Singer Sun (born Ho Yeow Sun) was chosen as music ambassador for the 2008 Beijing Olympics because she was that rare artist who met the job's three main requirements. First, she was of Chinese heritage; second, she had the scandal-free "healthy image" the committee sought; and third, she had international success, having topped the U.S. Billboard dance and the U.K.'s DMC club charts. She began her career in 2002 with Sun with Love, a dance-pop album that went double platinum in China. Having been a social worker before joining the music business, Sun used her new fame to promote humanitarian organizations, raising money for the building of schools and medical clinics in Indonesia and China. By the end of 2002, her generosity was well-known and helped her earn the Singapore government's award for Outstanding Young Person, which she would win again in 2003. The year 2003 was also when she first landed on American dance charts with the single "Where Did Love Go." A year later she was the first Chinese pop singer to be invited to the Grammy Awards and in 2005 she opened her own clothing store, SKIN Couture, in Singapore. Her focus shifted back to the U.S. in 2006 when she released the dance hit "Gone," and then a year later, the dancehall-inspired "China Wine," featuring guests Wyclef Jean, Tony Matterhorn, and Elephant Man. Both tracks were teasers for her first American full-length, which featured contributions from songwriters Desmond Child and Diane Warren along with production from hitmakers the Underdogs. ~ David Jeffries