If there were a physical embodiment of magnetism, it would beMonaleo.
Did we mention she’s also fly as hell?
“I would get so nervous.
Courtesy of brand
I felt like I was performing in front of a hundred people,” she tellsAllure.
“I would practice my song the entire week.
Eight months later, I went to the studio and recorded ‘Beating Down Yo Block’.”
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The self-described suicide survivor has been candid aboutthis particular struggleand has made it her mission to raise awareness.
Allure:What was it like seeing your songs blow up on social media?
Monaleo:It was super surreal.
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I was like, “I can’t believe this is happening before my eyes.”
It was like going up the incline at the gym I was trying to keep up with it.
There were still a lot of personal things that I was healing from and still am healing from.
I just had to figure out how to balance.
There would be days where I just didn’t feel like doing shit.
There would be days where I just wanted to be in my bed eating ice cream.
At that time, I was homeless.
I had nowhere to go, I didn’t have a job.
I was trying to figure it out.
M:I don’t want to be strong every day.
I’m not a bodybuilder.
[Black girls and women] don’t get to be emotional about shit.
If we’re emotional about something we’re overacting, we’re angry Black women.
Why is she taking this to social media, et cetera.
I want to further the conversation about being a human being and having real fucking emotions.
People have really lost sight of that.
Especially when you’re an artist, people kind of look at you and idolize you.
They project these characteristics and these traits that you didn’t even ask for.
They just kind of put you in this box as a trophy or a doll.
They want to gaze at you and be able to interact with you whenever they feel like it.
You get so used to being uncomfortable, especially as a Black woman.
You swallow it and don’t say anything about it.
You almost forget that you fucking have a voice.
I forget a lot of times.
Identify those things, give them a name, and then implement those boundaries.
There’s a lot of power in being able to stand on your own.
The people who stand on their own are so fucking admirable to me.
I always second-guess myself.
ALLURE: That is so true and beautifully said.
During those low moments, what is your self-care routine?
M:I have a different routine for anxiety and I have a different routine for depression.
I also like to clean my whole house with citrus-scented things.
I spray my cabinets with this lemon spray, then wipe them down with the lemon Lysol wipes.
I lightlemon candlesor orange candles, I drink lemon tea, I take a bath with orange peels.
It’s like a breath of fresh air.
If I’m feeling depressed, I will surround myself with things that I love the most.
I love the color pink so I take a bath with a pink sparkly bath bomb.
ALLURE: Musically, what can we expect from you in 2022?
Any new projects or things in the works?
I want to try my hand at a couple of different sounds and techniques as an artist.
ALLURE: Would you ever consider exploring any other creative mediums?
M:Yes, girl.
I want to do voice acting eventually.
I’m excited to show the world my creative side.
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