Born as Jazmine Marie Sullivan in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 9, 1987, Jazmine Sullivan began singing in the children's choir and then a few years later performing with the adults, alongside her mother. Refusing to sign a deal with a gospel label when she was eleven, she jumped into a singing contest McDonald's hosted instead. She delivered gospel single "Accept What God Allows" at the competition and though not winning the contest, she indeed received a positive response from the audience.