Doja Cat puts the spotlight on self-love
Grammy Award-winning rapper, singer and songwriter, Doja Cat has encouraged her fans to love themselves.
South Africa is home to many different cultures and communities, and while the Rainbow Nation’s diversity is something to celebrate, growing up feeling different from those around you can sometimes come with its own challenges.
One person who has openly spoken about the importance of embracing who you are is Doja Cat. The American rapper, singer and songwriter, whose real name is Amala Dlamini, has South African roots, although she was born and raised in the United States.
Her father, Dumisani Dlamini, is a well-known South African actor.
Doja was raised in Los Angeles and has spoken about feeling different while growing up, particularly because she did not often see people who looked like her in her surroundings. She says this affected how she viewed herself and her identity from a young age.
“I hated myself since I was eight years old,” she said.
Doja explained that she would even verbalise her feelings of self-hate while growing up, with her surroundings contributing to the way she perceived herself. However, as she has grown older, the rapper says she has reached a point where she has learned to appreciate and love herself.
“As I’ve got older, I’ve come to enjoy the way my hair looks and feels,” Doja said.
The singer has now used her own experience to encourage others who may be struggling with their identity, self-esteem or feelings of not fitting in.
“If you’re going through anything like that, not understanding your blackness, feeling you don’t fit in, or wanting to change, it gets better,” she said.
She also encouraged people to be intentional about developing self-love and protecting themselves from the negativity that can often come from social media. Doja urged people to think carefully before commenting on other people’s posts and to consider whether their words could be a projection of their own struggles.
“Before you write a comment, think about what you’re saying. Think about whether it’s projection. Be intentional with your words and realise that not everything you read is true,” she said.
“Stay creative, take care of yourself and remember you’re not indestructible,” she added.
Doja Cat is one of the most popular rappers around the world. She released her debut studio album, 'Amala', in 2018, before achieving global success with hits including “Say So”, which became her first US number-one single.
Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award and Billboard Music Awards, cementing her position as one of the leading artists of her generation.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
1. Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
2. Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
3. Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet
4. Switch to the audio bouquet on your OpenView decoder and browse to channel 606.
5. Listen to us on Amazon Alexa
Follow us on social media:
· TikTok