The Hippest addition to ‘The List’ – Mickey Monarch

Charlize Theron, Lerato Kganyago, Grace Mugabe and Vanessa Carriera are not the only stars that shine from the East of Johannesburg. The hippest edition to this list is Mickey Monarch who hails from Kensington, a small suburb east side Jozi.

Born and named Sindile, a Zulu word meaning “Survived”, she often had to explain to people what she had survived from and of course as a teen- this became annoying so she named herself Michelle which later fondly became Mickey, as we know her now.

From Sindile, to Michelle, to Mickey MONARCH, how does Monarch enter the chat?

“Monarch came from the positions I usually held back in school. I found myself always being chosen to lead by either being a prefect, an RCL or even head of house- basically I was always leading. Then one day during History class the teacher went in on Monarchies and I liked the sound of the word so I googled it’s meaning and was pleased with it. At that time I was also always being compared to Nicki Minaj whom I was such a fan of so not only did she influence my sound but I was happy that Mickey Monarch rhymed with Nicki Minaj,”she says.

Does that mean you’re a hard-core Hip Hop artist?

“No. My music is actually versatile- I make all types of music. I’m inspired by a variety of artists including Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Davido, Blaq Diamond, Pink, Eminem, Yemi Alade ,Ye and many more”.

What is Baddie Factory?

“The Baddie Factory is a twenty one track project, which consists of songs to empower women classified as Baddies. I wanted them to flip the script and inspire women around the world to have self love & be more comfortable in their skin & bodies because that is what baddies are known for: how comfortable they are in their skin, enough to wear any type of clothing which is usually revealing and raunchy despite the heavy criticism, body shaming and bullying that they get from the general public. This project was also to remind women that keeping it fun and being playful with your partner is also important”.

Your work has bagged you nominations for several prestigious awards over the years. Which award stands out for you, and why?

“ I’ve been nominated seven times for different awards, but the award I got for Best Female Artist of the year in 2020 at the (ASEA) African Social Entertainment Awards stands out for me because it made me feel appreciated and honoured for my creativity and hard work, as no one does what I do so being awarded authentically motivated me to push harder”.

What has your experience with men been like since entering this industry?

“I have had quite a difficult time with men in the industry, as they barely respect the business requirements in order collaborate with me, they’d approach as though they want to work but along the way they’d start asking for sexual engagements etc. so I’ve lost out on a lot of opportunities as I turn down any offer that isn’t business related. Also they like putting women against each other. I have a powerful presence, aura & talent so even though some women will naturally feel threatened by me some are just influenced by chirps from the men whose egos I’ve broken by not giving into their sexual advances. It has really been tricky, “says Mickey.

How has #mjolo treated you?

“Being in the industry and seeking love or umjolo hasn’t been easy. Most of my exes went from being supportive and firm to being insecure, and malicious. They would try to use me for their own personal fame. The worst were those that tried to change me to meet their expectations. I went through a single phase where it wasn’t about umjolo but I’d have a side guy for my own benefit sometimes, so clearly I haven’t had the best luck with umjolo. But the good Lord saw me through! I am currently in one of the most peaceful & happiest relationships ever. The understanding, love, respect ,support, loyalty & bond stands unmatched”.

Do you believe in pretty girl privilege and has it worked for you?

“I don’t believe in pretty girl privilege. I believe it all comes down to who you are, your ethics & your morals. I believe my looks alone are not that important but what matters is my personality, talent & what I choose to do or not to do. Some women can sacrifice anything for progress, but I’m the type that would rather work hard for my success without using my looks or body in anyway that makes me uncomfortable. I am one to post raunchy, sexy content but it isn’t for the attention of men or to get privilege but it’s to inspire women to love their bodies & to be more comfortable with who they are. Brand deals are extremely important for your reputation and monetary growth”.

What was it like for you, collaborating with Adidas and Sportscene?

“Collaborating with Sportscene and Adidas is one of the biggest highlights of my career as they approached me to work with them on a project called “The Weekend Turn Up”. I was styled and dressed by Adidas while they shot content of me performing the song “Tap Out” from the Baddie Factory. They also gave me a platform to share about myself & my musical journey to a large audience while I dripped in their brand. It was a phenomenal experience for a girl like me. I thank God endlessly for the amazing blessing. I’m looking forward to many more opportunities like it & I’m extremely proud of myself”.

Tell us more about your family. Have they accepted your career choice and how do they feel about your half-naked pics circulating the net and your explicit language?

“My family is actually very supportive towards my musical career, my parents both support me but my mom is the most supportive. They fully understand the intention of my content which is to empower women to be comfortable in their skin & bodies therefore they are not judgmental and they trust my vision and goals. Also as I am a versatile artist they’re fully aware that I do Hip Hop & that genre does include of a lot of cursing & explicit content so as they see other artists in the industry such as Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé ,Cardi B, MeganTheStallion etc. They understand the content better day by day”.

What has been your biggest lesson throughout your career?

“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt throughout my career is to prioritise taking care of myself (mentally and physically), and not over-work myself. The other lesson, which is my main lesson actually, is to never stop believing in God. Last but not least to listen to my fans, so that I am able to continue inspiring them”.

It tends to get harder to maintain a solid relationship with God in this industry – what is your relationship with God like?

“I have a very strong relationship with God. I pray everyday & believe in Jesus & the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe we are all sinners in the world & God puts us on different journeys for different reasons so I’m still on my path and only God can judge me on my imperfections. I also have a gospel project in the works that’ll come out in due time, which I am excited about because even though I may drop explicit content when I do , I do not need anyone’s permission to engage with God privately or musically. I’m actually very excited about that! Speaking of relationships, we all know how being in this industry can put a strain on relations with people, “she explains.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5yrs?

“Mickey Monarch in the next five years , is going to be one of the biggest names not only in South Africa but in Africa, she’ll be respected as one of the female artists that truly represents, stands and fights for the different types women in the world. She’ll have multiple major features with international brands and musicians. People will be shook by her new music,concepts,looks,energy and moves. She’ll be on high rotation everywhere as people always talk about her & they’ll still have more to talk about. She’ll be one of the biggest and strongest personalities as the world will be exposed to her multiple talents such as acting, presenting, dancing, modelling, being a great baker ,cook & over all entertainer. She will be recognised as one of the Best artists that hail from Africa to the world. She’s a superstar so the world is going to feel it , she’ll hit so hard that they won’t know what hit them, “she says.