Mariah Carey Got Real About How She Really Feels Being Called A "Diva"

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Mariah Carey is, obviously, one of one — an absolute legend.

mariah walking down the street
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If you've been, y'know, alive on this rock we call Earth, you've probably also heard people call Mariah a "diva." A lot.

mariah sitting on a chair for an interview
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Well, Mariah's finally addressed her history of being called a "diva," as well as why she's pretty much cool with it.

closeup of maria holding a sharpie to sign autographs
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In a recent interview with W Magazine, Mariah said that she'll sometimes "play into" the "diva" role, although there's plenty more to her than that persona as well.

mariah on stage singing
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"There are things people are not aware of, because this whole quote-unquote 'diva' thing is always what people see first," she said, before acknowledging that "part of" the persona is "real."

mariah singing
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"I can’t help it. Like, what do you do if you grew up with an opera singer for a mother, who went to Juilliard and made her debut at Lincoln Center?"

closeup of mariah
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"There’s just a certain amount that is going to emerge," Mariah continued while discussing any signs of her diva-like behavior — and she also explained that, when she does act that way, it could mean any number of things.

  James Devaney / GC Images / Getty Images
James Devaney / GC Images / Getty Images

"[I]t’s just an affectation," she claimed, "and sometimes it’s purposely done, and sometimes it’s just, like, you know, a response."

closeup of mariah smiling
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Whatever it is, she'll always be icon status regardless. Read the entire interview here.

closeup of mariah
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