Alicia Keys Recreates Muhammed Ali’s 1961 Underwater Photo
On her personal blog, Alicia Keys
has shared a lengthy note about how she grew to love herself –
especially after years of trying to hide herself and go unnoticed.
She reveals that her tomboy phase was done on purpose as she shied away from attention.
She also linked up with photographer Brendan Forbes to recreate two of her favorite photos.
The first is a remake of a classic 1972 picture of Trinidadian model Sintra Arunte-Bronte that was used in a promotional poster for Jamaican Tourists Board. The second is a remake of a classic Muhammad Ali photo taken in 1961.
For
as long as I can remember, I’ve hidden myself. It might have started in
school when I realized that I caught on to things a little quicker, and
teachers started to show slight favor to me, or use me as an example. I
remember feeling like my friends would make fun of me or look at me as
if I was different from them and so… I started hiding. Not
intentionally, I didn’t mean to, but I did. Little pieces at a time.
I
definitely started hiding when I got old enough to walk down my NY
streets alone. I started to notice a drastic difference in how men would
relate to me if I had on jeans, or if I had on a skirt, or if my hair
was done pretty. I could tell the difference, I could feel the animal
instinct in them and it scared me. I didn’t want to be talked to in that
way, looked at in that way, whistled after, followed. And so I started
hiding. I chose the baggy jeans and timbs, I chose the ponytail and hat,
I chose no makeup, no bright color lipstick or pretty dresses. I chose
to hide. Pieces at a time. Less trouble that way.
I
remember feeling that same way when I first started to get recognized
as an artist. I had the baggy/braided/tough NY tomboy thing mastered,
that was who I was (or who I chose to be) and I felt good there. Then,
because of the way I spoke or carried myself, people started calling me
gay and hard and I wasn’t gay, but I was hard and although I felt
comfortable there, it made me uncomfortable that people were judging me
and so slowly I hid that side of myself. I put on dresses and didn’t
braid my whole head up, so people could see more of the “real” me, even
though at that point I’m sure I was more confused then ever of what the
real me was.
I remember one interview
I gave had strong social thoughts from a book I just read. The writer
misunderstood me and wrote something that I didn’t say. I felt judged by
those reading it. Out came the shell again and me under it. Hiding,
piece by piece. Little by little. More and more.
I became comfortable hiding, my intelligence, my physical appearance, my truths, my thoughts, myself.
To
this day, every time I get out of the shower to get dressed, I swear
the first thought that comes into my head is, what can I wear that won’t
cause too much attention when I go pick up Egy, or head to the store,
or go shopping, or visit a friend etc.
And just the other day it hit me! OMG! Alicia!!! Why are you choosing to be that person?? That is so old and outdated!! STOP!!
You are allowed to be smart
You are allowed to be beautiful
You are allowed to be radical and have strong thoughts that others might not agree with
You are allowed to be tough
You are allowed to be sexy
You are allowed to be bold
You are allowed to be shapely
You are allowed to be kind
You are allowed to be yourself!!
And
guess what!?? I can be all these things all at the same time. I don’t
have to give up one to be the other. I don’t have to hide anymore, I
don’t have to pretend and hold back, I don’t have to think that my
intelligence, beauty and sensuality are intimidating to others. Who
cares??!!! I don’t have to think my silliness, clumsiness, or hallmark
card optimism, is something I can’t be proud of! Who cares????!!!!
I don’t have to try to go unnoticed
I don’t have to fit in
I don’t have to close up my thoughts and only speak my truth through songs!
I can speak it everyday
Live it everyday
Be it everyday
Dress it everyday
Show it everyday
Grow it everyday!!!
I only got 28,000 of those days. So what the F!CK am I waiting for?? And dammit that’s what I’m doing!!!!