All The Babes
Vanessa Lesnicki
Also known as Shay, Shayy
Career
Active 2016 – present
Biography
About Vanessa Lesnicki
Standing 5'6" with an average build, black hair, and brown eyes, Vanessa Lesnicki moves through the music world with a presence that is all her own. Born on Thursday 16th of August 1990 in Brussels, she is a Belgian artist of mixed-race heritage, primarily Black. Her father is Belgian-Polish, and her mother is Congolese, a lineage that includes her grandfather, the legendary singer Tabu Ley Rochereau. She identifies as straight and has been active in the industry since 2016, starting around age 25. Over the past 10 years, she has carved a distinct niche for herself in the francophone music scene.
Professionally, she is known by her stage name Shay, a Belgian francophone rapper signed to Capitol Music France. Her style blends hip-hop, rap, trap, urban pop, and R&B, a combination that has earned her a substantial following, including 1.1 million on Instagram. After a collaboration with Booba in 2011, she joined his 92i label in 2014 and released singles like XCII and 1200. Her debut album, Jolie Garce, dropped on 2 December 2016 and was certified gold. The sophomore effort, Antidote, followed on 10 May 2019. Throughout her career, she has released many songs that have achieved significant commercial success.
Her catalog includes several certified hits. "PMW," the first single from her debut album, went platinum. "Biche," released in October 2016, racked up more than 7 million views on YouTube. Both "Cabeza" and "Thibaut Courtois" were certified gold, the latter a tribute to the Belgian national team goalkeeper. In 2018, she teased new music with "Notif" and collaborated with Jul on the track "Pim Pom." She made a full comeback with "Jolie" on 30 November 2018, followed by "Cocorico" in January 2019. After releasing Antidote, she dropped the video for "Liquide," a duet with Niska, in July 2019; that track also went gold. She has worked with producers like Heezy Lee, Junior à la Prod, and Le Motif, and her videos have been directed by Guillaume Doubet. Shay continues to be a prominent voice in Belgian and French rap.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Years Active
- 2016-present (started around 25 years old; 10 years active)
- Birthplace
- Brussels, Brussels Capital, Belgium
- Ethnicity
- Mixed-race (primarily Black)
- Sexuality
- Straight
Body
- Hair Color
- Black
- Eye Color
- Brown
- Weight
- 121 lbs (or 55 kg)
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
Extra
- Instagram Followers
- 1.1m (as of May 2026)
Frequently asked
What is Shay's real name and stage name?
Her real name is Vanessa Lesnicki, and she performs under the stage name Shay.
Which of Shay's songs have been certified?
Her debut album 'Jolie Garce' and 'Antidote' were certified gold. Singles 'PMW' went platinum, while 'Cabeza', 'Thibaut Courtois', and 'Liquide' were each certified gold.
Who is Shay's famous grandfather?
She is the granddaughter of singer Tabu Ley Rochereau, a legendary figure in Congolese music.
What is Shay's nationality and ethnic background?
She is Belgian, born in Brussels, and of mixed-race heritage (primarily Black), with a Belgian-Polish father and a Congolese mother.
Which record labels has Shay been associated with?
She joined Booba's 92i label in 2014 and is currently signed to Capitol Music France.
Did you know
- Shay was born on 16 August 1990 in Brussels, making her 35 years old as of 2025.
- Her stage name is Shay, while her birth name is Vanessa Lesnicki.
- She is of mixed-race heritage, with a Belgian-Polish father and a Congolese mother.
- Her track 'Thibaut Courtois' is dedicated to the Belgian national team goalkeeper of the same name.
- She has 1.1 million followers on Instagram as of May 2026.
- Her debut album 'Jolie Garce' was released on 2 December 2016 and achieved gold certification.
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