6 Incredible Women On The Art Of Being A Diva
What does being a diva mean in 2023? To coincide with the DIVA exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, supported by NET-A-PORTER, we asked six creative women to explain what the word means to them in today’s world – and to divulge their ultimate divas of all time
PATRICIA ZHOU, ballet dancer and movement director
“To me, the modern-day diva is someone who follows her own vision and is not swayed by what others are doing. She is fully her authentic self in her work and her being. She knows herself and is confident in her talent. A diva in 2023 puts herself first – not in a selfish or stubborn way, but she knows what she wants and how she should be treated. In turn, she treats her collaborators and those around her with the same respect. She does not put others down, but instead pulls them up by leading in a way that nourishes and encourages.
“Lastly, and most powerfully, the most inspiring divas are humble. They are constantly thriving, learning, and continually discovering their crafts. They are never stagnant; always exploring untrodden paths.
“Maria Callas is my ultimate diva. One only has to watch the old videos of her singing to witness her talent and unbelievable voice. My favorite song is Casta Diva. Even when she is just standing still on stage, her presence and star quality shine. She is absolutely divine.”
ZERINA AKERS, stylist
“I think a diva is someone who demands excellence in every facet of their life. Every inch of their life is curated to taste because they understand that all we have is now and they know that they deserve to live life to the fullest, and all things past, present and future are synonymous with greatness.
“I have three ultimate divas: Tina Turner, for her resilience and edge – on stage she was the blueprint; Grace Jones, for her bold freedom; and Beyoncé, for her overall commitment to serving us in everything she touches. Her kind of excellence is hard to come by these days.”
LOLA YOUNG, singer
“The word diva has changed over time, and it can mean different things to different people, but reclaiming this word as a female is super-important. I believe that being a diva means being a boss in your own field, having a voice and a clear identity, as well as standing up for what you believe in. I have always been a confident person, and this can sometimes mean I get called a diva, but I now take it as a positive thing – it probably means I am doing a good job.
“My ultimate diva of all time is my older sister, Becky. She is and always has been an incredible inspiration to me because of her confidence and her resilience. She has always stood up for what she believes in and has taught me a lot about what it means to be a feminist. I believe that Becky's strength comes out in her ability to use her voice in situations where people may try to silence her and, all in all, she is an incredibly hard worker.”
Lola Young’s album, My Mind Wanders And Sometimes Leaves Completely, is out now
METTE, musician, dancer and actor
“Being a diva is being comfortable occupying spaces. Whatever posture you carry, occupy your space, be unapologetic about it, and trust your intuition. As a performer and an artist, my intuition speaks loud. The gut doesn’t lie, and a diva trusts her gut. The diva also knows when she needs to mediate, how to practice self-care, and how we tackle ancestral trauma. She’s tackling and she’s showing up for herself and her community. The diva can conquer.
“Trinity from The Matrix is my ultimate diva – she loved hard, she fought hard, and I loved her style…”
Mette’s debut EP, Mettenarrative, is released on September 22
FLOWEROVLOVE, musician
“Being a diva, to me, means being your own boss, guided by creating your own destiny. In 2023, it involves having a seat at every table and owning that table. Diva used to be a compliment and then it got shifted into a negative word. However, I still see the use of it in a negative manner as a positive, because a diva is a woman who knows who she is, what she stands for, what she wants – and she demands it.
“My ultimate diva of all time is my mama. She is a true definition of a diva – she’s a star. I’ve chosen her because she came from the Ivory Coast with what wouldn’t even amount to £10 now and started a whole new life. That takes lots of courage, strength and belief. Having her in my life and knowing this story fuels my belief in myself. The idea of me doing what she did is terrifying but, because she did it, I believe I can, too. This is the diva I want to be, the ‘she did it, so I can do it, too’ girl.”
Flowerovlove’s new single, Coffee Shop, is out now
CLEO WADE, author and poet
“A diva is a woman who is absolutely clear; she knows who she is and what she is worth. She does not let anyone else define her. I love that there isn’t really a male equivalent to a diva. In a world that asks women to be small, a diva says no. She owns her glory. My favorite diva is probably Aretha Franklin. She was the first truly honest and confident superstar I ever saw – and stylish! She had a great look ’til the day she died – she was buried in red high heels! Her pride in herself and her talents really gave birth to the next generation of divas, like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey – two of my other favorites.”
Cleo Wade’s book, Remember Love, is out on October 17 via Penguin Random House
As a company dedicated to empowering and celebrating Incredible Women, NET-A-PORTER is proud to partner with the V&A in supporting the DIVA exhibition. DIVA is on now until April 7 at the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London
RELATED READING
SHOP POWER PIECES
11 items
The people featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown