Lebanese singer-songwriter Mika was BOTD in 1983. Born Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. in Beirut, he was raised in Paris and London and studied at the Royal College of Music. He became a star with his 2007 debut album Life in Cartoon Motion, a hectic mix of pop and glam rock, featuring the hit single Grace Kelly, it sold 8 million copies worldwide and earned him a Grammy nomination. Initially reluctant to define his sexuality, he referred to himself as bisexual in a 2009 interview, before settling on gay in 2012. His subsequent albums The Boy Who Knew Too Much, The Origin of Love and No Place in Heaven and My Name is Michael Holbrook and the French-language album Que ta tête fleurisse toujours (May Your Head Always Bloom) were interspersed with collaborations with Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Pharrell Williams. He has appeared as a judge on X Factor Italy and The Voice France, and hosted a variety show for Italian television and a series on songwriting for BBC Radio 2. He is in a long term relationship with filmmaker Andreas Dermanis.