V Magazine has unleashed the cover for its annual music issue and this instalment features none other than Lizzo.

The rising star – whose new album ‘Cuz I Love You’ is out now – styles and profiles in the fierce in the Nicola Formichetti lensed spread.

Within the feature’s inner pages, singer Sam Smith interviews the Houston native about her journey, body positivity, the LGBTQ community, and much more.

Head below for pics and quotes…

On Early Life:

I was really ambitious, really smart. Teachers would call my mom and be like, “Melissa is trying to teach my class.” So I was nerdy, but also chubby and sweaty. I liked anime and comics. Which just didn’t work in Houston, southwest Alief, where everybody’s black and listens to rap. I was listening to Radiohead and classical music.

On Her Hard Work Ethic:

When I was little, my mom would always say I was “doing the most.” I would do every class, every elective, every after-school activity. And I would just go until I passed out. And I’m still doing that to this day. I have been working [this hard] for a long time— since before I moved to Minneapolis, [which I did] when I was done with Houston. I had tried everything career-wise in Houston and it just didn’t work [before music took off].

On Her Favorite Singers / Inspirations:

I am going to give you Freddie Mercury… Beyoncé, because I loved Destiny’s Child. I thought she was the greatest singer of all f*cking time. And this might be controversial, but I really love Thom Yorke’s voice.

On Body Positivity:

I feel like [in the beginning] I was this industry secret. Part of me took pleasure in that, but then another part was like, are they not posting about me because I am big? I felt this [frustration] with how I was being perceived all through high school, and for much of my life. Until I was like, f*ck it. I just need to be undeniable. It’s not about me being big. It’s about me being me. Y’all are going to get this bad b*tch. You are going to get these bops and get this show. And you are going to get your life by receiving it.

The part that makes me sad is that I want other people who look like me to have opportunities, to be seen and to get jobs. And I don’t know if it is working or not because I am so in the middle of it, but I will say that I am doing everything I can. I am trying.

On Her Love For the LGBTQ Community:

LGBTQ people lifted me up and got me to this point. I have nothing but love for them. I just feel so humbled because I believe that all marginalized people have the experience of feeling unwanted and not being able to just f*cking live our lives. I think we all have that common thread—we can look at each other on the sidelines and nod, like, b*tch I feel you. We all feel each other on a certain level.

I have felt excluded my entire life, from so many things. I have felt excluded from [my] blackness because I wasn’t [culturally] well-read on certain things. I feel like, because of that, I never want anyone [else] to ever feel excluded. So my movement is for everyone. It’s about inclusion. And if I am going to fight what I have been marginalized for, I am going to fight for all marginalized people.

Also, I honestly feel like there is no such thing as straight [laughs]. Because f*ck boxes; I am too big to be put in one anyway. I am a fat b*tch.

More power to her!

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: V]