In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair for its November cover story, the 34-year-old music sensation, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, shared insights into her artistic journey and the purpose behind her music. Lizzo boldly stated that despite reaching high levels of popularity, she doesn’t create music with a specific racial audience in mind. Instead, her music is an authentic expression of her Black experience—a form of personal healing from life’s challenges.

While Lizzo’s musical roots are grounded in R&B, hip-hop, and gospel, she has undeniably made an impact in the pop genre with hits like “Juice,” “Good As Hell,” and the recent “About Damn Time.” Despite garnering a diverse fanbase, including many white fans following her breakthrough in 2019 with “Cuz I Luv You,” Lizzo emphasized that her primary audience is Black women.