Why Zara Larsson Is an Important Popstar

19 year-old Swedish songstress Zara Larsson has achieved tremendous success which will only continue to grow globally and rightfully so. Her records have achieved international acclaim and she has garnered a mass following of fans and also celebrities including Katy Perry and even supporting her idol Beyoncé on her London leg of the Formation tour. But what is it that makes Zara such an important pop star in our generation ? Here are a few reasons:

1. She never gave up on her dream – In 2008, Zara won Sweden’s version of America’s Got Talent at the age of only 10 years old, showcasing such a raw talent however record companies never instantly got on board to sign her so she enrolled into a ballet school until she signed her first major record label contract 4 years later, showing that she was persistent to make her goal become reality which has clearly paid off.
2. She is aware of social issues – Having been brought up in one of the most egalitarian nations in the world, Zara of course knows a thing or two about equality and actively shares these views through social media and interviews. Her parents are educated in current affairs and “they’ve been very supportive of me having a voice.”
3. She is in control – At first for Zara, it would be a daunting task to disagree with what people in the music industry were telling her but overtime, she managed to “develop [her] self-esteem and the ability to say no, because that’s the most important thing that you can do.” She has the final say on what she puts out to the world and doesn’t let anyone tell her otherwise.
4. She knows who she wants to work with – Zara has collaborated with Grammy worthy artists like MNEK and most recently Clean Bandit who have provided the aesthetic for her music to sound fresh and unlike anything people have heard before but passed on pursuing the songs made with controversial producer Dr. Luke, claiming that “I don’t really know him that well personally. But I’m happy I’m not a part of it.”
5. She is a feminist – Without a doubt, Zara acknowledges the constant oppression towards women in modern day society and isn’t afraid to speak up about it, using her Twitter as a platform to, for example, outline that feminism and man hating are completely different and penning a moving essay for Paper regarding the necessity for women to conform in today’s society and how it is all really a bunch of bull (Link here).
6. She looks at the bigger picture – When asked about the petty hate towards Taylor Swift and her absence during the political uproar in America, she provides this answer: “Women are being raped, beaten up, killed. LGBTQ people are being killed for loving who they want to love. And Muslims can’t get into America because they’re Muslims. There are so many problems going on in the world. Is it really worth focusing on Taylor Swift and if she’s a real feminist or not?” Not only is she putting everything into perspective, she is talking about the worrying problems that are occurring amongst many communities in the world today and not just America.
7. She has fun – Despite the hardships that women have to face, she uses humor as a way to put her message across, most notably the infamous post on Instagram of a condom on her leg which created a buzz around multiple media outlets in January 2015. Sometimes the best way to convey something is through comedy and it has worked out in Zara’s favour.
8. She hates Trump as much as all of us – This particular tweet honestly just sums it all up perfectly.

Zara Larsson possesses all the ingredients needed to be an important popstar for our generation; she is young, talented and simply wants to make the world a better place for women, LGBT people, Muslims, black people and many others. Not only that, her music is well worth listening to with her highly anticipated album So Good being released on March 17th. I wish her all the success that will follow and preach her words “Believe in your damn self” – a phrase that we all should embrace.