The “Hot Girl” Rapper Sizzles in ESSENCE’s Annual Issue Celebrating Black Style Innovators and Disruptors

ESSENCE, the leading and only 100% Black-owned media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities, features Grammy Award-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion on its coveted September/October “Global Black Fashion” issue cover. With millions of fans, three Grammys and a new album in the works, the artist has been hailed by music’s biggest names in music—and she’s not slowing down anytime soon. Megan is resplendent as her alter ego “Tina Snow” for the stunning fashion spread—dripping in diamonds and designers including Hanifa, Cartier, Norma Kamali, Christian Dior, Bulgari, Catherine D’Lish, Orseund Iris and more. In the cover story, Snow No Mercy, she doesn’t hold back as she talks to ESSENCE Associate Editor Brooklyn White about everything from working on her highly-anticipated new album, what’s behind her fierce drive, her musical influences and more:

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SNEAK PEEK FROM ESSENCE! Grammy-Award winning artist Megan Thee Stallion channels alter ego "Tina Snow" for ESSENCE's Global Black Fashion September/October cover! In the cover story "Snow No Mercy," she doesn’t hold back as she talks to ESSENCE Associate Editor Brooklyn White about everything from working on her highly-anticipated new album, what’s behind her fierce drive, her musical influences and more. The issue hits newsstands on August 24. **Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for more of Megan’s amazing looks on ESSENCE.com. (Photos, Chrisean Rose; stylist: Zerina Akers)

• WHAT TO EXPECT ON HER NEW ALBUM: “I feel like [my new album] will be aggressive. I feel like this project is definitely something very well thought out. This project is me talking my sh--, getting back comfortable with myself, getting back to the Megan that was on the come-up...”
• ON HER MUSICAL ROOTS…AND TINA SNOW BEING AN ODE TO HOUSTON RAPPER PIMP C: “My mom would always be playing Pimp C, UGK, all of the Houston legends, so that was my vibe, my flavor…Being in Houston, in Texas in general, I feel like getting in a circle and freestyling is just what we do. It doesn’t matter where you at, who you with, somebody is going to do a rap battle. I would see boys together and they would be rapping, so in my head, this is what you do. I wanted to make sure I was always sharp and I could do it…”
• ON USING HER MUSIC AS A POLITICAL STATEMENT: “Social media really gave a lot of people a voice that I don’t feel like they needed…When I would see these men and these women talking crazy, I thought, Let me put this in a video, because that is my response…”
• ON WHAT DRIVES HER: “Every time I make a move, I’m like, ‘Okay, how can we be better than Megan last month? How can we be better than Megan last year?’…”
• ON WHAT KEEPS HER CENTERED: “There are probably approximately four people around me on a daily basis. I don’t see a lot of people, I don’t talk to a lot of people, because I feel like it’s not good for me. I figured out that my personal space is what keeps me balanced and it’s what keeps me centered…”

ESSENCE will extend its editorial celebration of the Black fashion community globally with its ESSENCE Fashion House experience taking place live and streaming in New York City on September 9. For more details, visit ESSENCE.com/FashionHouse.

ESSENCE’s September/October issue hits newsstands August 24. For more on this issue, visit ESSENCE.com.

(Photos, Chrisean Rose; Stylist: Zerina Akers)

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Essence Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand's multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Hollywood, Global Black Economic Forum, Wellness House, Fashion House and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture – the largest festival in the nation based on per day attendance.

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