In 2022, Theodora made a quiet but decisive promise to herself: she would give her art one year to sustain her life, even if only modestly. It was a leap of faith rooted in instinct rather than certainty—and one that would soon reshape the landscape of French pop.
Born as Lili Théodora Mbangayo Mujinga, her childhood unfolded across borders. Switzerland marked her birth, Greece flickered briefly through distant memories, and France became the emotional anchor of her story. Constant moves followed her father’s return to higher education in pursuit of his dream of becoming a doctor. From Saint-Jean-d’Angély to Rennes and ultimately Saint-Denis, each city left an imprint. It was in the Paris suburb that she penned a formative line—“Le paradis se trouve dans le 93”—a declaration that paradise could exist on the margins.
From Persistence to Breakthrough
Her earliest song that truly resonated beyond her inner circle did not immediately promise stardom. Instead, it gave her something just as vital: the ability to keep going. Soon after, she made a clean break from her studies, stepping away from a law-and-economics preparatory program she never completed. What followed was a series of EPs—Neptune, Lili Aux Paradis Artificiels, and Lili Aux Paradis Artificiels: Tome 2—that introduced a hybrid pop universe shaped by Afro-Caribbean textures and emotional candor.
Less than a year later came the track that shifted everything. “KONGOLESE SOUS BBL,” powered by bouyon rhythms and fearless imagery, ignited debate, fascination, and momentum. What some dismissed as a fleeting viral moment proved more enduring: the song climbed into France’s Top Singles chart, peaking at No. 10 and signaling the arrival of a new force.
Building a Defining Body of Work
That momentum laid the foundation for BAD BOY LOVESTORY. Released on Nov. 1, 2024, the 13-track album debuted quietly but steadily, entering the Top Albums chart at No. 119. Over time, its impact deepened. Reissued months later as MEGA BBL, the project surged into the ranks of France’s most successful releases of the year—an evolution fueled by patience rather than hype.
Beyond her own catalog, Theodora became a sought-after presence on collaborations. Her track “melodrama” with Disiz dominated sales charts for weeks, and by 2025, industry data confirmed her rise as the most-streamed francophone female artist in France. Step by step, her voice became inescapable.
The Genesis: Discipline, Limits, and Choice
Before music took center stage, her first passion was judo. She competed at a national level, until physical realities intervened. Living with polycystic ovary syndrome made weight categories unpredictable and punishing. Despite determination, the strain became unbearable, forcing her to confront the limits of that path.
After graduating high school, she briefly returned to academics, enrolling in a preparatory program she soon abandoned. For her, credibility was never about elite labels—it was about lived experience and self-definition.
Speaking Up Without Claiming Everything
When far-right politician Jordan Bardella used one of her songs online, Theodora publicly rejected the association. Fame, she believes, comes with responsibility—but also with restraint. Sometimes, amplifying informed voices matters more than pretending to master every issue.
Her time on the Brittany Regional Youth Council reflected that same philosophy: civic engagement as a tool for dialogue, not ambition. It was about learning how voices could matter.
Identity, Racism, and Visibility
A childhood shaped by movement sharpened her awareness of difference. As her profile grew, so did her encounters with racism—often subtle, sometimes blunt. She speaks of moments when she was mistaken not for another artist, but for someone’s assistant, a reminder of how visibility remains contested.
Yet she reframes the narrative. France, she insists, is also shaped by those it sometimes hesitates to recognize. Contribution, not exclusion, defines belonging.
A Family-Built Creative World
Central to her sound is a deep collaboration with her brother and composer Jeez Suave. Their bond—often likened to the Billie Eilish and Finneas dynamic—is grounded in mutual respect rather than hierarchy. Together with close collaborators, they founded BOSS LADY RECORDS, a label that mirrors her ethos: collective strength and independence.
Redefining Power as a Black Woman in France
At the Flammes awards, Theodora dedicated her win to “all the slightly weird Black girls.” The moment struck a chord far beyond the room. For many, it was validation long denied.
She contrasts how alternative white femininity has long been accepted, while Black women with similar expressions were sidelined. Her “boss lady” persona—confident, bold, sometimes provocative—has become a rallying cry. Yet beneath it lies a commitment to kindness and solidarity in an industry still dominated by male power structures.
Entering a New Era
As 2026 approaches, she speaks openly about preparing a new chapter. Inspired by global pop culture and artists like Rihanna, she embraces the idea of eras—distinct phases that leave visible marks in time. For her, evolution must be felt, not announced.
Beyond France, Without Losing Herself
Collaborations with international producers and performances on global platforms hint at wider horizons. She never waited for permission to dream globally; those ambitions were always present. Language barriers remain, but she views them as texture rather than limitation—each language carrying its own untranslatable beauty.
The Stage as a Turning Point
When offered Paris’s Olympia, she chose instead the larger Zénith de Paris. Four shows sold out in minutes. Her upcoming tour promises scale, choreography, and precision—an American-style spectacle built on discipline. For Theodora, performance is athletic. Training, preparation, and rigor are non-negotiable.
Community, Queerness, and New Territories
Her appearance on Drag Race France and her openness about being LGBT strengthened her bond with queer audiences. That world, discovered during her time at La Gaîté Lyrique, offered her freedom at a moment when she felt herself closing in. It remains a source of energy and belonging.
Today, she also explores fashion and other creative fields, recently walking during Paris Fashion Week. Curiosity guides her, not urgency. Success, she believes, must come before labels.
A Voice Shaping the Present
Looking ahead, Theodora sees music as the space where all her contradictions can coexist. It allows her to be eclectic, vulnerable, political, and playful—all at once. In doing so, Theodora Emerges as the Voice of Modern French Music, not by claiming the title, but by living it, one era at a time.
This article originally appeared on Billboard France.
