As Alicia Keys enters her 42nd year, she finds herself more in love with her essence, embracing the journey of personal growth and the discovery of true inner beauty. In a heartfelt interview with The Cut, the iconic singer-songwriter shared her reflections on aging, self-awareness, and embracing her authentic self.

Alicia Keys, the voice behind “Fallin’”, is reveling in the wisdom and consciousness that comes with age. “I love getting smarter. I love being more conscious. I love being aware of what I think,” she expressed. This stage in her life is marked by a profound understanding of self and a comfort in trusting her inner voice, free from the need for external validation.

Keys speaks candidly about her relationship with aging, observing how she’s becoming more beautiful with time. This beauty, she notes, stems from the layers of self-reflection and inner work cultivated over the years. “Your heart opens more… You become more beautiful as you recognize these things about yourself, as you become wiser, as you become more yourself, who you actually are,” she reflects.

In 2016, Alicia Keys made headlines for her commitment to a makeup-free lifestyle, challenging conventional beauty standards. In a powerful essay for Lenny Letter, she voiced her disdain for the societal pressures imposed on women to adhere to certain beauty norms. This bold move was a declaration of her desire to embrace and celebrate her natural beauty.

Today, as the founder of Keys Soulcare, Alicia looks back at her evolution from a young artist in the industry to a mother, wife, and a symbol of grace at 42. She recounts the early days of her career when appearance was paramount, leading to a significant self-realization about her sense of worth beneath the external adornments.

Having reintegrated makeup into her life, Keys has redefined her relationship with beauty. Her approach is now shaped by her own standards and perspectives. “I get to determine what’s beauty to me. Nobody gets to tell me what that is,” she states, signifying a new chapter in her life where she embraces beauty on her own terms.

Alicia Keys’ graceful aging, embracing of personal growth, and redefining beauty standards inspires a celebration of the true beauty that lies within and the courage to become more of oneself with each passing year.

Ntianu Obiora
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Ntianu Obiora is a versatile creative professional with over a decade of experience in publishing, marketing, communications, and digital strategy. She is the Online Editor at THEWILL DOWNTOWN