Janelle Monae Says She Purposely Hides Her Sex Appeal to be a Role Model

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Janelle Monae is one of the most intriguing up and coming artists on the scene as of late. Monae’s music can’t necessarily be put in a box or be restricted to one set genre, but she has yet to become the huge star she is capable of becoming. As for now, she is still establishing a solid fan base with music that doesn’t align with the typical catchy and meaningless lyrics aligned with dope beats which seems to be the only thing playing on the radio these days. Janelle Monae is a bit of a mystery in an era where stars are exposing much more of themselves in their videos and social network accounts, however, she’s made it clear that she refuses to fit in with the current standards of the music industry.

Dressing in her usual white and black conservative style, the singer revealed in her recent interview with Elle Canada magazine (she covers the February issue)  that unlike most celebrities, she actually wants to be a role model. And in order to do that, she’s willing to sacrifice her sex appeal.

Janelle’s love of music was the driving factor in her interest in the music industry, but it would be her humble beginnings as a maid that would help keep her grounded. The singer revealed that she used to work as a maid so she could pay college tuition American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. It’s one of the many reasons she says she doesn’t want to get caught up in the greed of fame:

“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.”

Janelle wants to be a role model even though it’s not what’s currently popular with most of today’s biggest celebrities. Nonetheless, it’s what she feels she must do:

“I want to present a different perspective of what it means to be a strong woman, and I just hope to be an inspiration to the next generation of girls, to help them define what makes them unique and what makes them special.

“I have no problem with it; I think it’s necessary. I have to be a role model. I think there are certain people – and I think that I am one of those people – who naturally have leadership qualities.”

The singer also maintains a rather modest style when it comes to her fashion choices. She prefers to only wear black and white and usually likes to keep her figure confined in pants suits. But she claims it’s what she has to do to keep people focused on her music and not her physical appearance, considering that she says she has an amazing body:

“The colours come out in your music, the colours come out in your personality, the colours come out in performance. I started wearing this uniform, to be perfectly honest, because I have an amazing body.

“I’m serious – I’m not playing. When I look at myself in the mirror, I’m attractive. I really have a nice body. And I had to pick: Do I want them to focus on my body? Do I want them to focus on how curvy and really, really gorgeous my figure is? Or do I want them to look at my music? What has more value? And I made that decision. I want them to focus on the message and the music because I feel like I have a higher calling.”

Just in case you missed it, here’s the cover: