Bebe Rexha’s Journey to Unwavering Confidence: Self-Love, Style, and Creative Expression
In the vibrant, often demanding world of Hollywood, where maintaining authenticity can be a challenge, Bebe Rexha radiates a powerful sense of individuality and self-assurance. The acclaimed 29-year-old singer, known for her distinctive makeup, fearless style, and empowering attitude, recently sat down with HollywoodLife for an EXCLUSIVE interview. During their conversation, she candidly unveiled the deep-rooted personal journey that has shaped her unwavering confidence, offering invaluable insights that extend far beyond the entertainment industry’s spotlight.
Bebe’s inspiring revelations took place at the highly anticipated launch event for her “Wicked Neons” collection, a collaborative effort with the popular nail polish brand, SinfulColors. At the star-studded gathering, Bebe not only captivated onlookers with her striking ensemble—a sleek black bodycon midi dress elegantly designed with an open back and vibrant neon accents—but also shared her favorite beauty trends and, more importantly, the profound path she navigated to achieve comfort and confidence in her own skin. While Bebe now projects an image of consistent self-possession, she openly confessed that this wasn’t an inherent trait. Instead, it was a deliberate process, an internal journey that required significant time and introspection to cultivate.
The Transformative Path to Embracing Self-Love
Challenging the common misconception that confidence is an innate quality or an overnight transformation, Bebe passionately described her personal evolution as a continuous journey. “I think it’s a journey,” she admitted with compelling honesty. “I think it’s about going through a phase. You don’t just wake up and think, ‘I’m a bad b**ch.'” This raw perspective offers a relatable glimpse into the struggles many individuals face when striving for self-acceptance. For Bebe, this path was particularly arduous, marked by periods where she wrestled with intense self-doubt and critical internal dialogue. She revealed, “For me, it was a journey, and there was a point where I just really didn’t like myself and I would say mean things to myself.” This candid confession highlights a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of mental well-being: the pervasive influence of our inner voice. It often feels easier to extend kindness, compassion, and encouragement to friends and loved ones, yet we frequently subject ourselves to a relentless barrage of harsh judgments and negative self-talk.
Bebe emphasized that cultivating genuine self-love is not a definitive destination to be reached, but rather an ongoing, dynamic process—a “constant task,” as she described it. “You have to learn how to say nice things to yourself and I feel like we always say nice things to other people but we never really say nice things to ourselves.” Her pivotal breakthrough stemmed from a conscious and deliberate decision to fundamentally alter this internal narrative. “So that was something that I had to work on and it was being at a low and just kind of switching it on,” she powerfully explained. This transformative moment underscores the profound impact of intentionality in overcoming persistent self-doubt and actively fostering a more compassionate, supportive relationship with oneself. It involves acknowledging moments of vulnerability or self-criticism and consciously choosing to redirect one’s thoughts towards positivity, affirmation, and self-kindness—a practice that demands consistent effort, patience, and unwavering dedication.
Beyond the Filter: Bebe Rexha’s Real Talk on Insecurity and Social Media
In an era increasingly defined by meticulously curated online personas and the pervasive pressure of social media, Bebe Rexha offered profoundly valuable counsel for anyone grappling with feelings of inadequacy or insecurity, particularly when comparing themselves to others. She passionately urged individuals to remember that even the celebrities and public figures they most admire are not immune to moments of vulnerability and self-doubt. “If they see their favorite celebrities or anybody that they look up to, they should know that they’re probably just as insecure sometimes and they have their moments.” This vital perspective serves as a powerful antidote to the often misleading and unrealistic portrayals of perfection that saturate digital platforms.
Bebe insightfully critiqued how online media can significantly distort reality, creating an illusion of constant happiness and flawlessness. “Sometimes the media will portray it as if everybody’s all happy and feeling good all the time, because you’re on Instagram and social media and everyone’s posting their amazing times, and their best days, but that’s not always the real side.” With remarkable courage, she peeled back the curtain on her own experiences, revealing the hidden struggles that often lie beneath public appearances. “There are days that I wake up and I’m like, ‘I feel bloated and not the greatest,’ but I have to force myself to go out and do my thing.” This raw, unvarnished honesty provides a much-needed dose of reality, powerfully emphasizing that resilience, self-discipline, and sheer determination are frequently required to navigate and push through challenging days. Her impactful message advocates for a healthier, more empathetic understanding of both ourselves and those we admire, serving as a poignant reminder that shared human experiences, including vulnerabilities and insecurities, ultimately connect us more profoundly than superficial images of perfection could ever divide us.
