Ariana Grande makes for an arresting sight on the August cover of ELLE Magazine.

Rocking platinum colored tresses, the songbird will no doubt be hoping sales of new album ‘Sweetener’ glow a similar color upon its release next month.

Since bursting onto scene as a teen, the star has blossomed into a woman and is uber eager to use her platform to share more than candy-coated chart treats. And she stresses this in a feature interview.

Discussed during the candid chat were her views of Pop stars and politics, her thoughts following the terrorist attack at her Manchester show last year, and  more.

Peep pics and excerpts below…

On Not Understanding Why Some Artists Avoid Having An Opinion Publicly:

“Not everyone is going to agree with you, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to shut up and sing my songs.”

On How True Social Change Can Occur:

“Everyone has to have uncomfortable conversations with their relatives. Instead of unfriending people on Facebook who share different political views, comment! Have a conversation! Try to spread the f*cking light.”

On The Aftermath Of The Manchester Bombing:

It was unclear if she would ever want to perform again. Then Joan got a knock on her door. “It was two or three in the morning; she crawled into bed and said, ‘Mom, let’s be honest, I’m never not going to sing again. But I’m not going to sing again until I sing in Manchester first.’” They called her manager, Scooter Braun, and the One Love Manchester concert was born, helping raise $23 million for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund. Of how the event has changed Ariana, Joan says, “She loves a bit more fearlessly than she did before.” I gently broach the subject with Ariana, and the name Manchester alone triggers a huge teardrop to roll down her cheek. “You hear about these things,” she starts slowly. “You see it on the news, you tweet the hashtag. It’s happened before, and it’ll happen again. It makes you sad, you think about it for a little, and then people move on. But experiencing something like that firsthand, you think of everything differently.…” She pauses, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Everything is different.” Getting back onstage was “terrifying.” It still is sometimes. She credits her fans as being her primary source of courage. “It’s the most inspiring thing in the world that these kids pack the venue.

Ariana’s new album ‘Sweetener’ arrives August 17th. 

[Source] [Photo Credit: Elle /Alexi Lubomirski]

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