Right Message, Wrong Messenger? Social Media Really Isn’t Feeling Ciara’s New Empowerment Anthem
Picture it: Worldwide. Year, 2000. One of the greatest female groups on the planet has been tapped for the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack for a song that almost single-handedly reshaped the female-to-male relationship dynamic forever, titled "Independent Women Part 1." The song would go on to be one of the highest-selling, highest-charting singles by a female group of all time, ultimately to be performed to the end of time for the rest of our lives.
The songwriter would go on to marry (quite literally) the richest artist that hip hop has ever seen, as, through her own hard work, she sings about being independent literally forever (ahem, "Single Ladies") while the rest of us are left to splash around in a dating pool that seemingly has pee in it.
If you haven’t figured it out, I’m talking about Queen Bey (don’t fight me), who alongside Destiny’s Child, revolutionized how women respond to getting what they want and deserve out of life, and not “needing” a man to get it.
Fast forward to today, the girls are welcoming the soft life while that ole "independent" heffa, although a characteristic in all of us that goes without saying, can graciously see her way out. At least that's what the girls are saying.
It all started when our fave, Ciara, uploaded a playful video promoting her new single, "For Da Girls." She’s in the mirror, rocking the MSCHF bubble red boots, as she sings:
Positive Affirmations. Speaking life into myself! #DaGirls pic.twitter.com/xBH4bRbyQO
— Ciara (@ciara) February 16, 2023
This is for the girls who don’t need no man,
This is for the girls who love yourself,
This is for the girls who up and did it by themselves,
This is for the girls that’s I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T...
Ma’am.
Now don’t get me wrong, the tired congregation of Black women loves us some Ciara Princess Wilson, but we also collectively couldn’t help but notice the hypocrisy of the message of this song choice, while we have Ciara's prayer laminated, framed, and hanging on the walls in our prayer closets.
And let’s just say that social media had a lot to say about it too.
Some got straight to the point of the irony:
No Ciara, go write better lyrics. Keep beat and everything else but NO to pushing the single ,independent narrative when you are in your man's house,hands, bed and other parts of him every night NO baby
— Rebel_Woman (@rebel__woman) February 19, 2023
While others kicked us while we were down:
She telling y'all this while happily in a relationship and making this video IN HER MANS HOUSE lmao
— Black king (@chocolateking98) February 19, 2023
Some were thrilled at the overall response and were on our side:
I love how the independent ladies arent feeling it any more ... not that they arent still independent and doing them but they want hugs and dates and a lil support like they deserve and im here for it 🥰🥰🥰😍😍
— Ceeyo438 (@ceeyo438) February 20, 2023
And others welcomed the anthem:
AINT NOTHING WRONG Ciara making songs for the singles! Y’all ask for her prayer& now she helping with a single girl anthem! People complain about everything. If Ciara not your vibe then don’t comment
— Singer Laurencia ✨🦋 (@iamqueensheba) February 19, 2023
Ciara has yet to address any of the (minor) backlash as she is currently overseas serving looks throughout Paris Fashion Week.
But I have to ask, should happily married artists make single, independent women anthems?
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Leon Bennett/Getty Images
- Russell Wilson Shares What He Prayed For In A Wife Before Meeting Ciara ›
- Ciara Opens Up About Learning To Accept Her Natural Hair ›
- Ciara's Mother's Day Surprise & New Video Will Give You Real Tears ›
- Ciara Spoke The Life Of Her Dreams Into Existence At The Age Of 17 ›
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
ItGirl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
Producer/AD: Samuel Cho @choboi90
Producer/Tech: Paul Nguyen @paul__winn
DP: Cristian Bernal @cristianbernal
Editor: @30inthemorning
2nd Cam: Paul Nguyen
1st AC: AJ Paug @ajpaug Gaffer: Dennis Albert @dennisalbert_
Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
PA: Rick Carreno @ispeakrick
PA: Tiffany Do @tivani.doee
BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
Car Detail: @sud_studs @slugglobal
Creative Director @hellobosco
Team Lead @kevgumbo3000
Project Manager @zakk_jullot
Creative Producer @iamkingsheyla
Designers @miacolemxn @noelspiva
@xoNecole
Director, Integrated Marketing @_vang
Campaign Manager @kingchachiii
Talent Lead @kaylawalker
Feature image by Prime/ @theartof prime