Shamari DeVoe

Shamari DeVoe
Born	Shamari Fears
Birthplace	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Singer, actress, television personality
Known for	Lead singer of Blaque, The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Season 11)
Education	Master of Science in Nursing (expected 2025)
Spouse(s)	Ronnie DeVoe (m. 2006)

Shamari DeVoe (née Fears) is an American singer, actress, and television personality who first gained public attention in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the girl group Blaque. Formed under the mentorship of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC, Blaque achieved commercial success with hits such as "808" and "Bring It All to Me," and the group's self-titled debut album was certified platinum. DeVoe also appeared as the character Lava in the cheerleading comedy film Bring It On (2000). After years away from the entertainment spotlight, she returned to public view in 2018 as a cast member on the eleventh season of the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She later appeared alongside her husband, Ronnie DeVoe of the R&B groups New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe, on the VH1 series Couples Retreat (2022–2023). In a shift from her entertainment career, DeVoe has pursued a career in healthcare, working as a nurse extern while completing a Master of Science in Nursing degree. In March 2025, she and her husband celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony in Ghana.

Early Life

Shamari Fears was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. She later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, which became her base as she pursued a career in the entertainment industry. Details regarding her family background and childhood have not been extensively documented in public sources.

DeVoe's path into the music industry began in her teenage years when she became involved in the Atlanta music scene. She was selected to be part of the girl group Blaque, which was assembled in the late 1990s during a period of significant commercial interest in pop and R&B girl groups. The group consisted of DeVoe (then Fears), Brandi Williams, and Natina Reed, and was mentored by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, a member of the multiplatinum-selling group TLC.

Career

Blaque (1997–2004)

Blaque was formed in 1997 and signed to Columbia Records and Track Masters Entertainment. The group comprised Shamari Fears (DeVoe), Brandi Williams, and Natina Reed. Under the guidance of their mentor Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the trio developed a sound that blended elements of R&B, pop, and hip-hop, positioning them among the prominent girl groups of the late 1990s.

The group's self-titled debut album, Blaque, was released in 1999 on Columbia Records. The album produced the singles "808" and "Bring It All to Me," the latter of which featured rapper JC Chasez on the remix and became a significant radio hit. The debut album achieved platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), establishing Blaque as a commercially viable act during a competitive era for pop and R&B music.

The group recorded a second album, Blaque Out, which was completed but ultimately shelved by Columbia Records and was not officially released in the United States. The unreleased album contributed to growing tensions between the group and their label. Blaque's activities were further disrupted by the death of their mentor Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in a car accident in Honduras in April 2002, which had a profound effect on the group members.

The group's trajectory was permanently altered on October 26, 2012, when member Natina Reed was fatally struck by a car in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Reed was 32 years old at the time of her death. DeVoe and Brandi Williams have continued to honor Reed's memory in subsequent years. Despite the losses of both their mentor and a group member, DeVoe has maintained her identity as a member of Blaque and has been identified with the group in professional contexts throughout her career.

Film and Acting

In 2000, all three members of Blaque appeared in the cheerleading comedy film Bring It On, directed by Peyton Reed and starring Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union. DeVoe portrayed the character Lava, a member of the East Compton Clovers cheerleading squad. The film was a box office success and became a cultural touchstone for its depiction of competitive cheerleading and issues of cultural appropriation. The appearance in Bring It On provided Blaque with additional mainstream exposure beyond their music career, as the film's soundtrack and the group's involvement contributed to their public profile during the peak of their commercial activity.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta (2018–2019)

In 2018, DeVoe joined the cast of the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of Atlanta for its eleventh season. Bravo introduced her as a "devoted wife, super mom, and businesswoman" upon her casting announcement. Her addition to the show brought renewed media attention to both her music career with Blaque and her personal life as the wife of Ronnie DeVoe.

During her time on the show, DeVoe was notably candid about aspects of her marriage. In a widely covered revelation, she disclosed that she and her husband had previously experimented with an open marriage arrangement. In a November 2018 interview with People magazine, DeVoe explained the context of the decision, stating that she had been "bi-curious" and that the couple had opened their marriage so she could explore a relationship with a woman. The couple subsequently closed their marriage, and DeVoe discussed the experience as part of their journey in strengthening their relationship. The revelation generated significant media coverage and public discussion during the season's airing.

