Aaliyah, whose last name was Haughton, was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised mostly in Detroit, Michigan. She died in a plane crash in 2001 at the age of 22.
Aaliyah was Roman Catholic: she attended a Catholic school growing up,[1] went to church,[2] and she credited God with giving her talent.[3]
She also turned to God for guidance during her short career:
I meditate a lot and try to think good thoughts all the time. I like to remember that God is in my heart and leading me the way through any setbacks I might have and at the same time giving me guidance in my career.[4]
As would be expected, her funeral took place at a Roman Catholic church.[5]
Gender Politics
We don't know a lot about Aaliyah's political beliefs. She performed at a White House Christmas celebration in 1998 for Bill and Hillary Clinton, and she had nice things to say about the President:
[I]t was really great to perform for [President Clinton] because he really loves music. And you can see the passion in his eyes as he's watching you.[6]
That's hardly an endorsement of the Democratic party, but we know she didn't hate the guy at least.
Her unique style could be seen as something of a statement on women's rights–or at least a woman's image. Aaliyah often wore baggy pants instead of glamorous dresses in her videos, making her look more like a street thug than an R&B sex symbol.[7] Not that she didn't spend plenty of time looking womanly and sexy, she just didn't think her sexuality should define her as a performer.
I don't wear things that are ridiculously short or low cut. I feel that your talent should do the talking not a revealing outfit.[8]
Aaliyah's nontraditional attire not only influenced other women artists who came after her, but it was affirming for "young urban girls" who had a role model in the singer–someone who dressed like them instead of like Hollywood.[9]
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