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Born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, the Lizzo the world knows today is a multitalented superstar. The musician is associated with is many things: unfiltered ferocity, candid comedy, and an encouraging message of self-expression. While Lizzo has served as an influential figure to fans spreading her optimistic stance on body positivity and creative freedom, the Grammy-winning pop star, as any ordinary individual, has struggled with her self-confidence. Lizzo opened up to Allure and detailed the journey of embracing her natural hair as the “final step for [her] in self-love.”

With tighter coils, Lizzo recounts her experience feeling inferior due to the more conventional beauty standard of straight or wavy hair textures. “When I was younger, I was definitely taught that a certain hair texture and type was considered beautiful — I did not have that hair texture, and it made me feel like I needed to hide this part of myself,” she explains. “I used to do all these really harmful things to my hair because I didn’t love it. I used to just kind of lock my hair away, and I realized that was [like] locking her up in a prison. You can’t thrive when you’re locked up like that.”

Over time, Lizzo has found natural hair influencers on social media who have positively shaped the view of her external appearance. She claims, “When I finally, in the last few years, started to come to terms with ‘this is my hair, it’s not going to change, and it’s beautiful,’ I felt like I finally could say that I truly loved myself.” Her newfound acceptance allows her to feel at ease and say, “let me take this style out and let me take this wig off and let her breathe. Let her expand.” The multiplatinum musician now has a whole new set of priorities in terms of haircare: keeping it clean, hydrated, and most crucially, giving it breaks.

Contrary to the positive reinforcement Lizzo found in natural influencers, she expresses her understanding of the negativity social media can foster. She personally does not look at her comment section due to the illusions and insecurities online platforms can garner. To combat this damaging dilemma, Lizzo has proudly partnered with Dove on their Self-Esteem Project. With the #NoDigitalDistortion pledge, the powerhouse collaborators encourage the posting of unfiltered and unretouched images.

“I’ve watched how social media has become a place that can be really harmful to people, especially to young people, and so it was important to me to be a part of something positive on social media,” she explains her intent. “To partner with Dove was incredible because we’re making small steps and making sure that social media can be a place that can boost your self-esteem.”

In addition to the social media movement, Dove has implemented guided workshops with the goal of boosting feelings of self-security and assurance in children. The brand recently launched My Hair, My Crown which consists of 90-minute workshops available for download on their website. While the activities were initially intended for children ages 11 to 14, parents, teachers, and other adults are welcome to attend and learn how to better navigate beauty standards in a progressive manner for the next generation.

Lizzo herself tuned into one of the first sessions at the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem and even offered her words of wisdom. “I know how to have those conversations and I have that language, but a lot of people don’t,” she states. “It’s really nice that this My Hair, My Crown workshop is accessible to people because it helps boost confidence in young people, especially if you don’t know how to talk to someone about that.”

With her final message, Lizzo emphasizes that “The way that we see ourselves changes every single day. I just choose to find the positive in the way that I see myself.” While some days may present different obstacles or feel more overbearing than others, Lizzo reminds herself and fans that self-acceptance and embrace may not be a linear process, it can be empowering and completely worth it.