FKA Twigs Details Dealing With Racism, Poverty And Being A Back-Up Dancer For Jessie J

FKA Twigs‘ LP1 was well received by critics and her success has kept her in the spotlight. However, Twigs has also faced the perils of success thanks to her relationship with actor Robert Pattinson. When their romantic involvement became public, Twigs says she received racist comments on her Twitter account. Twigs, who says she doesn’t mind people criticizing her art, adds that the racism was jarring. “That’s the great thing about art, it’s not for everyone,” she says in an interview with The Guardian. “But when it comes to racism, really? In this day and age? Pick that?”

Racism isn’t the only obstacle Twigs has had to face in her lifetime. In the article, Twigs also recalls dealing with poverty as a youth. “My life was really weird,” she explains. “At home we had nothing, and then I was going to a private school. I was always the poor kid, even though I very much tried to pretend to be the other way. Always well presented. Always really active in the school, doing fashion shows, plays, involved in every single aspect of the school. Overcompensating, I think, for the fact that I knew I wouldn’t be going on the ski trip every January. I guess it was character-shaping.

Another moment that helped shape Twigs came when the singer was a backing dancer for Jessie J. In the video for “Price Tag,” Twigs, who is not a fan of being labeled, was dressed as a marionette doll (as seen in the gallery), a gig she didn’t enjoy.

I fucking hated it. Do you think I want to be dressed up as a puppet? As a doll, waving? No. But I was paying my dues. I’m sure Jessie had to do rubbish jobs as well before she was where she is now. I was a tiny cog in her wheel. As I’m sure at some point she was a tiny cog in someone else’s wheel.

Twigs no longer has to play back-up to any other star. After the year she’s had, she’s already standing on her own. But if you don’t already love her, here are 12 reasons why you should get to know this star.