Olivia Rodrigo on Courage, Kindness, and Connection
Olivia Rodrigo is hardly an enigma. The three-time Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum musical phenom has made a career out of expression – both as an actress and a musician.
“Success means being able to express myself exactly how I want to and [doing] it with the people I love around me,” the star said.
At only 21, Olivia has had the privilege of traveling the world and meeting the industry’s most influential people. Yet, fans have learned that the songbird prefers to keep both feet on the ground, even while soaring high. She prioritizes her values above all else, calling for compassion in everything she does. “To navigate this world, you have to have lots of compassion for yourself,” she told Lancôme. “Insecurity and doubts are normal and usually fleeting. As such, learning to love yourself for all that you are is the most valuable skill.”
Extending such compassion outwards, Olivia recently launched her charity fund, “Fund 4 Good.” Proceeds from her recently concluded “Guts World Tour” stop in Manila, Philippines went to supporting women’s rights and its adjacent causes. Through her performances and initiatives, Olivia sought to aid women seeking reproductive healthcare, as well as to community organizations championing girls’ education or the prevention of gender-based violence.
“Kindness influences everything I do,” Olivia revealed. “I always try to put myself in other people’s shoes and have compassion.”
Connection is another vital tenet to Olivia’s raison d’etre. It is, in fact, a major theme for herself and one of the reasons she chooses to write the songs she does. “It’s really powerful to see my songs resonate with people I’ve never met,” she observed. “It reminds me that as different as we all are, we have so much shared humanity and we all experience so many similar emotions.”
Admittedly, Olivia has always been “very emotional,” even as a child. These sensitivities are what forced her to explore her feelings at an early age. “[Being emotional as a child] allowed me to figure out how to express myself early on,” she recalled. And as a young creative, that meant engaging in one of three things: writing, singing, or dancing. “Writing and singing are my ways of regulating my emotions and understanding my feelings,” she explained.
This kind of introspection has brought Olivia much success, but more than that it’s brought her closer to herself and others. Despite having to spend long periods away from her closest friends and family, Olivia manages to ground herself by connecting to herself and her loved ones.
“[Aside from artistic creation], happiness is something that comes mostly from connections that I create with other people,” she said. “But like anyone else, I [have my] darker times. Whenever I feel anxious or lonely, I try to accept these emotions and give myself grace. When I’m on the road, I call my friends and family every day to check-in. And when I arrive in a new city, I try to take the time to explore it. I also love journaling in cute coffee shops.”
And though Olivia has been public about her imperfections and insecurities, she said that none of that feels too scary thanks to the incredible support system she’s been blessed with. Alongside her fans, Olivia’s friends and family are vital supporters of the pop star. In fact, her mother’s belief in her dreams is what brought about Olivia’s big dreams, even as a child.
“When I was about 7 years old, I told my mom that I wanted to become an Olympic gymnast and she didn’t fully believe me,” Olivia recounted. “Seeing that her reaction offended me, she decided to take a new approach, and a little while later, when I announced that my new goal was to win a Grammy Award, she reacted very differently, with a great deal of encouragement. I still think about that moment.”
Aside from her musical pursuits, Olivia is also known for her beauty prowess. Her signature look — black eyeliner and red lips — has been a source of inspiration for beauty gurus worldwide. “I started to take an interest in makeup at the age of thirteen,” the singer shared. “I would watch YouTube videos, and I thought it looked so fun! I loved to experiment. I immediately understood that it was a new way to express myself.”
Today, Olivia is the global brand ambassador for luxury beauty house, Lancôme, and will be the face of exciting new projects with the Maison. “Embracing your individuality is so important in beauty since there are many unrealistic expectations placed on young women today. Lancôme is an iconic and timeless brand that promotes beauty from within and I am honored to be part of their family,” she ends.
To learn more about Olivia as the global brand ambassador for Lancôme, follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
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