Say It
Louder
Since day one, ModCloth has championed self-expression and inclusivity, so we’re excited to announce a new series in which we spotlight modern icons who inspire us each and every day. Their common mantra of “you do you” reinforces a belief that serves as the basis of our brand. They embody our core values in their own individual, incredible ways and we’re so proud to celebrate them today.
These women are our muses, ladies we admire and look up to because they’re living life their own way. They are independently spirited, making a difference, and inspiring others with their message. We support people expressing their personal style and finding their unique voice. These women are doing so fiercely, proudly, beautifully.
These women are our muses, ladies we admire and look up to because they’re living life their own way. They are independently spirited, making a difference, and inspiring others with their message. We support people expressing their personal style and finding their unique voice. These women are doing so fiercely, proudly, beautifully.
“Hi. I’m Lizzo. I’m a singer and a rapper, and I’m fat-bulous,” Lizzo introduces herself as we sit down in our LA studio for a chat about what makes her tick. She recently released a new single, “Fitness.” The song’s message focuses on body positivity and self-love, recurring themes in her music.
When asked about the evolution of her personal style, she says, “I was basically wearing whatever was in my closet and hoping that the show would speak for itself. But I realized on the inside I’m a big pink glitter ball, and I need to be that on the outside.” On the day of our photo shoot, she’s wearing a rainbow maxi dress, but it’s her personality that really lights up the room. “I think that people aren’t used to seeing a girl with rolls and big arms with her arms out, and her back out, and her legs out on stage… I do it because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel sexy. It makes me feel strong, and I want to show other girls, no matter how big or small you are, you can be sexy and wear whatever the *#@! you want,” she says.
Growing up, Lizzo was inspired by Missy Elliott. She remembers seeing a Destiny’s Child concert and getting goosebumps when they sang a gospel medley. “I want to make people feel this way,” she thought. “I felt like anything was possible. I didn’t really see me a lot in media. I didn’t really see me a lot in the music industry. The only person who reflected what I felt I looked like was Missy Elliott, and she was such a huge influence on me beyond just my voice.”
Lizzo would like to inspire the younger generation in a similar way. “I think representation is my legacy,” she says, “and I think that everyone deserves to stand out. I think that everyone is beautiful, and everyone deserves to find their beauty… you’re worthy and capable of self-love, and it’s okay to be discovering that for your whole life.”
This uplifting attitude extends to her friendships with other women, which she jokingly calls her “coven.” “When women get together and they work together and they conspire together, they can make magical things happen.”
When asked about the evolution of her personal style, she says, “I was basically wearing whatever was in my closet and hoping that the show would speak for itself. But I realized on the inside I’m a big pink glitter ball, and I need to be that on the outside.” On the day of our photo shoot, she’s wearing a rainbow maxi dress, but it’s her personality that really lights up the room. “I think that people aren’t used to seeing a girl with rolls and big arms with her arms out, and her back out, and her legs out on stage… I do it because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel sexy. It makes me feel strong, and I want to show other girls, no matter how big or small you are, you can be sexy and wear whatever the *#@! you want,” she says.
Growing up, Lizzo was inspired by Missy Elliott. She remembers seeing a Destiny’s Child concert and getting goosebumps when they sang a gospel medley. “I want to make people feel this way,” she thought. “I felt like anything was possible. I didn’t really see me a lot in media. I didn’t really see me a lot in the music industry. The only person who reflected what I felt I looked like was Missy Elliott, and she was such a huge influence on me beyond just my voice.”
Lizzo would like to inspire the younger generation in a similar way. “I think representation is my legacy,” she says, “and I think that everyone deserves to stand out. I think that everyone is beautiful, and everyone deserves to find their beauty… you’re worthy and capable of self-love, and it’s okay to be discovering that for your whole life.”
This uplifting attitude extends to her friendships with other women, which she jokingly calls her “coven.” “When women get together and they work together and they conspire together, they can make magical things happen.”
“Hello, my name is Victory. I’m a singer, songwriter, musician, artist.”
Victory has been singing professionally since the age of 4. When she was 11 years old, her large family relocated to New York, where they sing in Central Park nearly every day. “We found that Central Park is almost equivalent to Carnegie Hall. And trust me, it’s true… Our voices travel for ‘miles’ without any amplification, just from the acoustics.”
In 2016 Victory had the opportunity to meet Jay-Z, and he signed her to his record label. Her first solo album, “The Broken Instrument,” is coming out this month. “My music is always about inspiring others, but I try to find a way to write without being classified as inspirational music,” says Victory. “I care about helping people sort through the different problems in life. As I find solutions to problems in my life, I write about them and hope that people can find solutions to problems in their life.”
When asked what she does as an artist to differentiate herself through personal style, Victory says, “Just do what you like and don’t worry about trying to be accepted or desired by other people, because you might be surprised how many people love you just how you are.”
Victory has been singing professionally since the age of 4. When she was 11 years old, her large family relocated to New York, where they sing in Central Park nearly every day. “We found that Central Park is almost equivalent to Carnegie Hall. And trust me, it’s true… Our voices travel for ‘miles’ without any amplification, just from the acoustics.”
In 2016 Victory had the opportunity to meet Jay-Z, and he signed her to his record label. Her first solo album, “The Broken Instrument,” is coming out this month. “My music is always about inspiring others, but I try to find a way to write without being classified as inspirational music,” says Victory. “I care about helping people sort through the different problems in life. As I find solutions to problems in my life, I write about them and hope that people can find solutions to problems in their life.”
