The Very Colorful Jessie J
GLAMOUR: You suffered a stroke at 18. Does that affect the way you take care of yourself today?
JJ: My health isn't as bad as people think. I have an irregular heartbeat sometimes when I'm tired; things that may not bother other people affect me. It's a stress thing. I try not to let things get to me as much as I did when I was younger. Last night, after the Brit Awards, was literally the first time I've ever been out when I have work the next day. You need to choose when you have your celebration and make it special instead of going out every night and exhausting yourself.
__GLAMOUR:__So you're not much of a party animal, huh?
JJ: I'm not really the party person. I don't "become myself" once I'm drunk. I don't use alcohol to be happy. I'm young, and having one drink is [enough]. My [calendar] is just unreal at the moment. I don't have time to be tired!
GLAMOUR: Were you this confident as a kid, or was there a turning point?
JJ: You know what it is? I have such an amazing mom and dad who have been married for 32 years, and my sisters always made me feel like I was amazing. No one ever tried to suppress who I wanted to be. I never got embarrassed. Even last night, at the after-party, me and my dad were up dancing when no one else was. I think the best way to have confidence is not to allow everyone else's insecurities to be your own.
GLAMOUR: How did you get into music?
JJ: I wasn't always someone who was talented. It was more that I was loud and loved a challenge. From a young age I knew I wanted to be something in the world. When I was 13, I sat with my mom and dad and went, "I think I want to do this properly. What can I do?" I went to the Brit School to do musical theater or be a musician. Then I started writing songs, and everything changed for me. I wanted to tell the world what I think and feel.
GLAMOUR: You've been very open about your sexuality.
JJ: For me, I want it to be less about sexuality and more about being comfortable in who you fall in love with. If I meet someone and I like them, I don't care if they're a boy or a girl. You should never, ever apologize for anything that makes you happy. My mom and dad were always so cool about it; they were just like, "You're not harming anyone. Enjoy your life."
GLAMOUR: How do you feel about being labeled as bisexual?
JJ: The frustrating thing is that if I was with a guy right now, I'd be [considered] straight. But if I was with a girl, I'd be "gay." When I was with my ex-girlfriend, I used to take her around and say, "This is my girlfriend." People would be comfortable with it because I was. That's what annoys me about the media. I've never tried to make [my sexuality] something that's going to put me in newspapers or magazines. I'm never, ever going to let it be something that sells my music. Sexuality shouldn't define you. It should be part of who you are. At the moment I'm single, and I'm happy and learning about myself. Music is the love of my life right now.
