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5 Reasons to love Lizzo, a new kind of popstar
In this article Lucy demonstrates 5 reasons to love the self- empowering star.
When I think of Lizzo, I think of a new kind of popstar. One I longed to have when I was a young black girl growing up and feeling uncomfortable in her own skin. One who I am happy is around now to help me navigate my self-love and self-empowerment problems. She’s an artist I hope will still be around shouting anthems of self-love and self-acceptance when I have children.
Here are 5 reasons to love Lizzo
LIZZO IS AUTHENTIC
Lizzo is unapologetically herself all the time. At her Glastonbury 2019 performance she had the crowd chanting positive mantras including “ I love you, you are beautiful and you can do anything”. Her relentless positivity is uplifting and motivating to see and is an overriding theme in most of her songs.
LIZZO’S POSITIVITY IS HERE TO STAY
Lizzo’s agenda of empowering people doesn’t feel like a fad or a trend, like we often see with so many body positivity campaigns, it’s a simple request for everyone to truly love themselves. “If you can love my big black ass you can love yourself”. Lizzo truly wants everyone to love themselves as much as they love Lizzo. Speaking with The Cut magazine she explains, “Even when body positivity is over, it’s not like I’m going to be a thin white woman. I’m going to be black and fat. That’s just hopping on a trend and expecting people to blindly love themselves. That’s fake love. I’m trying to figure out how to actually live it.” I admire that even though she’s attached to what ultimately is a positive movement (body positivity) she still somewhat rejects it as to her it’s not a movement, it’s her life.
LIZZO IS A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE MODEL
To me Lizzo feels like a breath of fresh air in a muggy world of robotic white pop stars promoting body positivity whilst having a seemingly perfect size 8 body. Whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with any size, I think Lizzo is positively serving a generation of girls who have been forced to think that size 8 is the only size success comes in.
Whilst the media labels her with the stereotypical labels such as “curvy” and “plus size”, Lizzo wants to be known for her talents not her looks or body image.
LIZZO ISN’T AFRAID OF THE GRIND
Resilience, hustle and determination are key components in the singer’s success story. Her grind and hard work are obvious, as she wasn’t an instant success. Prior to her number one “Truth Hurts” she had been touring half empty venues, giving away free tickets to her shows and slept in her car. It was actually two years after it’s release until it gained any recognition. The reinforcement that hard work and the ability to not give up when following your dreams is refreshingly honest and this struggle is often overlooked.
LIZZO CLAIMS HER SEAT AT THE TABLE
The power of seeing a woman of colour taking audiences and stages by storm is such an incredible feeling. Watching an unapologetic black woman twerking whilst playing classical flute demanding you love yourself is one of the most powerful and celebratory sights I’ve seen in a long time. Lizzo continuously reinforces that as a black woman I should constantly take up space and make my voice heard.
Tell us your thoughts about Lizzo on our social media.
All illustrations drawn by Lucy Turner
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About the author
Lucy Turner
Lucy is a Bristol-based storyteller and content creator. After graduating University of Westminster with a degree in Fashion Buying, she went through a life-changing disease and decided to change course and began to explore creative ways to examine and work through suffering. 2019 was the year of creative recovery and healing for Lucy as she looked at ways to work through trauma, using theatre, performative dance movement and abstract art. She is passionate about telling stories especially around identity, trauma, gender, race and inclusion. You can find her dancing in her living room to Lizzo.
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