Emma Daumas
Manuelle "Emma" Daumas (born 23 November 1983 in Avignon) is a French singer-songwriter best known for her participation in Star Academy.
She grew up in a music-loving family. By age 12 she wrote several songs and her parents let her record her first song, Stupid Boy. After learning piano, she took guitar lessons and joined the academy of Villeuneuve-lès-Avignon at 15. She often entered singing contests, including performing Mon Dieu by Edith Piaf. She came 8th in the Laudun song contest with her own song, Dis-moi pourquoi. She began performing at galas with songs like I’m Sorry and Vivre from Notre-Dame de Paris. Three years later she won first place at Laudun.
In 2000, Daumas took part in Graines de Stars; her version of Barbra Streisand’s Memory finished in fourth place. She waited to complete her Baccalauréat before pursuing music full time. She continued vocal training in 2001–2002 with Maguy Vilette and took guitar lessons again for two months, drawn to pop rock. She opened for acts such as Carlos, Éric Colado, Gold, Émile et Image, Noëlle Perna, and Michael Jones in Avignon in 2001, all while doing odd jobs.
The Star Academy casting in 2002 boosted her public profile. She reached the semi-finals and sang duets with Bruno Pelletier, Serge Lama, Patrick Bruel, Youssou N’Dour, and Ray Charles.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 00:11 (CET).