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The last 365 days have been full of highs and lows for Mary J. Blige. But through it all, the queen of Hip-Hop Soul has always been a source of endless inspiration for millions of Black women.
From her critically acclaimed performance in Mudbound, which earned her a slew of nominations, including a Golden Globe award, to the new music she released this year, Mary continues to share her gifts with us. In spite of personal struggles, it’s looking like 2018 is going to be the year of Ms. Blige!
Check out the top reasons why she is our favorite comeback queen.
She’s Multitalented:
From her incredible voice and catalog of work to her serious acting chops, Mary J. is a woman who was blessed with many talents. So many of our favorite jams like “Real Love,” “Everything” came from her early work, but her love songs like “Be Without You” are some of the greatest of all time.
While she’s been acting for years, her role in Dee Rees’ Mudbound was an incredible performance that left us all pulling for her to win ALL the awards.
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She’s Always Sharing Her Truth:
If Mary has been one thing in her career, it’s definitely been honest. Her music lyrics are raw and emotional songs about relationships, struggles and learning to love yourself. And in her interviews, she’s unafraid to get real about mistakes she’s made in her past. But more than just being honest, she always giving you her best advice, which we definitely appreciate.
As she once said, “You can hate me. You can go out there and say anything you want about me, But you will love me later because I told you the truth.”
She’s Resilient:
It has not always been easy for Mary J. Blige. She’s been honest about growing up in poverty, her past struggles with addiction and the loss of dear family members. This year, she went through a tough divorce publicly. But her life and career, and more importantly her attitude, are proof that you can overcome.
She’s A Friend In Our Head:
Every time Mary gives advice, it feels like she is speaking directly to us. Our favorite quote from her reads just like our bestie in our head.
The important thing is to realize that no matter what people’s opinions may be, they’re only just that – people’s opinions. You have to believe in your heart what you know to be true about yourself. And let that be that.
She’s Always Evolving:
From her red carpet style (which has been absolutely amazing of late!), to her music choices to her acting roles, Mary J. has grown in her artistic choices and we are here for every second of it.
How does Mary J. Blige inspire you?
