Megan Thee Stallion: Her Resilience & Rebirth
Tina Snow. Hot Girl Meg. Hot Girl Coach. Megan Thee Stallion embodies a multitude of personas, each matching her dynamic attributes and interests. However, beyond those titles lies a woman of unparalleled resilience. As celebrity culture and the music industry have quickly changed over recent years, Megan Thee Stallion has redefined what it means to be a female rapper in a male-dominated industry.
Megan Thee Stallion’s content first crossed my path in 2018. As I scrolled on Twitter, now known as X, I stumbled upon a video of a super tall woman rapping in a parking lot; she was wearing six-inch heels with the tiniest shorts and an even smaller waist. From that short clip alone, so much of her personality spilled out; she was a force to be reckoned with, and even as the men in the back snickered behind her, she didn’t break a sweat; she commanded the screen. The true definition of a star.
Then there was her breakout single Big Ole Freak, the unofficial anthem of Summer of 2019. Once Megan Thee Stallion had all eyes on her, she quickly became a hit-making machine, and after signing with her current management company, Roc Nation, she turned her Hot Girl lifestyle into a recognizable brand.
Fast forward to 2024, and Megan Thee Stallion is a three-time Grammy winner with multiple #1 records, an HBCU graduate, and a humanitarian with her own foundation named after her deceased parents. These accomplishments don’t even touch on her prowess as a businesswoman, as she now has her own label in addition to multiple brand deals with billion-dollar companies like Nike, Popeyes, Frito Lays, and Planet Fitness. Celebrities usually take years cultivating and extend their brand to succeed in multiple areas. However, Megan Thee Stallion's impressive work ethic has set her apart, and one can only envision how powerful and successful she will become in the coming decade.
Despite her success and the aura of greatness that envelops her, Megan’s life looked much differently a year ago. In the summer of 2020, while in Hollywood Hills, she was assaulted with a firearm during an argument with rapper Tory Lanez. For nearly three years following that horrific incident, Megan was forced to relive the moment over and over again as her peers tormented her, called her a liar, and attempted to run her out of the industry. Despite moments of vulnerability, she never backed down. She refused to let the hip-hop industry's systemic culture of protecting abusers silence her voice and dim her light. As a result of her resilience and persistent demands for justice, on August 8th, 2023, Rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years for assault with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, and negligent discharge of a gun for shooting Megan.
Recently, P Diddy has been in the news as he is facing multiple civil lawsuits accusing him of sex trafficking, sexual abuse, and rape throughout his career. This resurgence of the #Metoo Movement showcases the long and unfortunate history of abuse towards Black women within the Hip Hop & R&B music industry. Many people would rather stay silent for their benefit than support victims of predatory individuals. Many would rather blame the victim for not making better choices rather than holding the perpetrator accountable for their actions. Megan Thee Stallion was scrutinized for all the choices she made that night, suggesting her choices somehow justified the violence inflicted upon her. Similarly, many would rather believe Black men are being targeted because of their status to push an agenda. Roc Nation was blamed for setting up Tory Lanez.
However, all these conspiracy theories fail to put accountability on these men for their actions. The pacification of powerful and successful Black men has created a culture of silence where victims are scared of retaliation to share their stories. Megan Thee Stallion did the unthinkable and stood up to her abuser. It is critical that we not only stand in solidarity with survivors but actively encourage and support them in their journey towards justice. I hope that more Black women within the entertainment and media industry continue to come forward, knowing they are not alone in their fight for justice.
As spring blooms upon us, Megan Thee Stallion has finally put such a dark chapter in her life behind her. Her recent single, Hiss, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and she announced her Hot Girl Summer tour featuring Glorilla, with many dates already sold out. I will be attending the second Atlanta show!
Megan Thee Stallion’s grit and determination are a testament that we can get through everything as Black women. However, I don’t want that to be the takeaway; as Black women, we shouldn’t always have to be strong. Instead, let us rewrite the narrative society puts on us. We can redefine societal norms imposed upon us. Megan Thee Stallion exemplifies autonomy and fearlessness. She has rewritten what it means to be a women rapper in a male-dominated realm. That respect doesn’t have to come from the proximity of a powerful man but your talents. Through her boldness and vibrancy, Megan inspires us to redefine our paths and assert our agency. So, as you conclude reading, press play on a Megan Thee Stallion playlist and feel empowered to conquer the world, knowing that we, too, can practice doing real hot girl shit!
Mauranne Vernier
Classification: Seinor
Studying: English
Role: Editorial Team
