Janelle Monae

“I'm inspired by the words: 'electrifying', 'epic', 'minimalistic', 'transcendent', 'timeless' and 'rock n' roll.'”

“I'm a believer that the more I'm giving, the happier I am, and the more beautiful my exterior will be.”

“I enjoy how women dressed in the 1920s with the shimmering jewels and rich feathers.”

“Honestly, I don't believe in menswear. I focus on what pieces are most timeless, transcendent, match my lifestyle, remain remarkable, and command intriguing attention across the room at an a...”

“Lauryn Hill, P-Funk, Marvin Gaye, Public Enemy - I have a very diverse palate for music. I can go from Judy Garland to Jimi Hendrix to Stevie Wonder to Rachmaninoff. I just love great music.”

“When I was growing up, both my grandmothers would play the organ, and we would all sing.”

“I'm attracted to things that scare me, like 'Psycho,' my favorite Hitchcock movie.”

“I won't sit here and say I've never had a pimple, but I try to have a really great diet, you know, lots of vegetables and fish. And I think stress plays a huge part too.”

“I have mentors like Erykah Badu. She's been like a big sister to me.”

“I was constantly involved in music and theatre all through middle school and high school.”

“I had a strong visceral reaction to the 'Moonlight' script, partly because I felt I knew all of these characters.”

“When I got into the music industry, I wasn't focused on being the most famous artist or even getting a major record deal. It was just to make music on my own terms or create my own image, do...”

“I will never stop making music.”

“Maybe I'm outdated in thinking this, but because I'm a young black woman and don't see very many being the lead in a film, I have this fear: 'Will I be working?'”

“I wouldn't be as comfortable with who I am if it had not been for Prince. I mean, my label 'Wondaland' would not exist without 'Paisley Park' coming before us.”

“I'll refer to my music in color, like 'This song needs to be bright red.'”

“My grandmother was the matriarch. If you didn't have a place to stay, if you needed food, if you were just coming out of jail or rehab, you went to her. Watching her in our family and our wi...”

“I have worn a tuxedo, but I have never covered up for respectability politics or to shame other women.”

“Children go with whatever makes them feel good - like if that's the color green or orange, they do that with their clothes. As I've grown older, everything reversed. My music, my personality...”

“I always carry my classic black-and-white tux and custom-made George Esquivel saddle shoes.”