What happened when you performed for Michelle Obama at school? Fashion gave me confidence, my self-expression. I always used to say, “You can call me ugly, but you can’t say I can’t dress…” But now you can’t call me either. What helped you get your confidence back up?įashion. So small minded that you even call this fame? Can you imagine? I’ve been working for a long time but the start and kick is really happening now. The “I-knew-you-were-gonna-be-famous” DMs are the worst. I’ve had DMs like, “I always knew you were gonna be famous.” The main bully saw me in the street the other day, she couldn’t even look at me. ![]() Oh, you hate the way I sing? I’m about to take singing classes to get an even better voice.” Recognise your strengths that people are trying to tear down and be like, “I need to water this shit!” What’s their response now? Instead of using bleaching cream, I’m actually gonna start using shea butters and coconut oils to make my skin shine. And instead of seeing it as a compliment, I saw it as a hindrance that I’ve got nice hair, that I can sing, that I’ve got dark skin – all positives! Sometimes if people are adamant about bringing you down, you’ve got to look at what they’re trying to bring down and be like, “Oh, so you actually want this! Okay, well let’s flourish this then. Alright?! Why am I bothering you so much? Living in their minds rent free.Ĭompletely rent free. ![]() I didn’t want the attention I didn’t want anyone to compliment my hair and cause a ruckus. The head bully of the whole enterprise from the start goes, “Yeah, your hair may be longer but mine is healthier.” Literally tag along by me while I have a hood up, so people just don’t talk about how nice my hair is. There was the first time I had my hair straightened. It continued through secondary school because it was the same people. ![]() So, even in that, it was like, “Don’t give her the lead.” But you can’t sing… Girl. Was the bullying happening in a music context, or was being the Beyoncé metaphorical? Because I knew what people thought of me, how they went out of their way to make me feel every single day. I guess I just need to stay like this then. That’s one thing about me, it always has to go to the extreme for me to be like, “I probably shouldn’t do this.” When I saw how it was backfiring, I was like, “I need to deal with my skin tone however, but this is dangerous. I didn’t touch it again because it didn’t work the way it was meant to. If I was standing by it fully, do you think anyone could tell me anything? Certain people don’t want you to see your light when you’re a bit shaky in it yourself. “We’re lighter and brighter, we’re supposed to be better than you.” But, put facts by facts, I’m the better singer, I’m the better dancer, I’m the better creative. “Dark skin is ‘lesser than’, so why does the hottest boy like you?” “You can sing and you can dance, but we don’t want to make you the Beyoncé.” But I was. Now I’m older, I realise it was not to do with me – it was more the connotations around dark skin. And yet growing up, you were bullied, right? What happened? I knew, but at the same time, it’s like, “What the hell?!” I’m like a kid anytime something new comes in. I’m not surprised, but it does feel good seeing it. I knew I was going to get this appeal because I work for my work to have a global appeal. I knew I was gonna get fans like this because I wanted this kind of fanbase. That’s why faith and focusing on your vision is the most important thing. We really got to loosen up here, seriously.īy Amel Mukhtar Did you see yourself being in this kind of position? Then your music gets passed over to people who are not afraid to make you feel like you’re the hottest thing on the planet. In the UK, everyone’s quite conservative. It’s so crazy how the love changes when it crosses over to a global thing. I’m so happy that the biggest stars in the world recognise me and rate what I’m doing. Usually you build local buzz, then national, then international, but with you, it feels like it’s been everything at once. The impact you’re leaving on other Black girls to get more creative or think without limit. It’s really like, “What? What the hell?!” Fans always say, “You should be on like a gazillion eyes” – but it’s just not about the superficial stuff for me, it’s about the eyes that are watching you. Getting 4Music “Artist of the month.” Cardi B found me Saweetie Doja can’t stop singing my praises. ![]() There’s the help of the team, of course, but I have just jumped over every single hurdle this year. I split up with management at the top of the year, so I’ve been working solo, and still having to produce music videos and stuff. It’s been a rollercoaster year for everyone, but yours also took you to record highs in your career.
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