Normani opens up about body image, self-love and supporting Black women: ‘My chocolate skin makes me beautiful’

Normani might be gearing up to release her debut album as a solo artist, but the singer and dancer continues to work with the mission of lifting other women up through her art.

At 25 years old, the Atlanta native has already been in the business for a decade after appearing on The X Factor in 2012 and becoming a part of the well-known girl group Fifth Harmony. As she's grown up in the spotlight, she’s maintained a positive body image for herself and for the young Black women watching her.

"I constantly remind myself to be kind to myself," she tells Yahoo Life. "Even though you can't expect the rest of the world to do that, it's like at the end of the day, somebody has to, so why not show up for yourself? Why not lift yourself up?"

As of late, Normani says she feels "very confident" and credits that to the women that she's been surrounded by throughout her life.

"A lot of that has to do with being raised in a household with women that I really, really looked up to. That being my grandmother, that being my mom," she says. "And then my dad being the first man in my life that I love and him always encouraging that I was beautiful."

Video Transcript

NORMANI HAMILTON: I constantly remind myself to be kind to myself. Even though you can't expect the rest of the world to do that, it's like at the end of the day, somebody has to, so why not show up for yourself? Why not lift yourself up? Those things are really, really, really, really, really important.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

KERRY JUSTICH: Today, I'm chatting with the incredible Normani about her mission of female representation, and her journey with self-confidence.

How would you describe your relationship with your body today?

NORMANI HAMILTON: I'm very confident. A lot of that has to do with being raised in a household with women that I really, really looked up to, that being my grandma, that being my mom, and then my dad being the first man in my life that I love, and him always encouraging that I was beautiful.

They've always told me that I was beautiful, and my chocolate skin, like, makes me beautiful, aside from what society says. I'm able to appreciate the things that give my body or my face character. I see my mom's thighs, and I see my dad's nose, and I just really, really appreciate that we come in so many different shapes and forms, and shades. And I think that deserves to be celebrated, for sure.

KERRY JUSTICH: Why is it so important to have these strong females represented with you, and those relationships?

NORMANI HAMILTON: I always wanted to be in a girl group. I just love being a part of a team. I grew up being a competitive gymnast, I was also a competitive dancer. So I know what it's like to be a part of something. I've always loved lifting women up, and also I feel the pressures too, like being a Black woman, just to be seen or noticed. Like we have to do a lot more, and work 10 times as hard.

It was so important for me to have a Janet and have a Be with curves. To find my place, and to also know that, OK, she looks like me. And she's successful. She's beautiful. And I can do the same thing. Little Black me needed to see that.

KERRY JUSTICH: The images that you're putting out on social media, there are like, these super beautiful, stripped down images of yourself, and you talk so much about the vulnerability that's going to be coming through in the new music. And I wanted to ask how the vulnerability, and the way in which you're going to be opening up in your new music is also able to come through in these images that portray such confidence and self-love?

NORMANI HAMILTON: It's liberating for me, to be completely honest. And also quite scary, being so vulnerable. It's OK to not be OK in front of everyone, too. There's beauty in that, and that's what makes you human. I think that a lot of the time, people kind of put celebrities on like, this pedestal, and assume that we don't feel hurt the same way that they do, or betrayed. That's everything that this record embodies. If you want to get to know me, I feel like this particular record is like, close to Normani.