Olivia Rodrigo Says Fame Can Impact Your Mental Health
One year after the release of her debut album SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo reflects on going from Disney star to pop sensation virtually overnight while talking with Vogue Singapore in a recent interview.
The Good 4 U singer shared that she’s able to manage her sudden fame with help from her support system, who keeps her grounded and away from excessively negative media attention.
“I’m taking it one step at a time. It can be really tough on your mental health, though. I’m grateful for the people who like me for me, and keep me separated from all the noise and tabloids or what people are saying about me on social media. That’s always been a top priority,” Rodrigo explained. “It’s funny how recognition changes everything and also changes nothing in your life. The problems I was having a year ago are still the problems I’m having now, and things that brought me joy a year ago are still the things that bring me joy now. It’s just another aspect of life that you need to learn how to deal with, but it doesn’t change who you are as a person.”
Billboard reports say that, Rodrigo also revealed that gaining fame from her music allowed her to understand which friends were truly in her corner. “It was surprising to see who was genuinely supportive of me and who wasn’t,” she said. “Sometimes when you have a lot of success really quickly, it can scare people and make people feel different. That was an interesting thing to learn. I’m figuring it all out.”
Shedding light on her childhood, Rodrigo described her upbringing and her transition into becoming an actress and singer. “In middle school, I was home-schooled and started working on sets, which adds to the unique thing about my upbringing. I spent most of it surrounded by 45-year-old men on a set and not with kids my own age in a school,” she shared. “But I’m lucky to have amazing friends and family who have kept me grounded.”
“My parents take all this craziness in the best way. They always say, ‘We are so proud of you and all these achievements are incredible, but we would be equally proud of you if you were in school in your hometown,'” Rodrigo continued. “They’re the best and that’s a really important attitude to have.”
Olivia posted the Vogue Singapore cover imagine featuring herself and pictures from the shoot. She captioned it saying “what a dream.” See her post below.
-Aditi
