Meredith O'Connor

Meredith O'Connor began her career as a model before being signed for music. After being discovered, her first music video for the song "Celebrity" went viral.{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2014 |title=Singer Meredith O'Connor Goes From Being Bullied To Anti-Bullying Advocate |url=https://www.girltalkhq.com/singer-meredith-oconnor-goes-from-being-bullied-to-anti-bullying-advocate/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=GirlTalkHQ}} She then used her fame to speak out on mental health and bullying.

In 2015, O'Connor appeared as one of the celebrity cameos alongside Garrett Clayton, Jon Header, and many others in Lionsgate's "Los Huevos" in the American version. She also had cameos alongside Drake Bell in 'Bunny Bravo' of Superdope TV.

Recently,{{When|date=February 2021}} Arianna Huffington's Thrive had announced the development of an autobiography feature based on the life of O'Connor, telling the story of how her music has impacted fans. It is planned to be directed by Ilyssa Goodman and Garrett Clayton, while Addison Rickie will play O'Connor as a child.{{Cite web |last=O’Connell |first=Catherine |date=September 15, 2017 |title=How a Director and a Popstar Are Teaming up to Change the Conversation Around Bullying |url=http://www.medium.com/thrive-global/how-a-director-and-a-popstar-are-teaming-up-to-change-the-conversation-around-bullying-9e0d1cab7522 |website=Medium}}

O'Connor has said that she was bullied as a child. Based on her experience, she became an advocate for victims of bullying and an anti-bullying spokesperson, becoming an official advisor of Reach Out. Her advocacy has resulted in multiple accolades and recognition for global impact. She delivered a TEDx talk on her impact and anti-bullying advocacy.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufVGkh9_SAE |title=Meredith O'Connor TEDx Talk |website=YouTube |date=Feb 26, 2018}} She has also spoken at the United Nations General Assembly Hall multiple times in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bSoY15ay20 |title=Meredith O'Connor's Address at the United Nation's General Assembly Hall|website=YouTube |date= April 8, 2018}}

In the Steppin Out magazine, O'Connor said that she wrote her song "The Game" to show fans that things can get better.{{Clarify|date=August 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://www.steppinoutmagazine.com/3dissue/061114/index.html |title=Meredith O'Connor |last1=DeSantis |first1=Valentina |date=June 11, 2014 |work=Steppin Out Magazine |publisher=Highway 61 Media LLC |access-date=June 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715000753/http://www.steppinoutmagazine.com/3dissue/061114/index.html |archive-date=July 15, 2014}}

In 2013–14, O'Connor embarked on a ten city tour to promote the music video for her song "The Game". During the tour, she and her team performed for thousands of young people in schools, encouraging the victims of bullying to stay strong.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20141114/Celebrity-singer-meredith-oconnor-shares-anti-bullying-message-at-chico-school| title=Celebrity singer Meredith O'Connor shares anti-bullying message at Chico school |last1=Gebb |first1=Ashley |date=November 14, 2014|newspaper=Chico Enterprise-Record

|publisher=Digital First Media |access-date=August 6, 2015}}

O'Connor released her debut EP in February 2013. The music video for the lead single "Celebrity" went viral on YouTube The EP received positive reviews from music bloggers Andrew Greenhalgh and G. W. Hill.{{cite web |url=http://www.andrewgreenhalgh.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-meredith-oconnor-meredith.html |title=Review: Meredith O'Connor – Meredith O'Connor EP |last1=Greenhalgh |first1=Andrew |date=February 22, 2013 |work=Along the Journey |access-date=May 1, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/artists_cdreviews_display.cfm?id=103840 |title=Meredith O'Connor: Meredith O'Connor EP |last1=Hill |first1=G. W. |work=Music Street Journal |access-date=May 1, 2013}}

O’Connor's single "Just the Thing" was officially released on iTunes on April 22, 2014.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} O'Connor released her debut album "I am" in late 2015.{{cite news |last=Gamboa |first=Glenn |date=November 1, 2015|title=Meredith O'Connor's Message gets Sweetly Delivered|url= http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/columnists/glenn-gamboa/meredith-o-connor-s-message-gets-sweetly-delivered-1.11003402 |newspaper=Newsday |location=New York }} The song "Stronger" from the album features Disney's Teen Beach movie's Garrett Clayton.

O'Connor is a celebrity advocate for the United Nation's Project 50/50. Her next film will be based on her own life, produced and directed by Ilyssa Goodman, who directed "A Cinderella Story".{{cite web|url=https://journal.thriveglobal.com/how-a-director-and-a-popstar-are-teaming-up-to-change-the-conversation-around-bullying-9e0d1cab7522 |title=The Exclusive Interview: A Real Life Cinderella Story with Meredith O'Connor |last1=O'Connell |first1=Catherine Grace |date=June 13, 2017 |work=Thrive Global |publisher=Medium Magazine}}

O'Connor's international mental health campaign called "You Are Not Alone" features celebrities from around the world to raise funds and awareness for mental illness treatment. Celebrities include K-pop singer Minzy, Argentina's RUGGERO, afro-pop singer Reekado Banks, and Mary Wilson of the Supremes.{{Cite magazine|date=2021-02-09|title='You Are Not Alone', la canción que unió a más de 10 celebridades de todo el mundo|url=https://billboard.com.ar/you-are-not-alone-la-cancion-que-unio-a-mas-de-10-celebridades-de-todo-el-mundo/|access-date=2021-02-20|magazine=Billboard Argentina|language=es}}

Before O'Connor was signed for her first single, she was signed by Model Management Group based in New York City.{{cite news |title=From Bullying Victim to YouTube Sensation |first=Jacqueline |last=Birzon |newspaper=The Long Islander |date=February 21, 2013 }} After that, she did modeling work for companies including Lord & Taylor.{{cite journal |date=April 7, 2012 |title=From Bullying Victim to YouTube Sensation |journal=Enterteenment Magazine |volume=1 |issue=1 |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Enterteenment }}

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Solo studio albums

• Meredith O'Connor (2013)
• I Am (2015)

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Singles

• Just the Thing (2014)
• Being Me (2015)
• Unforgettable Night (2015)
• Guardian Angel (2019)
• You Are Not Alone (International) (2021)

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://metamorphosisrecords.com/ Official website]

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Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:American child actresses

Category:American child singers

Category:American women singers

Category:American musical theatre actresses

Category:Living people

Category:People from Long Island

Category:Singers from New York (state)

Category:Anti-bullying activists

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)