10 things you need to know about Ariana Grande

We already know Ariana Grande from the hit teen TV series Victorious and its spin-off Sam & Cat, both of which see her play the bubbly and intelligent Cat Valentine as a supporting and then lead character, respectively.

Now, the 20-year-old US actress is making waves in the music industry too, ever since her debut album Yours Truly claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart last week.

This makes her the first female artiste to head straight to No. 1 with her debut album since January 2010, when Kesha's Animal achieved the same feat.

Yours Truly's first single The Way, featuring US rapper Mac Miller, made it to the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart, while her follow-up Baby I, peaked at No. 21.

She has called her success a "dream come true", adding to Billboard: "I'm happy to be taken seriously as an artiste and I hope to do music for a long time."

LOUD puts together a list of 10 things you need to know about the reigning queen of the US charts.

1 SHE IS THEATRE-TRAINED

In 2008, Grande had a head start in acting with her debut role as a cheerleader named Charlotte in the Broadway musical 13.

In fact, she did such a good job that she won Best Actress at the National Youth Theatre Awards the same year.

2 SHE'S A NICKELODEON STAR

She hails from the same small-screen sisterhood as former child stars Amanda Bynes, Victoria Justice and Miranda Cosgrove.

She helmed the role of Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon teen shows Victorious and iCarly and reprises the role in the sitcoms' spin-off Sam & Cat.

3 SHE'S MANAGED BY JUSTIN BIEBER'S BIG GUY

Popular talent manager Scooter Braun recently added Grande to his stable of artistes which include Justin Bieber, Psy, Carly Rae Jepsen and British boy band The Wanted.

4 SHE'S GOT THE VOICE

The soprano singer is said to have a four-octave range and a whistle register, earning her comparisons with other US diva belters like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Recently, she suffered a haemorrhaged vocal cord, forcing her to cancel a few appearances. But she's since recovered, assuring fans that she is "actually completely fine"; that her voice is "healthy" and she is talking normally.

5 SHE'S NEWLY-SINGLE

Up until a month ago, Grande was dating 18-yearold Jai Brooks of Australian YouTube comedy/singing group The Janoskians for a year.

Last week, he had watched her perform live in Los Angeles and posted on Twitter that "she looks extremely beautiful on stage".

After a series of flirty tweets between the two, Brook denied rumours of their reunion, citing that the pair were "just friends and very supportive of each other".

6 SHE'S SEEING OTHER PEOPLE - SORT OF

She has been since linked to The Wanted's Nathan Sykes and Canadian heart-throb Bieber.

After working together on their duet Almost Is Never Enough for fantasy film The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones, Sykes, 20, reportedly sent Grande flowers every day.

The pair have both shot down the rumours, although she told Access Hollywood that "he's the sweetest... he's amazing".

Prior to that, she posted a photo of Bieber, 19, kissing her on the cheek with the caption "You're crazy and nonna (Italian for grandmother) says thank you, she loves you".

Shortly after she posted the photo, Grande - who was the opening act for a few of Bieber's concerts during the US leg of his Believe tour - quickly took it down and attempted to pacify riled-up Beliebers by tweeting: "Everyone, girls are allowed to be friends with guys. I'm a lady. Chill out".

7 SHE HAS AN OPINION ON MILEY CYRUS

Just like everyone else, she weighed in on former Disney actress-singer Miley Cyrus following her controversial performance at the recent MTV Video Music Awards. .

"She looked like she was having the time of her life. There's nothing wrong with having fun... I think all the people who are saying mean things about it and who are judging, need to spend less time judging other people and more time worrying about how to have as much fun as she's having in life right now," Grande told Rolling Stone last week.

8 SHE PRACTISES KABBALAH

At the age of 12, Grande practised traditional Jewish mysticism Kabbalah at a centre in Boca Raton, Florida, where she was born and raised. She recently picked it up again because she "really loved doing it".

Grande also explained the red string that she wears on her wrist in association with the school of thought: "(It) is alignment and a form of protection from negativity. It's also a bit of a reminder to keep your actions and thoughts and words kind and positive and helpful to stay in contact with the light."

9 SHE WANTS A TATTOO

Her religious leanings have also led her to consider getting a tattoo of a little sun on her finger as a reminder to "keep in contact with 'the light'".

10 SHE DOES GREAT IMPRESSIONS

Britney Spears, Shakira, a crying baby, even a lamb - you name it, she's done it! Check out her hidden talents on YouTube at youtu.be/bm7GWGgvBhU

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