Singing duo Chloe and Halle Bailey are no longer the little girls who took YouTube by storm with their covers of Beyoncé songs, but instead grown women learning to stand in their truths.
But that growth did not happen overnight. Instead it was years in the making, and in part influenced by their mentor Beyoncé. While speaking with Rolling Stone magazine for its Women Shaping the Future issue, the young women shared what wisdom the 22-time Grammy Award winner has shared.
“She has taught us that it’s OK to be yourself,” said Halle, 20. “You could be that wholeheartedly and completely. You don’t have to dim your light. Shine. Be yourself. Be free with it. Stand strong in that power. Because she has done that, she has made us believe that we could do that.”
The Destiny’s Child group member signed the Atlanta sisters to her Parkwood Entertainment company in 2015.
The sisters who recently launched their individual social media accounts are growing more and more comfortable in their own skin, and with the public viewing them as women.
“What we’re doing is not easy, and you’re constantly putting yourself out there in your most vulnerable state and you’re open to constant criticism,” explained Chloe, 22, while adding that Beyoncé’s grace has been an example on how they should quiet the criticism and focus on their gifts.
“One little thing that you do can be overanalyzed by everyone. You have to be strong and not let that get to you,” said Halle, 20. “Watching Beyoncé do all of those things, rise above all of the madness and just be her talent, is so inspiring.”
Chloe knows firsthand just how much the weight of words shared on social media can have on a person. While sharing her sexier side on Instagram, the 22-year-old was met with praise and some criticism from those who felt she was “doing too much” by showing more skin and sexy choreography.
The comments of strangers struck a particular nerve with the singer who even shed tears while explaining to fans that she is simply embracing who she is while sharing part of her life with the world.
“I’ve been like really insecure for a long time, and I’m finally like at that place where I have self-confidence. And I’m really happy that I get to share that with you all and I think it’s so important and so special when a Black woman can be strong and stand in her power in every single way,” she explained.