DeVoe did not return for the twelfth season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. In a 2021 interview, she explained that she chose to step down from the show, citing concerns about how she was portrayed through the editing process. DeVoe stated that the editing of the series did not accurately represent her and contributed to her decision to leave. Her single-season appearance nonetheless left a lasting impression on the franchise's viewership and kept her name in public conversation.

Couples Retreat (2022–2023)

Following her departure from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, DeVoe returned to reality television alongside her husband Ronnie DeVoe on the VH1 series Couples Retreat, which aired from 2022 to 2023. The show featured celebrity couples working through relationship challenges, and the DeVoes' participation provided a platform for them to discuss their marriage publicly in a more structured therapeutic context compared to the ensemble format of RHOA.

Transition to Nursing

In a notable departure from her entertainment career, DeVoe has pursued a career in healthcare. As of early 2025, she was reported to be nearing completion of a Master of Science in Nursing degree. DeVoe has publicly documented her journey through nursing school, including her work as a nurse extern, sharing updates on social media and in interviews.

In an interview with Essence, DeVoe discussed her motivation for entering the nursing profession, expressing an interest in serving others through healthcare after her years in the entertainment industry. She was reported to be on track to graduate with her master's degree in the summer of 2025.

The announcement of her nursing career drew mixed reactions online, with some expressing admiration for her career pivot and others raising questions about the specifics of her academic credentials.

Personal Life

Shamari DeVoe is married to Ronnie DeVoe, a singer and member of the R&B groups New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. The couple married in 2006 and have been publicly identified as one of the longer-lasting couples in the R&B and entertainment community.

In 2017, the couple announced that they were expecting their first children. Essence reported that Ronnie DeVoe and Shamari were expecting twins, their first children together. The couple subsequently welcomed twin sons.

During the eleventh season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2018, DeVoe publicly discussed her sexuality, revealing that she had previously identified as "bi-curious" and that she and her husband had temporarily opened their marriage to allow her to explore a relationship with a woman. The couple later closed their marriage, and both have spoken publicly about the experience as a period of growth in their relationship.

In March 2025, the couple celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in a ceremony held in Ghana. The event was documented by Essence, which covered the celebration as a milestone for the couple.

DeVoe resides in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area, which has served as her home base since her early career with Blaque.

Recognition

DeVoe's most significant commercial achievement in music came with Blaque's self-titled debut album in 1999, which received platinum certification from the RIAA. The group's singles "808" and "Bring It All to Me" were staples of late 1990s pop and R&B radio, and their appearance in Bring It On further cemented their place in the cultural landscape of that era.

Her casting on The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2018 introduced DeVoe to a new generation of viewers, many of whom were unfamiliar with her music career. The show's large viewership and active social media following ensured that DeVoe's personal revelations and on-screen moments generated substantial media coverage during the eleventh season's run.

DeVoe's decision to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing attracted considerable media attention in 2025, with coverage from outlets including Essence, Black Enterprise, and WBLS. The career transition was framed in several reports as an example of reinvention and public service, drawing attention to her commitment to a new professional path after decades in entertainment.

The vow renewal ceremony in Ghana in 2025 also garnered media attention, with Essence covering the event as part of a broader narrative about the DeVoe family's enduring public presence and personal milestones.

Legacy

Shamari DeVoe's career spans multiple phases of American popular culture, from the girl group era of the late 1990s through the reality television boom of the 2010s and into a healthcare career in the 2020s. As a member of Blaque, she was part of a group that achieved platinum-level commercial success during one of the most competitive periods in pop music history, when groups such as TLC, Destiny's Child, and 3LW dominated the charts.

The loss of groupmate Natina Reed in 2012 and mentor Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in 2002 marked Blaque's history with tragedy, and DeVoe has been a custodian of their shared legacy. The group's appearance in Bring It On has maintained cultural relevance through the film's enduring popularity and its status as a defining movie of early 2000s teen culture.

DeVoe's openness about her marriage and sexuality on The Real Housewives of Atlanta contributed to broader conversations about bisexuality, open relationships, and marital honesty within the context of reality television. Her willingness to discuss these topics publicly on a high-profile platform was noted by media commentators at the time.

Her pivot to nursing in her forties represents a public example of career transition, and the media coverage of this shift has highlighted themes of reinvention and service that resonate beyond the entertainment industry. Whether in music, television, or healthcare, DeVoe's career trajectory reflects the multiple chapters that characterize many public figures who first achieved fame at a young age.