From Essence to Vibe to Elle, Janelle Monae serves major face and style wherever she goes. This month, she graces the cover of the October/November issue of Uptown magazine, and we must say the Electric Lady does not disappoint.
In her feature story, Monae shares a more fun side of her personality and puts all misconceptions that she’s “so straitlaced and buttoned up” to rest.
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“There is a lot of life underneath this tuxedo. I like to have fun. I enjoy practical jokes. I enjoy rolling around the mall in wheelchairs. I enjoy taking someone’s baby and putting it on my hip for about two hours straight and then giving it back,” she says. “People think I am so straitlaced and buttoned up.”
“But luckily,” she adds, “I don’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations of who I am, not even my own.”
Janelle goes on to say she’s just a “ghetto black girl” underneath her signature tuxedo and sky-high pompadour.
“If I am anyone’s hero, please don’t meet me. Stay away. I am not what you think I am,” she explains. “We keep coming back to this notion of identity. Honestly, I am just a ghetto black girl underneath it all. My tuxedo is supposed to make me look refined.”
“I will never ever suppress who I am for anyone,” she continues. “Karl Lagerfeld would not change his ponytail or his black and white wardrobe for anyone. But the next person that asks me about wearing a tuxedo, I will give them a hug and then a slap.”
Find out what Janelle had to say about her sophomore album The Electric Lady, friendship with Erykah Badu and working with Diddy here.
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Janelle Monae Tells Uptown Magazine “I’m Just A Ghetto Black Girl Underneath It All’ was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
