Public image of Mariah Carey

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Mariah Carey adopted a polished image at the beginning of her career due to Tommy Mottola's influence. She was depicted more sexually in her music videos after their separation.[1] Carey has since been described as a sex symbol.[2] The singer mentions Marilyn Monroe as one of her biggest idols and her "beauty icon", and she referenced Monroe in some of her music videos, such as "I Still Believe" or "Don't Forget About Us".[3] Her album Butterfly has been credited for revamping Carey's image as a pop star where she began to embrace hip hop and R&B themes and fully come into her own self, resulting in butterflies becoming a metaphorical symbol of her impact and legacy upon pop and R&B music.[4][5] In the early 2000s, Carey was a "tabloid fixture" and her public breakdown during the promotion of her 2001 film, Glitter, became the "stuff of tabloid legend" according to Justin Curto, writer for Vulture.[6][7] Her return to prominence in 2005 with the album The Emancipation of Mimi is regarded as one of the greatest musical comebacks in history.[8] After joining American Idol as a judge for the twelfth season, Carey became one of the highest paid American television stars ever with a $18 million paycheck.[9] Emilia Petrarca of W stated that "Carey is uber-cautious about cultivating her public image" but that when it comes to style, she is "more do than don't".[10]

Race

Diva

Carey has been called a pop icon[11][12][13] and has been labeled a "diva" for her stardom and persona.[14] She said, "I have had diva moments, and then people can't handle it. I guess it's a little intense, because I come from a true diva: My mother is an opera singer. And that's a real diva, you know—Juilliard diva. And I mean it as a compliment, or I wouldn't be the person I am without experiencing that."[15] Carey's fanbase is known as the "Lambily", a portmanteau of "lamb" and "family".[16] With over 10 million followers as of April 2013, Carey is one of the most popular musicians on Twitter.[17] Her fans are credited with originating the internet term "skinny legend", used as a form of praise and endearment for their idol.[18] In 2008, Carey was named one of Time's 100 most influential artists and entertainers in the world.[19][20] Now writer Kevin Hegge agreed that "Carey's influence is indisputable".[6]

Carey performing "We Belong Together" on Good Morning America in 2005

Her style has often been described as "eccentric" and "over the top".[21][22] Writer Noah Berlatsky noted that "Carey has always reveled in uber-feminine, girly imagery", with her album titles such as Butterfly, Rainbow, Glitter and Charmbracelet being prime examples.[23] In her memoir, she stated, "I refuse to acknowledge time. (...) Not living based on time became a way to hold on to myself, to keep close and keep alive that inner child of mine. It's why I gravitate toward enduring characters like Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Tinker Bell. They remind me we can be timeless."[24] Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote in 2015 that "decades from now, we will be looking back at Mariah Carey as one of the most gloriously batshit pop stars of all time."[25]

Elle called Carey the "Queen of Shade" in 2016.[26] When asked about American singer Jennifer Lopez in a German TV interview, Carey's response was, "I don't know her". The clip became a viral internet meme and has been brought up in other interviews.[6][27] After the release of "Obsessed", critics heavily compared its lyrics to Eminem who had negatively referenced her several times in songs, and suggested Carey alluded to him and his "obsession" with her.[28] "Obsessed" never mentions the rapper's name, although reviewers felt it to be very obvious.[29] Additionally, Carey played a role that resembled the rapper in the song's accompanying music video.[30]

Due to her large gay fanbase, Carey is recognized as a gay icon and her song "Hero" is regarded as a gay anthem as it touches upon themes of embracing individuality and overcoming self-doubt.[31] According to Carey herself, a lot of her gay fans admitted to also be growing up listening to her song "Outside" and relating to the feeling of isolation and unfitting.[32] Her diva persona has also given her much admiration from gay fans.[33] Carey was honored by GLAAD in 2016 with the GLAAD Ally Award for which she expressed gratitude to her LGBT+ fans. In her speech she thanked the community, "For the unconditional love ... I wish all of you love, peace, [and] harmony".[34]

