She seems all natural and serene, like the beam of light that seeps in through her curtains.
Im really that bitch yall, its not for play.
Shes blushing as I read it out loud because she meant every single word.
Theres a difference between knowing who you are and knowing who you are, Normani explains.
I know, but Ive been starting to know.
Its time to shine.
Over the past year and a half, a lot of truths have come to light for Normani.
The pandemic mandated a change of pace that gave her the space to breathe and go inward.
Coming out as a new artist for the second time is a challenge, but Normani returned on fire.
A lot of breakthroughs are happening these days, she says proudly.
Laurel DeWitt cabbage top.
Chanel earrings and necklace.
Normani Kordei Hamiltonwas born in Atlanta in 1996 and raised in New Orleans, an only child.
Their intergenerational bond is cosmic: Shes really my best friend.
Shes my soul mate, for real, Normani says of her grandma.
As a youngbrown-skinned Black girlin the South, affirming spaces were crucial as they werent everywhere in Normanis orbit.
I grew up feeling beautiful.
The fact that my skin was chocolate was a beautiful thing.
My kinky hair was beautiful.
I dont need to straighten it.
I can rock my braids to my all-white school.
I did get bullied a lot.
Not feeling like I had that representation at school was very hard, she says.
Now you all are going to see me tap into that awareness that I know Im the shit.
The rejection Normani felt from her peers lingers even now that shes in her mid 20s.
She still has to quell thoughts that tell her she doesnt belong.
To stand out, Normani has given her everything to be the best.
Ive always felt like the underdog in anything that Ive ever done, she tells me.
The stakes are high forBlack girlsfrom the day were born.
There is little margin for our trials and errors.
She has touched success, but the recognition can seem like a farce.
The answer is not only in her artists resume, but also in the battles shes won.
I didnt get to really sing in the group.
I felt like I was overlooked, Normani says.
That idea has been projected on me.
Like, this is your place.
Illustration by Christina Zimpel.
Laurel DeWitt pepper earrings and bracelet.
Historically, the term pophas come with the notion that the artist and/or product has been carefully packaged.
But the tides continue to turn as Black female artists attain mainstream status with authenticity and experimentation.
Normani checks all the boxes, but she also wants to create outside of those lines.
Yes, I can throw ass.
If I want to sing this pop ballad, then youre going to love it!
While you see my Black face!
When I show up, Im ready, she says.
You cant point the finger at me.
I ask whether she considers herself to be a perfectionist.
Yes, she admits, without hesitation.
Its slowed my process down and allowed me to get in my own way.
Now though, as Normani works on her album, shes seeing the positive outcomes of relinquishing some control.
Illustration by Liana Farmer.
Laurel DeWitt lemon earrings.
The next day, Normaniis a bit late to our follow-up interview.
I wonder if thats because she stepped out the night before for Doja CatsPlanet Heralbum-release party.
But actually, she was a little late because of a pressing work call.
Its a pivot from her previous, more pristine-sounding bops.
She lights up as she raves about the instrumentation.
Its slinky with dynamic pockets that are perfect for Normani to create another epic dance moment.
I went to [Starrah] and said, I want something really sexy, she explains.
I just felt this sense of me coming into my own.
I feel like a woman now.
Normani exudes an intrinsic, red-hot appeal during her performances.
But this song is special because its just as much for her as it is for anyone else.
Thats the record I need to also feel like a bad bitch, she says.
Normani is super hands-on.
There really isnt a part of the process where shes not involved.
She sits alongside producers to help build the tracks, asking questions about intricate details and BPMs.
She says with a laugh, Im probably so annoying.
For me, that takes a lot, she says.
Its that end of the spectrum.
Its the things that make me scared.
Its the things that Im insecure about.
Shes realized her power.
Im reinventing myself, she says.
This story originally appeared in the September 2021 issue of Allure.
