US pop sensation Kristinia DeBarge has dismissed suggestions that she used her family connections to secure a record deal. The singer’s father was a member of 1980s R&B group DeBarge, who scored a top five hit in 1985 with ‘Rhythm Of The Night‘. However, the 19-year-old singer, whose debut single ‘Goodbye‘ recently cracked the US top 20, insisted that she has made her own way in the music industry.

“I always make it clear to people that I’ve gotten to where I am because of myself,” she told DS. “I’ve been working on my project for seven years now. I sacrificed not going to a normal high school – I was home-schooled for four years – because I wanted to dedicate myself completely to music.”

She also revealed that she met Babyface, the producer of her upcoming album, without an introduction from her father.

“I didn’t meet Babyface through my father. I met him on my own. I did whatever I could to meet the people I needed to meet and to get to where I am now,” she said.

“I emphasise this so much because it’s important to me that people know I worked just as hard as any other artist that’s come out and been successful.”

Kristinia DeBarge releases debut single ‘Goodbye’ on August 10.

Source: DigitalSpy.com