What was life like before Lizzo? I can’t even remember. As part of Black History Month, what better way to intertwine black history and women’s empowerment than talking about Lizzo, a black, female, plus-size, trailblazer who has claimed unsurmountable success by embracing body positivity and self-love.
Think of Lizzo as your personal trainer, but she isn’t yelling words of discouragement and defeat. Coach Liz, dressed in a mint green waist trainer, coral-colored bodysuit, holds a pink bedazzled megaphone exclaiming that you look “good as hell!” Lizzo has catapulted herself to the top, claiming eight Grammy nominations, breaking the record for highest nominations, and going home with three3. Her infamous looks never fail turn heads, : from her citrus orange mini dress and miniature Valentino bag to her backless black t-shirt dress at the Lakers’ game. It’s so valuable to realize the path that Lizzo has carved for both diversity and in inclusion in pop culture. Her outgoing, bubbly personality draws audiences to her sold- out shows. Through her trials and tribulations, she iterates “black woman, big black woman, black trans woman. Period,” need to personally seek self-love.
Throughout grade school, labels like “nerd” and “clown” dictated her life. At the age of 10, she started playing the flute. Lizzo’s fervor for flute playing led her to join her high school band. The person who was once deemed as a nerd became the class clown. She’s had to overcome labels her entire life. Lizzo attended the University of Houston to continue her life-long dream of becoming a professional flautist, but soon fell victim to the stresses of money, enormous campus size and strenuous classes. She dropped out at age 20, falling on hard times and struggling to make ends meet. During this time, she wrapped herself into an unhealthy relationship with someone who desired a skinnier girlfriend yet another label to add to the list. Lizzo began to realize, “How can you be in love with someone when you’re not even you,” and she utilized this toxic behavior as an opportunity to seek help and shape her inner self. She made a decision to break off the relationship and to put the “sing in single!” In a Rolling Stone interview, she noted how to use vulnerability as a powerful tool in her music.
“But being vulnerable with someone I didn’t know, then learning how to be vulnerable with people that I do know, gave me the courage to be vulnerable as a vocalist,” Lizzo said.
Her youth was restrained by depression and self-doubt. As soon as she reaped the goodness from her life, she transformed it to music and began to share that message with the world.
Her music journey was reborn when she and her best friend, Eris, formed Chalice, a girl group inspired by Destiny’s Child. Within Minneapolis, Minnesota, they became celebrities, grabbing Princes’ attention. As their relationship with Prince grew, she was later connected to Atlantic Records and signed to their label. While her 2017 original release of “Truth Hurts” lost traction, her cover of Big Sean’s “Big Shot” on the flute made her a viral sensation. Later, Netflix shows, Tik Tok videos and commercials featured her song “Truth Hurts,” and the rest is history.
Lizzo reiterates that in the media, social media and the like condition viewers to look and act a certain way. She’s actively diminished that stereotype. She always manages to remain true to herself, and her followers can attest to that. She makes sure to recognize the good with the bad, and her music communicates that with every feel -good anthem. As a groundbreaking artist who shatters the social norm, advocates for self-love and evolves our perception of body image, Lizzo has changed the landscape of pop culture, and we can’t wait to hear more!