Mariah Carey: The Real Diva Behind the Glitz
Picture this: Mariah Carey, 52, floating in a luxurious bubble bath, chatting with W Magazine about her “diva vibes.” She’s not just talking from the glossy surface—she’s opening up about the whole myth that surrounds her.
“It’s a Bit Real, Partly Affectionate”
Mariah said, “There are things people don’t see because the whole ‘diva’ persona is what everyone sees first. Yes, I play into it. And yes, part of it is real. I can’t help it.” She explains that her bigger-than-life stage presence is both a learned affectation and a natural response to her upbringing.
Raised by an Opera‑Singing Mom
- Her mother, Patricia Carey, is a white former New York City Opera performer and Juilliard alum.
- Her father, Alfred Roy Carey, was a black/Hispanic aeronautical engineer.
- Growing up in a predominantly white New York neighborhood, Mariah felt “othered” and had a “dysfunctional” childhood.
She notes how rare it is for someone to emerge from such a mixed, challenging background and tell people that the ballad “I’m a princess” isn’t her reality. “I didn’t have a fairy‑tale life. I grew up being forced to rise above that mess,” she reflects.
From Misfortune to Mastery
“When you grow up with a messed‑up life and then you’re able to transform it—making your own path—that’s pure joy for me.” She hopes this energy spills into her kids’ future, so they can “have everything they can have.”
Little Mariah: The Story Behind the Christmas Princess
Mariah’s teensn‑twins, Moroccan and Monroe, are only 11, and she just published a children’s book titled The Christmas Princess featuring a protagonist named Little Mariah. She clarified that the title isn’t because she’s a Christmas royalty or anything like that. In the book, a young girl rises above her circumstances and uses music to help others.
Why It Matters
By sharing her real life, Mariah underscores that her diva persona isn’t an ego trap; it’s a protective layer forged from a life that wasn’t all golden sunsets. Her candidness might just be what keeps her myth alive—because as she says, “I can’t help it.”
So next time you hear a “Queen of Christmas,” remember there’s an honest, hardworking woman under that crown—complete with bubble baths, real roots, and a fierce love for her family.