Fashion

Fashion has also been a part of Carey's image.[35] She was declared a fashion icon by Insider Inc. writer Susanna Heller who added that "her decadent closet spans multiple rooms and is full of designer clothing, lingerie, shoes, and accessories".[36] CR Fashion Book writer Shepherd also stated that while her "sartorial aesthetic has shifted here and there ..., the music icon largely favors sexy, skin-baring, and often bedazzled looks.[37] During her tours, she has frequently worn Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin high-end stiletto footwear,[38] as well as leotards, corsets, and fishnet tights.[39] Laura Antonia Jordan of Grazia called Carey fashion "royalty" and stated that in the 1990s, her go-to looks were "super-tight silhouettes, cropped tops, thigh-grazing hemlines and dangerously high slits."[35] Carey has also been credited for beginning the trend of wearing low-rise jeans in the early 2000s, after cutting off the waistband of the denim she wore for the music video of "Heartbreaker", which have since been described as "iconic".[40][41][42] Vogue writer Christian Allaire stated that in the latter half of her career, Carey has "rarely hit without her evening gowns, often embellished with crystals, sequins, or feathers."[43]

Queen of Christmas

Carey performing "All I Want for Christmas Is You" at the 2013 National Christmas Tree Lighting event in Washington, D.C.

"All I Want for Christmas Is You", as well as its parent album Merry Christmas, have become such a ubiquitous part of wider popular culture that Carey's name became synonymous with the season, and she has since been dubbed the "Queen of Christmas".[44] Both the song and album were hailed as being "one of the few worthy modern additions to the holiday canon" by The New Yorker in 2006.[45] Speaking to Vogue in 2015, Elvis Duran stated that the song's appeal was based on the fact that it was "a modern song that could actually have been a hit back in the '40s", praising its "timeless, classic quality".[44] The success of the song, in particular, has led Carey to build what Billboard described as a "growing holiday mini-empire".[46]

Multiple media sources have referred to Carey as a holiday icon.[47][48][49][50] The singer has often incorporated holiday-themed outfits during her Christmas shows and music videos. Billboard noted that "each year, her reign gets grander and more festive. (...) Over the years, [Carey] has rocked nearly every shade of red for the season's fashions, from plunging gowns and floor-length coats to ensembles inspired by Santa, Mrs. Claus and The Nutcracker's toy soldiers. She's also a pro at pulling off winter white, whether she's wearing a snow-white dress covered in crystals or a fluffy hood tailor-made for keeping the December chill at bay."[47] Due to the song's ongoing popularity, as well as social media memes that show retail workers' disdain for the song due to its frequent airplay at their jobs (which sometimes require the round-the-clock display of Christmas music), Carey has taken advantage of this by posting a video on her social media every year since 2019 around midnight Eastern time on November 1, announcing that "it's time" to play the song.[51][52]

Carey initially rejected the title, saying that "to me, Mother Mary is the Queen of Christmas".[53][54] Despite this, in March 2021, she attempted to trademark the phrase "Queen of Christmas", which received backlash from singers Darlene Love and Elizabeth Chan.[55] In November 2022, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board denied Carey's request.[56]

