“Aaliyah was such a role model. Even in the crazy music industry, she still kept her family and friends first and remained the same. Her swag was out of this world too. I mean, what female artist was dressing like Aaliyah before she came out?”
– Aaliyah Anderson, “The Diary Of Aaliyah Anderson”
As I wrote my first novel The Diary Of Aaliyah Anderson, people asked me if I got the name “Aaliyah” from the actual singer Aaliyah. My resounding response is yes. Aaliyah Haughton is personally one of my favorite singers of all time and the epitome of elegance, grace, innovation and innocence. Her private life was shielded from the public eye and she always carried herself with a sophisticated swagger that resonated with fans around the world.
Her musical abilities and outlook on life was beyond her years. Every other word out of her mouth seemed to be about the importance of a strong family and being spiritually sound. Her death in that horrific plane crash still haunts me to this very day. How could a sweet, beautiful young lady like her have her life tragically stolen from her? She had all the potential to be an icon and sure fire role model. Why wasn’t she given that opportunity to be a beacon of light for her generation?
Revisiting the story of Aaliyah Haughton a couple of years ago after watching her MTV Diaries special, I grappled with my thoughts and a range of emotions for the longest time. My dad loves to say that life isn’t fair. Aaliyah’s death is a perfect example of what he’s tried to get me to understand since I could reason and decipher logic. However, I now look at the image of Aaliyah from a different perspective.
Aaliyah lived her life to the fullest. She didn’t allow slander and negativity from living her life. If you see photos and videos of her, particularly the MTV Diaries special, she was always cheerful and positive. She enjoyed her life and the twists and turns that it took her on. Her family played a tremendous part as well, as they kept her grounded and gave her moral support.
Aaliyah’s public image showcased values and ideals such as:
1) The Value Of Having The Right People Around You
Aaliyah’s team was committed to her success. From Timberland and Missy Elliot down to her choreographers and hair stylists, they saw her vision and worked had to aid her in growing her brand. From what I see, Aaliyah trusted her team. She’d turn to them for consulting and guidance. She always showed them love and treated them like people. We never heard about any messy disputes or public quarrels. And, if they did occur we, as the judgmental, drama craving public never saw it.
2) Keeping Your Public Image Clean
I challenge any reader of this article to tell me any incident, outside of the R. Kelly saga, that was a stain on Aaliyah’s reputation. She was seen as Hollywood’s darling. Everyone that worked with her had only great things to say regarding her. Like what was alluded to before, her problems were kept hidde
n from the public. She acted and carried herself like a professional.
That art is lost on both the men and
women of this new society dominated by the strong influence of social media. We choose to partake in activities that are detrimental to our budding brands and personal images, not realizing how important that could be
down the line. Imagine a possible employer coming across a video of you twerking or pictures of you smoking on blunts, high as a kite with your mind in the clouds. I know I wouldn’t hire you and no true professional looking to grow their businesses would!
While Aaliyah’s reputation was virtually flawless, she still was a normal person. She wasn’t standoffish and always engaged her fans. We can name numerous celebrities that act like they’re walking demigods, ostracizing the very people that contribute to their commercial success. We never saw that persona displayed from Aaliyah. All the stories I’ve heard of her have been favorable. We could even say that her legacy is built on her kind heart and awesome, timeless music.
Can you see now why I decided to name my character after her? Using what I learned from my research into Aaliyah Haughton’s story I created Aaliyah Anderson, a young lady known for her sophisticated attitude, lady like demeanor and immense loyalty. The example that Aaliyah set and the principles that she stood for will forever live on in my writings and should be embodied by both the women and men for today. Her image will live on forever!
-We came, we saw, we conquered! My debut publishing effort “Riverview High: Circumstances” reached #2 on the Amazon charts! Check it out on Amazon today. Don’t forget to leave a review!
-“The Diary Of Aaliyah Anderson” is out now! Make sure to go get it!
Do you have any questions, comments or concerns? Was I right or wrong on this issue? I would love to hear from you! Contact me directly at:
Email: [email protected]
Kik: @AuthorRandallB
Ask.Fm: @AuthorRandallB
Twitter: @AuthorRandallB
0 Comments