Jul 29, 2022

Written by Kenya Hunt For ELLE UK's September Issue: Lizzo

Introducing The Cover Star of ELLE UK's September Issue, Lizzo

Lizzo began imagining a life as a singer when she was a young girl, named Melissa Viviane Jefferson. As legend has it, she was born in Detroit (Taurus sun; Leo rising) smack in the middle of rush hour. She then moved to Houston, Texas, at the age of 10. It was there that she had her first encounter with one Beyoncé Giselle Knowles. ‘Growing up in Houston, the impact that Destiny’s Child had on me making a decision to become an artist was incredible, mostly because I felt like we were so close to it. Everyone had their, “I saw Beyonce when…” or, “I saw Destiny’s Child at this party…” stories. And that made it seem more accessible. Like, “Oh, maybe I can do this too, if I worked hard enough and had the right people around me.”’

"I don’t need social media, social media needs me. Social media literally needs people to function. I don’t need to go on the internet and feel better about stuff anymore. I have a therapist. I have best friends. I have an amazing team around me who I can talk to. I got love."

— Lizzo

Click Here To Read The Entire Cover Story

Writer: Kenya Hunt

Kenya Hunt is the Editor-in-Chief of ELLE UK. Her career spans working for some of the world's most influential women’s titles on both sides of the Atlantic from her post-graduate days as an Assistant Editor at the seminal magazine, Jane, to her time as Deputy Editor of Grazia UK and ELLE UK. As the founder of R.O.O.M. Mentoring, she advocates for greater diversity within the fashion industry by providing a supportive network for some of the many talented aspiring designers, journalists and image makers of colour London has to offer.

Photographer: AB+DM

AB+DM is the American fashion photography duo made up of by Ahmad Barber and Donté Maurice. Since forming their creative bond, the fashion photography duo has created renowned images for leading fashion and lifestyle publications including Interview, CR Fashion Book, i-D, Essence and American and British editions of GQ. Together, their work gives an endearing approach to fashion and portraiture. Through their professional chemistry and understanding of photography, AB+DM has managed to foster in-depth connections to their illustrious subjects in ways, that not only allow their images to stand apart, but to be revered.