwalk  - Estelle strutted her stuff down the catwalk at Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief runway show for the White Ribbon Alliance to raise funds for Haiti in 2010.  (Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

All of Me  - "Break My Heart" featuring Rick Ross has replaced "Freak" as the lead single for Estelle's upcoming album, All of Me, which was released in the U.S. Feb. 28, 2012, and is set for release overseas on March 12. (Photo: Atlantic Records)

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All of Me  - "Break My Heart" featuring Rick Ross has replaced "Freak" as the lead single for Estelle's upcoming album, All of Me, which was released in the U.S. Feb. 28, 2012, and is set for release overseas on March 12. (Photo: Atlantic Records)