Janelle Monáe is looking bossy on the cover of Elle Canada this month. In the piece, Elle talks about how Monáe has the capability to “rip the paint off the walls,” and that is no small feat. It’s an extremely accurate description of Monáe’s firecracker personality on stage.
The Kansas City native reveals in the article that by nature she’s shy, but after reading the article it’s easy to see from where her boldness comes. At only 26 years old, the songstress has co-founded an arts society named “Wondaland” for artists, musicians, writers and performers. She received 3 Grammy nominations for her collaboration with Fun. on “We Are Young,” and has brought flair to the COVERGIRL brand.
Monáe’s humble beginnings as a maid, cleaning houses when she was trying to raise money for college, undoubtedly made a huge impact on the person she is now and speak volumes about the spirit she has.
“You have to protect your heart and your spirit so you’re not tainted by money, greed, power, arrogance…. I don’t get off on those things,” she says in the article. “A lot of the women I worked with had rough lives,” says Monáe. “They were recovering addicts or getting out of jail.”
Currently, Monáe is finishing up her next album and shining while doing so. To think it all started with a run in with Outkast’s Big Boi, an introduction to Diddy, and a sign on the dotted line to Bad Boy Records in 2010.
“I really want to open doors for all those starting to have their voice…. I want to speak to my cousins who are still in Kansas and feel like they don’t have anyone; I want to speak to the young lady who is trying to understand who she is and how she’s going to follow her dreams living in a disadvantaged environment.”
I think it’s safe to say Ms. Monáe’s voice is being heard loud and clear.
Check out the full article here.
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