Demet Akalın, who was born in Gölcük, Kocaeli, initially decided to pursue a career in modeling and started to work as a model for Neşe Erberk's agency. She also acted in a number of motion picture films and television series in the 1990s. Simultaneously with modeling, she started singing in the casinos, and released her first studio album Sebebim in 1996 which was not successful. With the release of the album Banane in 2004 she became well-known in Turkey. The album's lead single "Aşkın Açamadığı Kapı" earned Akalın a Turkey Music Award for the Song of the Year. Kusursuz 19 (2006) received a golden certificate from Mü-Yap and with the success Dans Et (2008) she became one of the influential figures of Turkish pop music. Her album Pırlanta was the best-selling album in Turkey in 2015. Many of her songs, including "Afedersin", "Mucize", "Toz Pembe" and "Hayalet" have been number-one hits in Turkey. Other songs such as "Tecrübe", "Çanta", "Olacak Olacak", "Sabıka", "İlahi Adalet" and "Ders Olsun" have ranked among the top 5 on Turkey's music charts and her last single peaked number one on Turkey Official charts too.


Akalın, who is considered by music critics to have created her own style, has frequently appeared on the cover of magazines and has been the subject of numerous tabloid reports. Queen of Turkish pop won two Golden Butterfly Awards and four Turkey Music Awards and has received numerous other nominations.