Our current celebrity culture is one of access, with many seeming to have an abundance of designer clothes, champagne, and fabulous parties at their disposal. But for Normani, it means more than that. Normani is living her purpose, which is more than music or television or any Instagram post. In the October issue of Teen Vogue, the cover star opens up about her anxiety over her new album and the vulnerability she's displaying for young girls like her.
Normani Graces the October Issue of Teen Vogue
"To be a young woman that looks like myself, I just feel like [being a positive example] is a part of my legacy."
As a child growing up in Houston, she didn't see herself represented in the entertainment industry. And when she did, 13-year-old Normani understood what it took for those women to get there. Now, that representation is her laser focus. No stranger to online harassment and cyberbullying during her time in Fifth Harmony, her resilience to rise above is empowering to young women.
"It's me wanting to create better opportunities for us, and also just for people who think that they got us figured out, [I want to show that] we are multifaceted and capable of much more than we get credit for, in the music industry and also in society."
Like many of us, the abrupt halt in the hustle and bustle of life helped Normani to block out the noise and listen to herself. With that came a renewed, rejuvenated Normani who has no hesitation about her first album. There was an awareness that came with the silence and an understanding she found with herself. This young woman wants to enact change and she sees herself as a vessel for God's will.
"I really want to create a body of work that's going to count, you know? I'm never going to get my first album back."
Vulnerability is the name of Normani's game and will be evident in her first solo album - still yet to be dropped. She's using her vulnerability to create a space for artists to be seen as beings, not just performers. As she wants to be a resource for her community and more specifically young girls who look like her, it's vital to her that she displays vulnerability in all its forms. For this particular rockstar, her vulnerability comes in openly talking about her anxiety.
"I feel hurt, sad, elated sometimes. I feel like I'm in my head. I feel not so confident. I just want to be able to show not only women, but people in general, that I am a human as well."
Combined with her sheer talent, Normani is on her way to be one of the biggest stars of Gen Z. What makes it even better is that she doesn't take it lightly. Every step of her career, and especially in her solo one, is about being the best representation. The young girl from Houston that wanted to be seen but not too seen, is ready to break the barriers and lead her own path.
To read Normani's Teen Vogue cover story in full, click here.
Featured image by Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com