65
LEG
END
IN
TH
E M
AK
ING
This spring Lizzo burst onto the
scene with a rare brand of the
can’t-take-your-eyes-off-her
style and unstoppable charisma
that creates pop superstars.
Seemingly overnight, the rapper
and singer—noted for her incom-
parable ability to twerk while
playing the flute—has become
one of music’s most beloved new
stars, thanks to her empowering
lyrics, electrifying concerts and
earnest body-positivity advocacy.
But the 31-year-old’s instant star-
dom has actually been years in
the making. Born Melissa Jeffer-
son (the name Lizzo was inspired
by the Jay-Z song “Izzo” com-
bined with an earlier nickname,
Lissa), she was raised by her par-
ents, business owners, in Hous-
ton, where she studied to become
a classical flutist. In 2011 she
moved to Minneapolis to pursue
music and quickly became a local
celebrity in the city’s hip-hop
community. She was also a
protégée of Minnesota native
Prince, performing at Paisley
Park and recording with the icon
before his death. Since signing
with Atlantic Records in 2016,
she has released a string of sin-
gles (including “Truth Hurts”
THE BELOVED
BODY-POSITIVE
RAPPER AND
SINGER OPENS
UP ABOUT
HER STEADY
RISE TO FAME
& SELF-LOVE
By JEFF NELSON
PEOPLE August 5, 2019 65
AMY LOMBARD/THE NEW
YORK TIMES/REDUX
