The Long Island native who has been recording hits for about 20 years, and is a massive celebrity presence, is actually the daughter of an African-American-Venezuelan father and a white Irish mother. Her mother, Patricia, was disowned by her family for marrying a man of color. After her parents separated, Mariah grew up with her mother, and become estranged from her father. She has said of her mixed race biology: “You know, it’s still not that common to be a multi-racial person, but I’m happy with the combination of things that I am.”
