'I felt pressured to be what the music industry expected': Alicia Keys continues her 'make-up free crusade' on cover shoot as she calls anti-feminists 'crazy'

By Becky Freeth for MailOnline

Published: 11:59 EST, 10 November 2016 | Updated: 18:37 EST, 10 November 2016

Her decision to go 'sans make-up' in the music industry has made her feel, 'the strongest, most empowered and most beautiful that [she's] ever felt,' she says.

And Alicia Keys now admits that she has been freed from bowing to pressures of looking a certain way.

Covering ELLE UK magazine for the first time since ditching mascara and foundation, the 35-year-old serves as this year's feminist figurehead.

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Feminist figurehead: Alicia Keys goes make-up free for the new issue of ELLE UK magazine, as she serves as the feminist figurehead for the title

'Yes, I am a feminist,' she told the magazine. 'And whoever isn't is crazy... It's about owning your power, embracing your womanhood.'

But Alicia has laughed off the idea that her make-up free demonstration is something of a 'crusade'. 

'It took me forever to get this skin,' she said. 'I mean, I know how it feels to have a face full of bumps and pimples. I lived through that in the public eye.' 

'Some have called this a crusade,' she continued. 'Well, I died laughing at that. I used to feel the pressure to appear as the music industry expected, but I don't now.'

Make-up free: The musician says that she has been freed by the pressures of the music industry

Feeling fresh: The brunette has ditched the make-up to free herself

The 15-time Grammy Award winner took her first stance when she shot the cover of her album Here without clothes or cosmetics and even took a stance on the VMAs red carpet by ditching her beauty kit.

In an essay for Lenny's Letters, she wrote: 'I hope to God it's a revolution. 'Cause I don't want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.'

The musician was therefore happy to talk about how she and husband musician and producer Swizz Beatz have created a 'blended' family for their children.

Alicia and Swizz have two sons but she is also a stepmother to his two sons and one daughter.

Taking a stance: She has laughed off claims that it is a 'crusade,' even so 

'There is no one way, no perfect way [to be a family]. Each way is different with beautiful scope to be something good. That is life. 

'Our eldest son is 16 and it's really cool to be in his life as an adult figure who is not his mum, and he gives me a prelude to what is coming with my children.'

And Alicia had some equally high praise for Swizz, who was previously married to recording artist Mashonda. 

'He is an electric current,' Alicia said. 'There is not a soul who has met him who hasn't fallen in love with him.'

Read the full interview with Alicia Keys in the December issue of ELLE UK, which is available to pre-order now

A precious soul: Alicia says that there is not a soul who hasn't fallen in love with her husband Swizz Beatz

 

 

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