The 'Waves' singer remembers feeling 'devastated' and 'sidelined' as 'the dancer' when she was snubbed from a song while still in the girlgroup Fifth Harmony.
- Feb 29, 2020
AceShowbiz - Normani Kordei felt like she was sidelined as "the dancer" as the only Black member of girlband Fifth Harmony.
The "Motivation" hitmaker rose to fame as one fifth of "The X Factor U.S." group back in 2012, and while she's since gone on to launch a successful solo career, she told Rolling Stone magazine she always felt like "the other one in the room" because of the colour of her skin.
Recalling the time she was the only member whose vocals were left off a song, Normani admitted she began to question her place in the group, explaining, "I was devastated... So many things start to go through your mind, like, 'Maybe this is my fault? What could I have done differently? Am I not working hard enough? Am I not as talented? What's wrong with my voice?' "
Things got worse for the star, after fans took issue with her calling bandmate Camila Cabello "quirky," mocking up images of her being lynched and sending death threats, which her dad claimed left her "scarred."
However, after the group went on hiatus in 2016 following the release of their third album, Normani achieved massive success, recording duets with Sam Smith and Khalid, and amassing a legion of celebrity fans including Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce Knowles, and Rihanna.
"I'm at a loss for words because it's just all of the women that made up who I am," she said. "They respect what I do. Like, they actually respect what I do and want me to win. Little-girl me would have never been able to even comprehend that."
