A Female Harry Styles? Camila Cabello’s X Factor Origins
Like Harry Styles, Camila Cabello first came to public attention through Simon Cowell’s The X Factor. Harry auditioned for the UK version in 2010; Camila followed on the American show in 2012.
Her audition song was Aretha Franklin’s Respect, although the performance wasn’t included in the televised audition episode. Camila didn’t progress as a solo contestant, but the judges brought her back to join four other singers in a newly formed girl group: Fifth Harmony.
It was a familiar talent-show formula, similar to the one that created One Direction. Five individual contestants became a group, gaining the opportunity to record, perform and build an audience together.
Fifth Harmony spent the next few years doing just that, becoming one of the more successful acts to emerge from the American version of the show. But soon Camila began to explore opportunities outside the group.
In 2015, she collaborated with Shawn Mendes on I Know What You Did Last Summer. The following year, she joined Machine Gun Kelly on Bad Things. Both tracks were released under the male artists’ names, with Camila featured, giving her valuable experience working beyond Fifth Harmony.
By the end of 2016, she had announced her departure from the group. Her next move was a solo career, although her first post-Harmony release was another collaboration: Love Incredible, with Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat, in early 2017.
The groundwork had been laid. Camila was no longer just a member of a girl group; she was establishing her own identity as a recording artist.
The Breakthrough That Changed Everything
By the time Havana arrived in 2017, Camila wasn’t an unknown newcomer. She had spent years in the public eye through The X Factor, Fifth Harmony and her collaborations with Shawn Mendes and Machine Gun Kelly. Havana took her to another level.
Named after the Cuban capital, where Camila was born, the tune brought Latin influences into a sleek pop production. Its distinctive piano-led groove, cuban influenced rhythmic backing and instantly recognisable chorus gave it a character that stood apart from much of the mainstream pop around it.
The single became an international sensation, reaching number one in 23 countries and selling millions of copies worldwide. It went on to become one of the defining pop hits of 2018 and established Camila as a solo act.
The tune’s success also helped launch her debut solo album, Camila, in January 2018. What had looked like a risky move away from Fifth Harmony suddenly seemed like a very good decision.
There’s an important lesson here about how artists break through. Camila had already spent years developing her voice, gaining experience in the studio and performing in front of audiences. When the right tune arrived, she was ready.
It may have appeared to happen overnight, but the journey had taken around five years since her television audition—and even longer if you count the work that went into developing her as a performer before that.
Reuniting with Shawn Mendes
After Havana, Camila released further singles, including Sangria Wine with Pharrell Williams. None immediately matched the impact of her breakthrough, but she continued building her solo career.
Then, in 2019, she reunited with Shawn Mendes for Señorita.
The tune again combined a Latin-influenced guitar figure with a relaxed, seductive groove and a duet built around the chemistry between the two singers. It topped charts around the world and became one of the biggest singles of the year.
Its success demonstrated that Camila’s breakthrough hadn’t been a one-off. She could follow Havana with another major global hit, this time built around the interplay between two voices.
For guitarists, Señorita is a great example of how a repeating guitar part can become the foundation of an entire pop arrangement. The part doesn’t need to be technically complicated; its job is to establish the groove and leave room for the vocals. Consistency, timing and tone are what make it work.
If you’re learning songs for a singer or a band, that’s a valuable lesson: the most effective part is the one that serves the song without trying to steal the spotlight.
Bam Bam and the Next Chapter
Camila continued releasing music after Señorita, including Bam Bam, her 2022 collaboration with Ed Sheeran.
The tune explored the experience of moving on after a relationship changes, pairing a buoyant Latin-influenced rhythm with lyrics about life’s unexpected turns. Its contrast between an upbeat musical feel and a more reflective message showed another side of her songwriting.
By this point, Camila had moved well beyond the television competition that first introduced her to audiences. She had established a solo catalogue with its own sound, while continuing to collaborate with other major artists.
The Value of the Right Tune
Camila’s career is a reminder that success rarely comes from a single moment alone. The X Factor gave her a platform, Fifth Harmony provided years of experience, and early collaborations helped her develop beyond the group. But it was Havana that brought all those elements together in a tune the world wanted to hear.
For guitarists, her catalogue offers plenty to explore, these tunes show how rhythm, melody and a strong hook matter more than technical complexity.
They’re also useful additions to a modern pop repertoire. Audiences recognise the choruses, singers have room to make the melodies their own, and guitarists can focus on locking into the groove rather than filling every available space.
People often talk about the overnight success of a pop star. Camila Cabello’s story shows what that phrase leaves out: the years of auditions, group rehearsals, touring and collaborations that come before the one tune that changes everything.
Camila Cabello Tunes | Related Pages
Havana | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Havana by Camila Cabello using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Gm7 Eb | D7 (D7b9) |
Havana, ooh na-na (ayy), half of my heart is in…
Respect | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Respect by Aretha Franklin using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, TAB, a backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G7 | F7 |
(Oh) What you want, (Oh) Baby, I got it…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Respect – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Señorita | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Señorita by Camila Cabello using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Am7 | Am7 |
I love it when you call me señorita…
Camila Cabello on the web
