One of my core values is to help redefine what it means to be a

Hear the words of Janelle Monáe, visionary of sound and style, who declared: “One of my core values is to help redefine what it means to be a strong and beautiful woman in the music and fashion worlds and to empower the wonderful things that make us unique.” In this proclamation, she does not speak for herself alone, but for all women who have been bound by narrow definitions, confined by the chains of others’ expectations. Her mission is heroic: to rewrite what strength and beauty mean, to lift individuality from the shadows, and to give voice to those silenced by false ideals.

The ancients too struggled with such questions of identity and power. In the myths of Greece, beauty was often portrayed as fragile, a prize to be won or fought over by men, while strength was reserved for warriors and kings. Yet, in the figure of Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, we see that true greatness lies in unity—strength and beauty, intellect and grace, coexisting in one form. Janelle Monáe, in her own time, calls us back to this truth: that a woman can be all things—resilient and radiant, fierce and tender, bold and unique.

Consider the story of Harriet Tubman, whose strength carried not only her own body to freedom, but also the lives of countless others through the Underground Railroad. She was not adorned in jewels or celebrated on stages, yet her courage shone brighter than any crown. Tubman’s beauty was not bound to appearance, but to the fire of her spirit. In recalling Monáe’s words, we see how history teaches us that strength and beauty must be redefined—not as what society imposes, but as the authenticity each soul carries.

Monáe’s vision is forged within the crucibles of music and fashion, two arenas where women have too often been told how to appear, how to sound, how to behave. Yet she proclaims the power of individuality, declaring that uniqueness is not a flaw but a gift. In her tuxedos, in her futuristic songs, in her unapologetic style, she shows that conformity is weakness, and that the true empowerment of women lies in embracing the very things that set them apart. This is no small act—it is rebellion against centuries of silencing.

The teaching is clear: true beauty and strength are not to be defined by others, but must be discovered within oneself. If society calls strength hardness, Monáe reminds us it can also be gentleness. If the world calls beauty sameness, she reminds us it is uniqueness. She challenges each woman, and indeed each human, to cast off false definitions and to live as their own authentic selves, shining in the light of their individuality.

Practical wisdom follows: honor what makes you different. Do not hide your uniqueness to fit into molds that were never made for you. Speak boldly, dress boldly, create boldly, love boldly. Surround yourself with those who uplift your individuality, and strive to uplift others in return. Remember that empowerment is not only for the self but for the community—by embracing your uniqueness, you open the way for others to do the same.

So let Janelle Monáe’s words resound as an anthem for the generations: “To redefine what it means to be a strong and beautiful woman… and to empower the things that make us unique.” This is not merely a personal vow, but a universal charge. May all who hear it rise to the call: to challenge false definitions, to honor their individuality, and to live as living testaments that strength and beauty shine brightest when they come from the truth of the soul.