Mary J. Blige has served as a fashion trendsetter since the early 90’s. She has won 79 awards from 209 nominations; 9 have been Grammy Awards, with a record 31 Grammy nominations. But at 48 years-old, she's a style icon, both on the red carpet and on stage. Though some of her fashion choices, such as the tom boy look back in the 90’s, may have been a little over-the-top for some people, girls who looked like Mary loved every ensemble, because for the Queen of Hip Hop, it just vibed. Very few people were aware that many ensembles from Mary were not necessarily to enter the fashion industry but to shield herself from sexual harassment. The R&B songstress shared her own experiences in the entertainment industry. When she first entered the music business, she made the conscious decision to try to avoid assault by altering her appearance. “Well, in the [music] industry, I never had that problem. I was always kind of a tomboy and one of the guys. I feel sad for the women, but I’m happy that they’re free because they had to hold on to a secret for years. Because I’ve been through so much as a child and a teenager, I just wore baggier jeans and Timberlands and hats turned backward. It took me a very long time to even wear makeup and tight clothes because I had been through so much. And those secrets I still have to deal with. So hopefully these women are free, because it hurts.”” says Blige.
Over the decades, we have watched Mary blossom like a rose in her personal life, musical career and financial endeavors. Her divorce from estranged husband and former manager Martin “Kendu” Isaacs forced Blige to tend to her own business matters. True to the spirit of a survivor, Blige has not only managed to survive, but she is thriving! In maturity, the Queen of Hip Hop has finally found a way to deal with the adversity of life. “I hate pain, but I know how to deal with it,” Blige said. “To do the assignment God has sent me to do, I have to live certain things. And unfortunately, I’m constantly living it. You understand what I’m saying? It’s like trying to talk to a prison class, but you’ve never been to prison.”
The R&B/hip-hop icon has a newly launched Blue Butterfly production company which has signed a first-look TV deal with Lionsgate. Under the exclusive pact, Blige will develop and produce series as well as create content across the company’s other business platforms. Blige currently stars in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. Upcoming projects include films Violent Heart and Body Cam, and she was recently cast to provide a voice in DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls sequel Trolls World Tour. Queen of R&B or not, Mary J. Blige is still a sucker for fashion, and this is one of the reasons why her style earns so much respect. When Mary talks, we listen and the tea from Mary is “everyone needs a great nude lipstick in their life.” Mary has teamed with MAC Cosmetics. The Love Me lipstick collection is set to release 24 lipsticks over the course of the summer, kicking off with MJB's ultimate pick: a light, pinky-nude called French Silk. According to MAC, it features the perfect combination of brown, peach, and pink undertones, flatters a wide range of complexions, and has a lightweight formula that's silky, with a moisturizing satin finish. "MAC and I have always had a supportive relationship, and we've both always been vocal about the issues and beliefs that we stand by, including our similar, steadfast positions on inclusivity, diversity, and women's empowerment," Blige said in the same statement. "This year marks a huge milestone of 25 years for both of us: For me, the 25th anniversary of My Life," her iconic album, which debuted in 1994, "and for MAC, the 25th anniversary of Viva Glam, so it was a great time to come together again," she added.
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