“Staying true to myself is number one and I have talent. I’ve always had talent and that has gotten me far.” In the words of music artist Kristinia DeBarge, her experiences cultivated the compassion and respect she has for her music, her fans, and the humble way in which she lives her life. DeBarge tirelessly uses her incredible skill and resilient attitude to stay ahead of the music curve, fight setbacks and obstacles with positivity, and use her celebrity platform to be an advocate for anti-bullying and a great influence for fans to do more with their own unique abilities.
Kristinia’s music has changed drastically since her first album Exposed that was released in 2009. Her decision to switch it up came from age and maturity. She states, “I was excited to put out new music to show that I was a woman. I wanted to show my maturity and transition. I wanted people to see that I wasn’t a little girl anymore.” And with this new sound, the question at hand was her motive to stay current. “I felt that because of the island music, the Tinashe’s and stuff, I thought it was popular and I had to put out that type of music to stay current. And I found the middle ground where I can put out that type of music that is popular right now to be relevant again”, Kristinia asserts. DeBarge is currently filming the series Growing Up Hip Hop and she briefly addressed the rumors circling her when she explains, “Not everything you see or hear is real or true. As far as the stuff with my dad, that stuff is true. Obviously people are going to say what they are going to say and it is something I learned throughout my career and it is something that I cannot control. The best thing I can do is continue to live my life the way I’ve been living it. My reputation will exceed so I can’t get too caught up in what other people think.”
In addition to her time spent on screen, Kristinia is even more involved in her community off screen. As a survivor of bullying, she uses her past to help create a better future for children going through similar things. She responds, “There are too many kids out there that have been bullied or are being bullied now in their schools and out of schools and they have nobody to talk to, and some end up taking their own lives. Not everyone is resilient or strong or able to fight back. From my book, I will use the proceeds to go back into the art departments of the schools so that they can have a place to express themselves and have the opportunity to stay off the streets and to do what they love and be creative.”
Kristinia’s style is just as colorful as her genuine personality too. “My style is constantly changing. Sometimes I feel a little bit more sporty but I’m a heel girl. I have been wearing more Nike, Puma, and Adidas but I’m a heel girl. I love dresses, skirts, and I like to dress up.” She is also a fan of Kim Kardashian’s trendsetting styles. “She has really nice style so I would raid her closet and I know that she doesn’t wear the same thing twice, so she could definitely come and give it to me.” DeBarge also has a new projects in the making, furthermore. She plans on coming out with an app this September and a lifestyle brand. “The lifestyle brand will have clothing, shoes, and more but I want to do it the right way. The app will serve as a way for fans to interact with me on a deeper and more connected level.” Kristinia’s multimedia approach to reaching out to a wide audience is effective and developmental to the progression of meaningful music, along with staying in tune with supporting her fan base.
Photography by: Von Jackson
Pink Love video
Follow Kristinia DeBarge:
Instagram: @kristiniadeb
Twitter: @Kristinia