A Timeless Canvas: Bebe’s Makeup and Style Inspirations
Bebe Rexha is widely celebrated for her audacious and experimental approach to makeup, consistently pushing the boundaries of conventional beauty with her fearless use of vibrant colors, innovative textures, and unique applications. Her distinctive aesthetic is far from accidental; it’s a rich, intricately woven tapestry informed by a diverse array of inspirations, frequently drawing from iconic figures who have left an indelible mark on culture and style. “I like to go back in time,” she revealed, citing legends such as the legendary rock icon Debbie Harry, the epitome of classic glamour Marilyn Monroe, and the ever-transformative pop queen Madonna as her primary muses. This deliberate backward glance allows Bebe to reinterpret and fuse elements of classic glamour, punk rebellion, and fearless experimentation through a distinctly contemporary lens, forging a style that is uniquely her own.
Debbie Harry, the quintessential punk rock siren and frontwoman of Blondie, serves as a significant influence on Bebe’s adventurous and often unconventional use of color. “I love a lot of the colors she did. She used to do pops of colors and liners and the blue eyeshadow with the red lips.” This striking and often unexpected combination—a vibrant, daring clash of cool-toned eyeshadows with warm, passionate lip colors—speaks volumes about a fearless approach to beauty that Bebe wholeheartedly embraces in her own artistry. From Harry’s bold, unapologetic eyeshadow applications to her impactful, often graphic liner work, Bebe draws inspiration from the punk icon’s unparalleled ability to make a powerful statement with every single look, transforming her face into a dynamic canvas of expression.
Beyond the edgy, rebellious spirit of punk, Bebe also masterfully incorporates elements from the timeless elegance and captivating allure of Marilyn Monroe. Monroe’s signature red lip, meticulously sculpted brows, and overall classic Hollywood glamour remain unparalleled symbols of enduring beauty. While Monroe’s refined style might appear to be a world away from Harry’s more subversive aesthetic, Bebe expertly blends these seemingly disparate influences, forging a multi-faceted and deeply intriguing aesthetic that is entirely her own. Madonna, revered globally as the undisputed queen of reinvention, further fuels Bebe’s relentless drive for constant experimentation and artistic evolution. Madonna’s fearless transformations across different eras, from her early ’80s pop-punk looks to her more sophisticated and provocative later styles, provide a compelling blueprint for artistic metamorphosis and daring self-expression that deeply resonates with Bebe’s personal philosophy of embracing change and pushing creative boundaries.
To meticulously organize, refine, and bring to life these myriad influences, Bebe employs a creative tool that is familiar to many artists and designers: a detailed mood board. “I have a Pinterest where I save stuff or screenshot things,” she shared, highlighting the digital nature of her creative curation. “It’s really important to me. I’ll put them in a folder because sometimes I’ll forget and if I ever see anything that really inspires me, I’ll screenshot it.” This systematic and highly organized approach ensures that no fleeting moment of inspiration is ever lost, whether it manifests as a captivating visual image, a compelling color palette, or an intriguing texture that sparks her imagination. Her collaborative process extends seamlessly to her trusted makeup artist as well, creating a dynamic synergy. “Or, sometimes we’ll see a color and my makeup artist will be like, ‘look at this new color that I bought, do you want to do something cool?’ And that’s how it will work out,” Bebe concluded. This vibrant interplay between historical reverence, meticulous personal curation, and professional, collaborative artistry allows Bebe to consistently deliver fresh, innovative, and profoundly personal beauty looks that not only define her brand but also continue to inspire her vast fanbase.
“Wicked Neons”: A Collaboration Rooted in Passion and Personality
Bebe Rexha’s electrifying “Wicked Neons” collection, developed in collaboration with SinfulColors, transcends the realm of a typical celebrity endorsement. It stands as a genuine and vivid extension of the star’s dynamic, colorful personality and a powerful testament to her lifelong passion for authentic self-expression through the intricate art of nail design. Bebe herself enthusiastically admitted that she “had a blast putting together” this collection, a palpable sentiment that truly shines through in the lively and diverse range of shades. The collection, bursting with brilliantly bright and unapologetically bold neons, perfectly encapsulates Bebe’s energetic, fearless, and creatively uninhibited spirit.
