Mya’s secret to aging backward at 44 revealed – singer says she reversed ‘cracking’ with a diet change
SINGER Mya Harrison barely seems to have aged since she shot to fame with songs like Ghetto Superstar and Take Me There in 1998.
The Lady Marmalade singer, 44, routinely wows fans with her youthful appearance in sultry snaps and energetic performances — and she credits her diet change and her own DIY skincare.
After a series of appearances on BET’s Teen Summit from 1996 to 1998, Mya released a self-titled debut album at the age of 18 that became one of the most popular R&B soundtracks of the era.
She continued to have a thriving music career with her follow-up album Fear of Flying in 2000, which featured catchy songs such as Case of the Ex, Free, and Best of Me alongside Jadakiss.
In the ’00s, Mya showcased her acting skills with her role as Mona in 2002’s Chicago, and Jenny in 2005’s Cursed.
The Grammy Award-winning singer has since racked up over 2.1 million Instagram followers, launched a record label, and founded vegan red wine company Planet 9 Fine Wine.
She has spoken candidly with her fans about the importance of wellness for staying healthy while juggling her busy schedule.
We’ve taken a deep dive into Mya’s anti-aging secrets to discover how she stays youthful without splurging on expensive beauty products.
SKINCARE
The R&B icon joined TLC’s Chilli to discuss how they’ve both kept their skin radiant and youthful throughout the years during an episode of VH1 show Girls Cruise.
Mya revealed that she experiments with natural remedies which can be placed directly onto the skin for visible improvement.
“I started experimenting with fruits and vegetables to make my own stuff at home,” Mya said.
“Makeup remover, I just use coconut oil.
“For my masks, tightening I just use pure avocado and even mango gives you a nice tightness and moisture.”
Mya explained that she eats the fruit and then rubs the leftover peel all over her skin for about 10-15 minutes.
She started experimenting with natural beauty remedies after being impressed with the results of placing cucumbers under her eyes.
Sour sop and the inside of guava are among her favorite exfoliants for rejuvenating skin quickly.
Natural skincare products such as African black soap from Ghana are also staples in her beauty routine.
She and Chilli agree that staying hydrated by frequently drinking water is equally important for a healthy appearance.
Mya said people shouldn’t just rely on having great genes for maintaining a youthful appearance.
“I always pack my shea butter it’s great as a sunblock and moisturizer,” she said.
“If you don’t take care of yourself and you’re smoking or drinking, abusing your body, not hydrating, or eating a lot of chemicals, it’s going to show up on the outside.”
MAKEUP
Mya looked up to her mom as a child and would emulate her appearance by playing with her lipstick and hairbrushes.
She revealed that nowadays her makeup is kept relatively minimal when she isn’t on set filming.
“I found a really great foundation by Hourglass Cosmetics,” she told Girls United.
“I use full coverage for stage or photo shoots — stuff like that, even video. Cinema Secrets, I really love their powders for the stage.
“For affordable, everyday wear, I use NYX.”
Hourglass Cosmetics’ ambient soft glow foundation costs $58 from the Cruelty-free brand’s website.
It provides buildable coverage that lasts up to 16 hours while minimizing the look of any skin imperfections.
Cinema Secrets stocks a $22 setting powder that prevents shine and controls oil while allowing the skin to breathe easily.
NYX sells a wide range of vegan makeup for the eyes, lips, and face at a cheap price.
HAIR
Mya was teased throughout school because of her “big” and “bushy” hair which left her wishing that she had straight tresses.
She had her first texturizer in 2000 to make styling her hair easier, but it reverted to its natural state within nine months.
She told Curly Nikki that years of coloring and heat styling in the years since have naturally loosened her curls.
The singer now loves her hair which she cares for using System Professional’s Color Protectant which costs $55.20 from Look Fantastic, and Pantene conditioner, $21 on Amazon.
“I wash my hair every other day, and deep condition once a week now due to all of the color and heat that is constantly applied,” she said.
“I find myself loving wigs lately just to give my hair a rest, save time, and safely experiment with new looks.
“My usual style is a wash and go. I wash, condition, comb (in the shower), and rinse. I then apply a light moisturizer or styling creme, towel dry, diffuse, or let dry naturally and go.”
FITNESS
Having danced from a young age, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Mya maintains a very active lifestyle.
Her trainer Nicole Winhoffer previously shared the workout that helped her shed 20 pounds.
She uses a treadmill to fuse cardio and toning movements for about an hour and a half.
“When I train people it’s to move into their imagination,” Nicole told Glamour.
“The results come faster because women I train have more fun, and they’re more involved and focused.”
DIET
Mya champions a plant-based diet while claiming she lost excess weight and reversed the signs of her skin “cracking.”
She went from being vegetarian to vegan after initially making the changes to her diet as a “willpower challenge.”
She now advises people to limit how much food and drinks they consume that contain unnatural chemicals.
“I’m vegan and I believe what you put in your body definitely affects your skin,” she said.
“I don’t drink alcohol but I will have my red wine for antioxidants sometimes.
“I don’t drink soda anymore and that has affected my skin and everything on the outside”
Mya admitted to PETA that she was surprised that she stopped being anemic after switching to a vegan diet as she initially thought meat protein was necessary for health.
“I’m eating so many more healthy foods obviously vegetables, nuts, greens, and seeds that are iron-rich,” she said.
“Dairy has mucus buildup which is awful for singers. I no longer get sick, my skin is clear and I lost 30 pounds.
“I don’t have to go to the gym as much.
“I just have clarity, everything in my life has benefitted from me just eating natural foods.”