STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Mariah Carey: 'I Can’t Measure What Type Of Respect I Deserve'

The R&B diva opens up about having low self-esteem.

With an impressive career that precedes her repertoire, one could easily assume that Mariah Carey boasts enough confidence to fill a room. But behind the glitz and glamour is a woman who still grapples with self-esteem issues like the rest of us. 

In a rare candid interview with Page Six, the R&B diva opened up about her struggles with self-confidence. “I just feel like I am a regular human being and I deserve the same respect as anybody else,” Mariah told the publication while sitting in her all-white dressing room. “I have always had low self-esteem, and people do not recognize that.”

“I can’t measure what type of respect I deserve — I really can’t," she added. 

Currently touring with Lionel Richie for the star-studded All Hits Tour, Mimi has been pulling out all the stops for her performances. From a gold throne to men whisking her away at a moment's notice, the set design has all the makings of a diva's paradise. However, the starlet revealed that she feels far from regal inside. 

“Growing up different, being biracial, having the whole thing where I did not know if I fit in," Mimi said. "That is why music became such a big part of my life, because it helped me overcome those issues,” she told us. “Sometimes it is hard to let your guard down.”

This makes it difficult for the "Vision of Love" songstress to trust those around her. “I do think to myself, ‘Did they mean this? Or do they not really mean it?’” Mimi continued. “And that is with everybody — it is not just with three people or just one.”

In spite of her internal struggles, Mariah is continuing to push her brand with the arrival of a new fragrance that "smells like sucess" and the promise of new music. 

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.