Alicia Keys says she ‘put on act of being tough’ as young artist but now embraces ‘vulnerability’

Alicia Keys has said she used to ‘put on an act’ to appear ‘tough and not vulnerable’ as a younger artist.

The singer, 40, reflected on becoming famous in the 2000s during an interview with The Telegraph, saying she built a ‘steel wall’ to ‘protect’ her emotions.

However the mother-of-two explained that she’s now changed her thinking and has started to embrace ‘being powerless and vulnerable’. 

Growing: Alicia Keys has said she used to ‘put on an act’ to appear ‘tough and not vulnerable’ as a younger artist but is now embracing ‘being powerless and vulnerable’

Alicia explained that her ‘early years shaped the desire to not show any emotion, just because I felt like I needed to protect myself’.

However she’s been working on this mindset in recent years after realising that the wall isn’t helpful or healthy. 

She said: ‘It took a lot of time to unpack and undo and now I feel really wonderful about being powerless and vulnerable… now I think it is kind of awesome. I always put on the act that I was super tough and not vulnerable, but that’s not even real.’

And now she’s turned 40, Alicia even declared that she’ve never felt better or more connected to herself, saying: ‘I’m not such a pushover any more.’ 

Star: The Grammy award winning singer, 40, has been regularly in the charts since her first hit single Fallin' in 2001 (pictured in Chicago in 2002)

Star: The Grammy award winning singer, 40, has been regularly in the charts since her first hit single Fallin’ in 2001 (pictured in Chicago in 2002)

The If I Ain’t Got You hitmaker also reflected on how she sometimes felt pressured into being a certain way by music execs during her career.

Alicia said she’s been trying to unpack this feeling and it was partly behind her decision to not wear makeup, which she wrote about in the Lenny letter in 2016.

Five years on from appearing on her album cover without any makeup, Alicia said she does sometimes wear product now but not because she feels like she must.

While elsewhere in her interview, the mother also credited her two sons, Egypt, 10, and Genesis, six, with helping to change her thoughts about ‘caring for herself’. 

Beauty: Alicia now only wears makeup when she wants too, not because she feels like society expects it and has launched her own Keys Soulcare range

Beauty: Alicia now only wears makeup when she wants too, not because she feels like society expects it and has launched her own Keys Soulcare range

Alicia said having to care for her sons completely was ‘humbling but empowering’ as she had even found remembering to drink enough water while pregnant a ‘new concept’.

Alicia’s interview comes amid her Keys Soulcare launch, with her regularly testing and plugging various beauty products on her social media in recent weeks.

Alicia joins the likes of Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Halsey and Selena Gomez as a musician branching out into the beauty sphere. 

Doting mom: Elsewhere in her interview, the mother-of-two also credited her two sons, Egypt, 10, and Genesis, six (pictured), with helping to change her thoughts about 'caring for herself'

Doting mom: Elsewhere in her interview, the mother-of-two also credited her two sons, Egypt, 10, and Genesis, six (pictured), with helping to change her thoughts about ‘caring for herself’

While in January the beauty was treated to a lavish 40th birthday getaway in Mexico by husband Swizz Beatz. 

She shared videos and photos from trip as she kicked off her birthday in style by dancing around with sparklers in hand at a resort joined by several friends and family.

Alicia also danced with husband Swizz – real name Kasseem Dean – in a red cutout PatBo dress as a mariachi band played along.

As if that already wasn’t enough, there was also a fireworks display as the star happily posed in front of it. 

Love: In January the performer was treated to a lavish 40th birthday getaway in Mexico by her  husband Swizz Beatz

Love: In January the performer was treated to a lavish 40th birthday getaway in Mexico by her  husband Swizz Beatz

She captioned the gallery: ‘The most magnificent start to my big birthday!!! I swear I have the best husband in the galaxyyyyyy!!!!!!! Big Thanks to our babies for my fireworks tonight! I love you so much! My beautiful friends and family celebrating with me tonight you are so special to me!’

‘Thank you to my incredible mama and Craig for giving me life! And endless love to my gorgeous AK Fam for all your love through the years! I’m in heaven! What a night!! FYI: Covid test were taken by all.’ 

The couple have enjoyed a longtime romance as they celebrated their milestone 10-year wedding anniversary on July 31 by spending the weekend in the desert with their sons Egypt  and Genesis.

Milestone: The couple have enjoyed a longtime romance as they celebrated their milestone 10-year wedding anniversary on July 31 in the desert with their sons Egypt and Genesis

Milestone: The couple have enjoyed a longtime romance as they celebrated their milestone 10-year wedding anniversary on July 31 in the desert with their sons Egypt and Genesis