All Rebellious Monsters are Human
“I would just like to sing. I just like to do the music. I don’t like all the other stuff that comes with it,” says K. Michelle, who sometimes hits the headlines for things other than her music. According to the R&B songstress, though, she would rather focus all of her attention on her singing, an ability which has defined her as an artist. Her voice that could light up an entire stadium cannot be denied even when the spotlight is sometimes on other areas of her life.
Born Kimberly Michelle Pate, the Memphis native idolized the likes of Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige, and would go to vocal lessons instead of gymnastics classes. After graduating from Florida A&M University, she decided to pursue a career in music. But getting into the music industry is not all roses, and she would like aspiring artists to understand the realities. “You have to make sure you have the right team. You have to make sure that your manager is good,” she says. “There are tons of obstacles. And sometimes, people aren’t who they say they are.”
As her popularity grew, Michelle was cast to be a part of the popular reality series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. While her musical talent was not always showcased, the show did give her a certain amount of exposure she wasn’t receiving at the time. She is a real artist with something to say, but there are also admitted drawbacks to starring in a reality series. “Having to deal with the stereotypes of it is a headache,” she shares. “It’s a headache that I don’t think people understand when they are trying to get into the business.”
With a string of successful albums under her belt, Michelle has cemented herself as a mainstay of soul and R&B. As her latest album – ALL MONSTERS ARE HUMAN – reveals a more honest and vulnerable side of her, she is not afraid to talk about her struggles, including the raw truth about plastic surgery and body enhancements. Young women often feel pressured to alter their bodies in hopes of being more successful, which Michelle fell victim to, eventually getting hip and butt injections. Everything felt fine for about five years until she started to experience fatigue, migraines, and back and leg pain. The silicone had spread down her legs, damaging the tissue, and Michelle had to undergo multiple surgeries and blood transfusions in order to regain her health. When asked for the biggest thing she has learned about herself, she affirms: “I just want to be centered. I want to be in a good place mentally year-round. When everything is mentally right, everything else starts to fall in place.”
Writer: Alain Clerine
Photographer: Tolga Kavut
Photographer Assistant: Emel Erdemanar Kavut
Stylist: Juelle Alexandra
Hair: Daniella Emilien
Makeup: Pebbles Cruzado
Editor: Eiko Watanabe
Special thanks to Bolay (@bolay - bolay.com) & EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)