This particular collaboration holds immense personal significance for Bebe, harking back to cherished memories from her childhood. “I love nails and nail polish,” she revealed with an infectious enthusiasm that underscored her deep-seated connection. “Ever since I was a little girl I used to save up and go to the store and buy press-ons and I thought it was so much fun because I loved glitter and doing my own nails – I wasn’t really that good at it but it was a way of expressing myself creatively and I love being creative, so that’s why I decided to team up with the brand.” This profound personal connection elevates the collection beyond a mere product line; it transforms it into a compelling narrative of fulfilling a childhood dream, beautifully illustrating how her artistic journey originated with simple, joyful acts of creative play and self-discovery.
What truly distinguished this partnership and made it exceptionally appealing to Bebe was the unprecedented level of creative control she was afforded. “Plus, they actually wanted to collaborate with me. It wasn’t just like, ‘here are the colors.’ I got to create my own shades, which is super important to me.” This deep and meaningful involvement allowed Bebe to meticulously infuse her distinct artistic vision into every single aspect of the collection, rigorously ensuring that each vibrant polish and innovative press-on nail authentically reflected her unique style and precise artistic preferences. This hands-on, collaborative approach guarantees that “Wicked Neons” is a genuine, unfiltered representation of Bebe Rexha, offering her legions of fans a tangible piece of her colorful and expressive world.
Accessibility was another pivotal factor that underpinned the collaboration’s ethos. The “Wicked Neons” collection is conveniently and widely available at Walmart and Walmart.com, ensuring that these bold, expressive products are within reach for a broad and diverse audience. The collection’s remarkable affordability further accentuates this commitment to accessibility, with the individual polishes retailing for a budget-friendly $1.99 and the innovative press-on CLAWS priced at an equally accessible $5.99. This thoughtful pricing strategy empowers fans of all backgrounds to experiment freely with Bebe’s signature vibrant style without financial strain, thereby fostering a widespread sense of shared creativity and personal expression.
Nail Art: From Glam Rock Edge to Playful Experimentation
When it comes to her personal nail preferences, Bebe Rexha readily admits that her choices, much like her overarching style philosophy, are inherently dynamic and intrinsically linked to her current mood and the demands of various occasions. “I go through phases,” she confessed, highlighting the fluid nature of her aesthetic. Her nail choices are a vivid extension of her ever-evolving identity, seamlessly morphing to complement different facets of her public persona and a diverse range of events. “I’m usually more like a rock and roll glamour type girl, but then if I want to go rave and for Halloween I don’t mind doing fun things. It depends on my mood.”
This chameleon-like approach allows Bebe to effortlessly embrace a broad spectrum of nail styles. Her “rock and roll glamour” phase might see her opting for darker, edgier shades, perhaps accentuated with striking metallic finishes, subtle glitter, or intricate embellishments, subtly echoing her musical roots and rebellious spirit. However, when her mood shifts towards more celebratory events like a “rave” or the creative freedom of Halloween, all stylistic conventions are joyfully discarded. These occasions become prime opportunities for maximalist expression, where she might enthusiastically dive into a world of vibrant neons, complex hand-painted designs, or unconventional textures and adornments, aligning perfectly with the playful and experimental spirit embodied by her “Wicked Neons” collection.
Despite her evident passion for elaborate and artistic nail designs, Bebe also places a significant premium on practicality in her everyday life. “I love all the clip-ons and stuff but it gets stuck on everything so I keep it super simple.” This candid and practical consideration underscores the delicate balance she maintains between artistic expression and the pragmatic demands of a busy, high-profile lifestyle. While she deeply appreciates the dramatic flair and aesthetic impact of longer, more intricately embellished nails, her day-to-day choices consciously lean towards simplicity and understated elegance. This ensures optimal comfort and ease of movement without ever compromising her inherent sense of style. This thoughtful and balanced approach further cements Bebe Rexha’s status as a relatable icon who navigates the exciting complexities of personal style with both profound passion and grounded pragmatism.
Ultimately, Bebe Rexha’s captivating narrative stands as a powerful testament to the ongoing journey of self-discovery, the profound joy of authentic expression, and the transformative power of self-love. From courageously conquering personal insecurities and navigating the pressures of public life to expertly channeling her diverse inspirations into groundbreaking beauty looks and impactful collaborative collections, she consistently inspires millions globally. Her message resonates with clarity and conviction: genuine confidence is a quality that is diligently built and nurtured, not passively received. It flourishes most vibrantly when we wholeheartedly embrace our unique individuality, consciously practice kindness and compassion towards ourselves, and actively seek out creative outlets that truly and authentically reflect the essence of who we are.