You are beautiful. You are enough. You matter. If someone said that to you, would you believe it? We would scream it as lyrics in a song, but do we ever look at ourselves that way? Let’s say, it’s a work in progress. But when we struggle to find the spark within ourselves, we often find comfort in music and connect to artists who seem to understand exactly what we’re going through. Just like Anne Marie. With her incredible lyrical expression, overall mental health advocacy and hearing her opening up about the most vulnerable parts of her story, she has made her fans feel understood and less alone.
Self-love or even accepting yourself can be extremely difficult in a society that still makes you think you have to look or be a certain way to fit in. Nowadays, we spend way too much time on social media and sadly, more and more young people get trapped in a false reality. Who says you have to look like that one Instagram influencer or the successful pop star to be beautiful? If everyone looked and acted the same, then what would make each person unique?
While we as the “normal people” can experience the negative impact of social media, known women like Anne Marie are hit by it on a whole different level. Trolls give themselves the right to leave hateful comments and sell it as “freedom of speech” or “I have the right to an opinion”. You might, but abusing the power of it is not the way to go. And yet, women are constantly judged by not just ungrateful trolls, but journalists who just wanna sell a story. Tabloid media doesn’t show mercy and will exploit anyone for a great clickbait headline.
Knowing that you’re being closely watched around the clock, showing vulnerability – as especially a woman in the public eye – takes courage and should be applauded rather than picked apart. When Anne Marie wrote a book about her mental health journey, it saved a lot of her fans from drowning in self-doubt and insecurities. Her discography as a whole is extremely authentic, brutally honest and 100% relatable. Her Ninjas find comfort in her songs and when asked why they connected to her, they explained the impact her music and advocacy has made in relation to body positivity, loving yourself, overall mental health and how they found their confidence throughout.
Imagine having someone in your life who amplifies the importance of knowing your worth and never settling for less and who reminds you that your feelings are valid. Anne Marie has always been transparent with her fans and is not afraid to share whenever she is having a mentally low day or is not feeling confident in her own body. Through that, she has shown that, just because you have privilege and fame, it doesn’t make you less human or perfect in any way. Believing in yourself, being confident in who you are and loving your imperfections are key lessons Anne Marie has taught her young fanbase. And yet, some people still don’t give her the time of day.
Music is healing and especially artists like Anne Marie have the power to help you with the stories they tell, no matter who you are. Anyone can find their own truth in songs like Who I Am, Therapy, Breathing or Beautiful, just to name a few. Listening to music like that can be crucial to helping someone find clarity in their own struggles and push them to find their way towards healing or even get professional help if needed. Therapy is a good thing and according to Anne Marie herself, it saved her. Hearing someone like her say that, surely has made therapy less scary for fans around the world who have felt too anxious or scared to take that important step. And it shows that she is real and not a celebrity who pretends to live a fairytale life, every day of the year.
Those who got the chance to meet Anne Marie can confirm how bright her presence is. She takes time for her fans, makes every show a unique experience and treats them like a friend, you don’t get to see very often.
Despite all the judgmental trolls on the internet and tabloid media keeping an eye on her to catch any small mishap or mood swing, Anne Marie has blessed our generation with more than just incredible music and life lessons. She gave her fans a safe space, where they can fully be who they are, where all their problems fade away and beautiful friendships are built. Her presence in the industry has changed lives and amplified the importance of real, raw and authentic music. Anne Marie is an underrated force, a powerful woman or – according to her fans – simply their Ninja Machine.
ROARA Magazine 