With over 40 years of classic hit music and a legacy that will truly live forever, musical icon Janet Jackson is still in ‘control’ and living her best life in London, UK. In an exclusive interview and landing the cover of Allure February 2022 issue, Janet opened up about her childhood, loving the skin you’re in, and more.
The 55 year old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon has been living in London for 6 years, where her son, Eissa Al Mana was born. Reflecting back on her childhood, Jackson reminisced on her love for music. “We would always write music growing up. We had a studio at my parents’ house; it’s still there actually. So any time of day or night, if you couldn’t sleep or had an idea before school, after school, you could go in the studio and put it down, your idea, musically. So I did that and I put this idea that I had down and played all the parts on it and, like a genius, I left the tape on the machine and when I came home from school I was so embarrassed,” Jackson says. “They were listening to the song.”
As a female artist in the 80s there was only but so much ‘control’ Jackson had over the things she desired as an artist. “It was difficult at times being a woman and being told, ‘No, you can’t.’ Why? ‘Because women don’t do that,’” Jackson stated in the interview.
One thing is for sure, Jackson was definitely in control of her unique fashion style. “I was never a girly girl. Even as an early teen, I always had on a suit with a tie or suspenders.” Jackson says. Over the years female artist have evolved to not only become more “comfortable in their skin”, but also “in their size”. “I love that,” Jackson says, “as opposed to back in the day. You had to always be thin and always look a certain way. And now it’s all accepted and it is all beautiful and I absolutely love that.”
As the beauty ‘norms’ are being redefined by society, Jackson still finds a way to age gracefully. “I’m very fortunate to have a very loyal and loving fan base. And I think they will always accept me for who I am,” Jackson says. “I don’t know when my day is coming, but at some point it’s going to come and I can choose which path I want to take. I do hope I age gracefully.” she continues, “It’s either a little bit of zhuzh or gracefully.”
