MADE FEATURE XXXX
MADE : What motivated you to share your story in your new book I Don ’ t Belong to You ?
KP : I think it was the same reason I wanted to do my talk show . I just feel like there are things that I want my peers to know , especially those that don ’ t get to see all the realities that I ’ ve seen since I ’ ve been in this industry . I think there are certain things they should know about going after your dreams . There are myths that people believe when going after your dreams . With me being someone who is going after mine and being someone quote unquote “ successful ” with it , I can share things that might make their journey a lot easier .
MADE : How do you hope your journey will resonate with young women ?
KP : I hope they feel it in a real way . Whatever that means to them .
MADE : In the book you write , “ Real happiness can ’ t find us if we aren ’ t honest and truthful with ourselves and to ourselves .” Can you recall a specific time in recent years when this lack of transparency kept you from realizing your full potential ?
KP : I think in many aspects of my life , one shining moment would be in music . I used to allow other people ’ s perception of me to become the perception of myself . I couldn ’ t quite see outside of who they thought of me and I allowed myself to get trapped in that space . It kept me uncreative and also very unhappy for a long time because I kept running up against roadblocks . And they weren ’ t roadblocks justified by any real reason or any real thing — they were just words that people said . There was no real reason for not allowing myself to just try .
MADE : From your outspoken stance against cultural appropriation to your reaction on the recent presidential election results , you ’ re not shy about stating and defending your opinion . How does your book document your journey to becoming such a self-assured and outspoken individual ?
KP : The book talks completely on how I became that . It specifically walks you through the habits of why I didn ’ t feel that and the habits in which made me feel that way . That ’ s really what my book is all about . It ’ s saying that if there ’ s anything I have to offer at all , this is what it will be . My way of thinking is the main thing . That ’ s what has propelled me forward — my ability to empower myself mentally and it ’ s transferred into everything I do .
MADE : One of the topics your book tackles is race . How have you managed to quiet the noise in an industry that isn ’ t known for its racial inclusivity or sensitivity and find your voice within ?
KP : I think it ’ s kind of a balancing game in terms of acknowledging or approaching that . On one hand , it deserves to be acknowledged and you want people to know that you understand and you see when they feel they are being misrepresented . On the other hand , you don ’ t want to personalize it because you don ’ t want to encourage victimization because the reality is that racism stems from ignorance . Ultimately there is no such thing as race . So even when you ’ re talking on the subject you have to acknowledge the elephant that is .
It ’ s hard to diminish something that ’ s also sensitive not to acknowledge . You can find yourself in a weird place . You don ’ t want to encourage the ideas or ideals , but at the same time it is a real thing that some people believe in . It ’ s a case-by-case situation on how you feel in the moment you ’ re going to approach that concept .
MADE : You ’ ve been classified as a new age social justice warrior thanks to your use of social media to address polarizing subject matters . What inspired you to begin using social media as a way to voice your opinion and mobilize your followers ?
KP : It ’ s right there in front of me and it ’ s a medium to engage with the people who
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