References

  1. ^ Harrison 2011, p. 7
  2. ^ Nostro, Lauren; Patterson, Julian (December 10, 2012). "The 100 Hottest Female Singers of All Time". Complex. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  3. ^ Aquino, Tara (November 14, 2011). "A History of Famous Women Who've Imitated Marilyn Monroe". Complex. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "20 Years Ago: Mariah Carey Reinvents Herself With 'Butterfly'". The Boombox. September 16, 2017. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  5. ^ Strauss, Neil (November 12, 1997). "Critic's Notebook; In the Pop Kingdom, Flying Is the Reigning Metaphor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Have We Been Underestimating Mariah Carey?". Now. November 29, 2018. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  7. ^ "10 Shocking Stories From Mariah Carey's Memoir". Vulture. September 30, 2020. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "Mariah Carey on Why 2005's Iconic 'The Emancipation of Mimi' LP Was 'More Than a Comeback Album'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  9. ^ Maloney, Devon (July 24, 2012). "Mariah Carey's $18 Million 'Idol' Deal: How Does it Measure Up to Stars' TV Paydays?". Spin. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  10. ^ "25 Reasons Why We're So Obsessed With Mariah Carey's Style". W. March 27, 2017. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  11. ^ "Mariah Carey Might Be As Close to Pop Perfection As Pop Will Ever Allow". Vulture. December 8, 2020. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "Forever Mariah: An Interview With an Icon". Pitchfork. November 28, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  13. ^ Livingstone, Jo (October 9, 2020). "The Sweet Fantasy of the Female Pop Star". The New Republic. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "20 of Mariah Carey's wildest and most diva moments". Insider Inc. July 15, 2019. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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  17. ^ "The 100 most popular musicians on Twitter: get the full list". The Guardian. April 19, 2013. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
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  20. ^ "Complete List – The 2008 TIME 100". Time. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
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  22. ^ Macsai, Dan (May 1, 2014). "Make Your Own Iconic Mariah Carey Album Title". Time. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  23. ^ "The Subversive Gender Message In Mariah Carey's Latest Music Video". Ravishly. May 1, 2015. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  24. ^ Carey and Davis, preface
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  26. ^ Tang, Estelle (May 18, 2016). "Mariah Carey, Queen of Shade, Dishes on J.Lo and Nicki Minaj". Elle. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
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  29. ^ Forde, Kisha (June 17, 2021). "Mariah Carey Throws Shade at Eminem While Celebrating "Obsessed" Anniversary". E!. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  30. ^ Reid, Shaheem (June 30, 2009). "Is Mariah Carey's 'Obsessed' Directed At Eminem?". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
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  32. ^ "THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT: MARIAH DISCOVERS THE ART OF LETTING GO". The 97. October 9, 2014. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  33. ^ "How the Gay Icon in Music Has Evolved Since Mariah Carey". Vice. July 29, 2016. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  34. ^ "Mariah Carey Just Explained What LGBTQ Truly Stands For at GLAAD Media Awards". Mic. May 15, 2016. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  35. ^ a b "Mariah Carey's 1990s Outfits Are Actually A Brilliant Source Of Style Inspiration". Grazia. April 10, 2020. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
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  39. ^ "Only Mariah Carey Could Get Away with Wearing This to the Gym". InStyle. February 3, 2017. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  40. ^ "How One Influencer Recreated Mariah Carey's Waistless Low-Rise Jeans With Help From Elvis Presley's Tailor". Vogue. December 4, 2021. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  41. ^ "This is how Mariah Carey ended up wearing those iconic jeans in the 'Heartbreaker" video". Yahoo! Sports. August 27, 2017. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  42. ^ "Mariah Carey still has the jeans she wore in the Heartbreaker video". Cosmopolitan. August 29, 2017. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  43. ^ "A Closer Look At Mariah Carey's Festive, Fabulous Fashion For Her Holiday Special". Vogue. December 5, 2020. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  44. ^ a b Ruiz, Michelle (December 23, 2015). "The Enduring Magic of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You"". Vogue. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  45. ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha (March 27, 2006). "On Top". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  46. ^ Wilker, Deborah (November 13, 2017). "Mariah Carey Reflects on 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' and Her Growing Holiday Mini-Empire". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  47. ^ a b "Mariah Carey's Christmas Looks: See All Her Best Outfits". Billboard. December 20, 2022. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  48. ^ "how mariah carey became the queen of christmas". Vice. December 14, 2015. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
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  54. ^ Portée, Alex (December 9, 2022). "Mariah Carey: 'I never called myself the Queen of Christmas'". Yahoo. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
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  56. ^ Treisman, Rachel (November 18, 2022). "Mariah Carey can't be the only 'Queen of Christmas,' the trademark agency rules". NPR. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
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