When asked what she does as an artist to differentiate herself through personal style, Victory says, “Just do what you like and don’t worry about trying to be accepted or desired by other people, because you might be surprised how many people love you just how you are.”
“I’m one of the few and rare female country musicians (barely) allowed on to the country radio charts these days.” This simple intro sets Cam apart. In an industry dominated by men, she’s an artist who follows her passion and makes her voice heard.
Today she’s wearing a goldenrod-yellow dress that reflects her sunny personality. “This is the color that I wear. In every single outfit I have on I have some kind of yellow,” says Cam. “And it is purposeful. It is because I want to put out positivity into the world. And also selfishly, when I’m wearing yellow people are so much more positive to me. They smile at me more. They say, ‘Oh, wow, I’m so glad you’re here!’ And I think it’s because I literally am brighter as I walk in the room.”
Cam wasn’t always a country singer. Originally she had a career in psychology research. “I worked in a couple different labs and studied emotion and culture and attachment, the kind of things that I explore in songwriting now.” On the path to becoming a country singer, Cam says, “People are gonna tell you how you should look, and you know how you should look. People are gonna tell you that if you’re in country music that other women aren’t going to like you, that they won’t want to listen to you, that they won’t want to buy your music. And just a quick tip for you: your biggest fans – and your biggest supporters – will be women. You’re gonna meet people that don’t take your opinions seriously. You’re gonna meet people that talk over you... You’re gonna have a lot of people underestimating you... And I want to remind you to never let that sink in. Don’t let their ideas become your ideas.”
Cam cares about authenticity, and in that sense, being a role model for young women. “I think that the whole point of life is to figure out who you are, just keep ripping away at layers, you know, and figuring it out and experiencing as much as you can,” she says. “And I care about community. I care about who I’m making the music for. I care about the women that listen to this music. I want them to have heroes. I want them to have stories that are their stories that they can hear. And currently in country music there’s not enough of this, and I think honestly in the world, there’s not enough of it. And I want them to have more than I had.”
Today she’s wearing a goldenrod-yellow dress that reflects her sunny personality. “This is the color that I wear. In every single outfit I have on I have some kind of yellow,” says Cam. “And it is purposeful. It is because I want to put out positivity into the world. And also selfishly, when I’m wearing yellow people are so much more positive to me. They smile at me more. They say, ‘Oh, wow, I’m so glad you’re here!’ And I think it’s because I literally am brighter as I walk in the room.”
Cam wasn’t always a country singer. Originally she had a career in psychology research. “I worked in a couple different labs and studied emotion and culture and attachment, the kind of things that I explore in songwriting now.” On the path to becoming a country singer, Cam says, “People are gonna tell you how you should look, and you know how you should look. People are gonna tell you that if you’re in country music that other women aren’t going to like you, that they won’t want to listen to you, that they won’t want to buy your music. And just a quick tip for you: your biggest fans – and your biggest supporters – will be women. You’re gonna meet people that don’t take your opinions seriously. You’re gonna meet people that talk over you... You’re gonna have a lot of people underestimating you... And I want to remind you to never let that sink in. Don’t let their ideas become your ideas.”
Cam cares about authenticity, and in that sense, being a role model for young women. “I think that the whole point of life is to figure out who you are, just keep ripping away at layers, you know, and figuring it out and experiencing as much as you can,” she says. “And I care about community. I care about who I’m making the music for. I care about the women that listen to this music. I want them to have heroes. I want them to have stories that are their stories that they can hear. And currently in country music there’s not enough of this, and I think honestly in the world, there’s not enough of it. And I want them to have more than I had.”
This model-turned-musician is a self-proclaimed tomboy with hidden talents like weightlifting and the ability to lick her own elbow, quirks that let us know she doesn’t take herself too seriously. Today she’s wearing denim and a button-up shirt that reflect her personal style. “I like to be comfy, and I like my style to be my interpretation of what ‘feminine’ means, which is quite often not entirely traditionally feminine.”
“I care about being strong and honest,” she says. “I think that there were a lot of times when I underestimated the amount of power that I had… there’s just a lot of situations where women have to assert themselves more than they should have to.” Sometimes this meant wearing clothes that weren’t her style on a photoshoot; other times it meant quieting her passions. Regardless, she’s definitely found her way today.
Kacy is inspired by strong women, including her grandmother, who she calls the matriarch of her family, and experienced musicians, like Florence Welch. “I admire her for her honesty and her poetry,” she says. “There is a very specific power that women have and, when they can tap into it, it’s pretty magical.” When it comes down to it, Kacy’s mission in life is to spread joy with her music. “With my own personal legacy, I hope that I can make people feel happy, and I guess this sounds cheesy, but just love who they are.”
“I care about being strong and honest,” she says. “I think that there were a lot of times when I underestimated the amount of power that I had… there’s just a lot of situations where women have to assert themselves more than they should have to.” Sometimes this meant wearing clothes that weren’t her style on a photoshoot; other times it meant quieting her passions. Regardless, she’s definitely found her way today.
Kacy is inspired by strong women, including her grandmother, who she calls the matriarch of her family, and experienced musicians, like Florence Welch. “I admire her for her honesty and her poetry,” she says. “There is a very specific power that women have and, when they can tap into it, it’s pretty magical.” When it comes down to it, Kacy’s mission in life is to spread joy with her music. “With my own personal legacy, I hope that I can make people feel happy, and I guess this sounds cheesy, but just love who they are.”
