Monica (singer)

"“I let how I feel affect how I look. Authenticity has always been key for me and my audience. They know that I tell the truth. I talk about the good and the bad of love, relationships and life. It’s not anything contrived. I don’t let people come in and make something up. It’s really me.”"

"I don’t slight anybody else’s plight, but it’s no joke. It’s demanding on the body, and on the mind because you are using your creativity constantly. But it also offers a sense of peace, when this is something that you truly love. People don’t realize the wear-and-tear that it can put on your body — traveling, performing and dealing with seemingly simple things like allergies that can affect performances. But it’s definitely freeing of the mind."

"It’s 50 percent because it speaks for you before you say a word. You look at someone and you can almost get a vibe from them in how they carry themselves and how they’re dressed."

"It’s very round-the-way chic. I love runway, but I also love where I am from — the south side of Atlanta, Georgia. A lot of the things I wear are indicative of that urban lifestyle. I love Milano Di Rouge, Marni, Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior. On stage, I love to be very dramatic and over-the-top."

"Cyndi B shoots me based upon my mood. Often my stylist Jeremy and I will pick clothes based on the city I’m going to and the relationship I have with that city. My second home is New Orleans and I have an extreme love for Los Angeles, Chicago and many other cities. Cyndi has been with me for more than five years. We’ve come a long way, because we have grown with each other. We didn’t study anyone else. She studies the way that I move, things I like to do. She knows when I am in a super joyful mood or a mood that is more indicative of my song “So Gone.” That is definitely a place I have found myself multiple times with relationships."

"In Los Angeles, I might go more runway chic. That’s a place where people study fashion. A lot of [designer] brands have even had shows there. We’re definitely ripping the runway, when we’re in L.A. In New Orleans, there are thee most genuine, loving, festive, fun people that you will ever meet in your life. We dress accordingly. We have a ball. It’s important to embrace people for who they are and what they stand for in each of those different cities."

"Activism has always been important to me. Growing up in a church that only holds 100 people, a big part of what we do is to give back and stay active in communities. I started the BeHuman Foundation in Atlanta to take care of families consistently, not just for a holiday. We have worked with American Cancer Society. I recorded a record [“Pink”] for breast cancer awareness with some legends like Rita Wilson and Miss Dolly Parton. BeHuman enables me to give back however I want to. The name BeHuman means loving your brother, your sister as yourself. That means being there for people in their times of need"

"The reality is a lot of people, who live here and are from here, that have been influential in creating a great space for us to work in [are fueling it]. Tyler Perry’s movie studios [located on 330 acres of historic property] changed a lot for a lot of people. He is really committed to serving the community by creating jobs and opportunities"