American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and producer Janelle Monáe is on the cover of Shape Magazine’s issue celebrating strong women. In this issue she talked with Farai Chideya, a writer and broadcaster on pop and politics, about moving forward, what empowers her to stay healthy, what propels her as a change maker, and how we can all learn the art of living well.
On Self Care “I think self-care is important, and it shifts with your growth. It used to be making sure that I take a vacation because I had been working 11 months out of the year. I needed time to play, to let my hair down, and run around naked. All of that is still important. And if I also want to drink, I’m drinking. You know what I’m saying?“
On Dealing with Abandonment Issues “I realized that I was dealing with abandonment issues, and just last year, I started to really deal with it. My dad was in and out of my life growing up, and other instances where I felt abandoned were coming up to the surface. I started to write these things down, and I remember just crying like a baby. I will say that it is so freeing when you can identify your trauma. Knowing why you feel a certain way or why these feelings of being upset or angry or sad—why they’re happening, what the root of it is. It’s just so empowering.”
On Mental and Physical Strength “Mental and physical health is a journey, not a destination. I don’t have to be the most thin person. My shape doesn’t have to be what you think it should be. I am on a journey, and the journey itself is the reward. The journey is the lesson.”
Read full interview here