Normani Kordei Hamilton has everything set up to be the next global superstar: a voice that can silence a room, choreography that makes Beyoncé tick, and looks that have graced the covers of prestigious magazines around the world. She was the most talented member of the once-dominant girl group Fifth Harmony, and with early solo hits like Love Lies and Motivation , the R&B throne seemed ready for her to ascend.

But Normani’s solo journey took a turn no one could have predicted. Her five-year-long awaited debut album , Dopamine , released in June 2024, was a commercial failure, peaking at number 91 on the Billboard 200. Why did one of the most talented performers of her generation fail to reach the heights everyone predicted? The answer lies not in talent, but in the brutal intersection of racist attacks, family health tragedies, and dark industry politics.

From Beauty Queen to Victim of Racism

Born in Atlanta in 1996, Normani had a tumultuous childhood. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, she and her family were forced to move to Houston, Texas. It was there that she discovered her love for the arts, despite initially being rejected from a prestigious performing arts high school. Ironically, before becoming a pop star, Normani was Miss Teen Texas and competed in beauty pageants. That perseverance has shaped her.

In 2012, 15-year-old Normani reluctantly auditioned for X-Factor at her mother’s urging. Although she was eliminated in the boot camp round, the judges chose her along with four other girls—including Camila Cabello —to form Fifth Harmony. The group quickly became the most successful phenomenon in X-Factor history .

However, success came at a terrible price for Normani.

In 2016, during a Facebook Live interview, when asked to say something nice about Camila Cabello, Normani paused for a moment before calling her “weird and cute.” This small hesitation sparked a firestorm of hate on social media. Fifth Harmony fans attacked Normani with the most vile racist slurs, using vulgar language, portraying her as a slave and comparing her to an animal.

What’s heartbreaking is that while Normani was being subjected to racial slurs, Camila did n’t speak up to defend her. Camila just posted vague messages about “love and light” without directly asking fans to stop attacking her Black bandmate.

It became clear in 2019 that Camila’s old tweets had been exposed, showing her use of racist language. For many fans, Camila’s previous silence was interpreted as complicity. The incident left deep psychological scars, prompting Normani to announce a break from social media, saying she “couldn’t take the hate anymore” and wondering if she had to work “twice as hard” as others just to be seen.

Strategies for Leaving Chaotic Groups and Self-Limiting

While Normani battled racism, Camila plotted a chaotic exit from the group. She began solo projects and mysteriously did not join the other four members in renegotiating her contract with Epic Records. In December 2016, shortly after a performance, Camila’s publicist called to inform her that she had left the group—without explanation or goodbye.

Fifth Harmony’s disbandment, with no clear timetable, freed Normani in 2018. Her solo debut couldn’t have been better:

Love Lies (with Khalid) reached the Top 10.
Dancing with a Stranger (with Sam Smith) was even more successful.
Motivation (2019) is a music video masterpiece, paying homage to Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, and Beyoncé, and quickly went platinum.

The world was ready to crown Normani. But then, tragedy struck.

Fatal Blow: Both Parents Have Cancer

Just as her career was taking off, Normani’s personal world came crashing down. In 2019, after 19 years in remission, her mother, Andrea, was diagnosed with cancer again. Normani calls it her worst nightmare.

Her creativity dried up. Her motivation to work disappeared. How could she focus on finishing her debut album when her mother was fighting for her life? The industry kept nagging, but her priorities had shifted completely to family. Her mother made a promise to her that became her motivation: “I’ll still be here to listen to your album.”

But the tragedy did not end there. As her mother’s health stabilized, her father was also diagnosed with prostate cancer. Both parents battled the disease at the same time.

These family health issues were the real reason behind Normani’s long pauses between single releases. While fans complained about the wait, Normani was dealing with emotional pain most people couldn’t imagine, willing to take career risks to be with her family.

Imposter Syndrome and Commercial Failure

Throughout this period, Normani battled another, less-discussed enemy: Imposter Syndrome . Years of being pushed aside and forced to step down as Fifth Harmony left deep psychological scars. She constantly questioned whether she deserved to be at the top, feeling like she was always the “underdog” in everything she did.

Finally, in June 2024, Dopamine was released. Critics praised the album’s vocals and coherent sound, but commercially, it was a huge disappointment. Minimal and confusing promotion, coupled with Normani’s injury during rehearsals for the BET Awards that delayed her promotional plans, prevented the album from generating the buzz it needed. Everything seemed to be working against her.

However, amid the commercial failures, Normani’s personal life blossomed. In 2024, NFL star DK Metcalf proposed to her in a surprisingly romantic setting. Finally, amid her professional struggles, Normani had some pure personal happiness to celebrate.

The Future and Hope of Fifth Harmony’s Reunion

As we move into 2025, Normani is expanding her empire. She made her acting debut in Freaky Tales and confirmed that she is working on a brand new album. She also announced that she will be releasing a music video from Dopamine to promote the critically acclaimed but overlooked album.

More importantly, Normani is in serious talks about a Fifth Harmony reunion tour— but without Camila . The remaining four members reunited on stage in August 2025, performing “ Worth It ,” sparking a social media frenzy and explosive demand for a reunion.

Normani has survived racist attacks that would have crushed less powerful artists. She has supported her parents through cancer while maintaining her career. She has overcome imposter syndrome and seemingly insurmountable industry barriers. The talent was always there. The determination has proven unwavering.

The question is not whether Normani will become the superstar everyone predicts, but when she has the right timing and team. Her journey is a testament to resilience and shows that, with relentless persistence, destiny can be conquered.