The colors black and white are my uniform, to honor the working class. People like my parents, who were janitors and had to wear a uniform every day. It keeps me grounded. Janelle Monae More Quotes by Janelle Monae More Quotes From Janelle Monae I've cried over string arrangements. Janelle Monae arrangements strings cried No matter if you wear a small amount of makeup, no makeup, or heavy makeup, as long as you feel beautiful internally and you're doing beautiful things for other people, and not just focusing on the exterior to make yourself happy, I think you should do what works for you. You should rock on. Janelle Monae makeup beautiful thinking You had to change who you were to become famous. I thought that for a very long time. Even after signing a record deal, and then eventually getting my own recording company, Wonderland Records, I had to say no to a lot of opportunities to become well known. If it didn't align with my values and if it didn't support the image I had created for myself, I'd pass. Janelle Monae support opportunity long I hope women feel confident with themselves and realize that we don't all have to look alike or be the same size to be beautiful. I hope they feel like representing what it means to be an individual and to remain comfortable in your own skin. Janelle Monae skins beautiful mean As a businesswoman you have to be open. I'm always open to listening and learning and considering. However, I don't look at business as anything other than a partnership. And in any partnership both parties need to leave the table happy. Janelle Monae partnership party listening 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 my own hair, do my own makeup. Janelle Monae makeup artist hair I enjoy how women dressed in the 1920s with the shimmering jewels and rich feathers. Janelle Monae rich enjoy jewels I don't do a lot of collaborations that I don't believe in. Actually, I don't do any collaborations that I don't believe in. Janelle Monae collaboration dont-believe believe I'm attracted to things that scare me, like 'Psycho,' my favorite Hitchcock movie. Janelle Monae psycho scare my-favorite I love Fun. They're great guys. They're incredible artists and musicians. Janelle Monae guy artist fun I always carry my classic black-and-white tux and custom-made George Esquivel saddle shoes. Janelle Monae classic shoes black-and-white I don’t even know at what age I started, because it’s always been there. Performing … creating … it’s in my DNA. Janelle Monae creating dna age I think if people genuinely want to help ... that'll shine through, no matter what color or what race. We cannot see race before compassion. Janelle Monae compassion race thinking Perfection is the often the enemy of greatness. Janelle Monae greatness perfection enemy People in my family and camp who grew up listening to rap music love 'We Are Young.' I've heard it play at weddings. I've heard it in graduation parties. It's a big idea and big song. Janelle Monae graduation inspirational funny 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 art gallery. Janelle Monae focus believe art I listen to Prince on my iPad. And I use a Chords & Scales app to warm up before performing. Janelle Monae chords ipads use I know what I like; if you go to my closet, I have at least four of everything. Janelle Monae closets four knows I love the mystery behind things. Janelle Monae behinds mystery I'm not a politician; I'm an artist. So I always feel the need to give the unfiltered truth, (or) what I think is the truth, at least. Janelle Monae politician artist