Lizzo: "There is power in the word 'no'"

Lizzo says she has finally learned to set boundaries in her personal and professional life. The 'Rumours' singer says she is no longer afraid to say "no" to people.

"There is power in the word no when you are saying yes to yourself. And I think that that’s a lesson that everyone either is going to learn or is learning right now," she tells Essence magazine. 

Lizzo adds that she is grateful to have women like Olympians Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles lead the way. The two women made headlines recently after putting their mental health ahead of their careers.

Naomi famously pulled out of the French Open in May after she refused to attend post-match interviews. 

She was fined $15,000 (R222,000). Naomi said she would not do any interviews as they were not good for her mental health. 

"If the organizations think they can keep saying, ‘do press or you’re going to get fined,’ and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpiece of their cooperation then I just gotta laugh,” she said on Instagram. 

READ: Naomi Osaka opens up about her mental health issues

Simone withdrew from competitions at the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her mental health. 

Lizzo says both Simone and Naomi are "so exceptional and so incredible". 

"... society puts so much pressure on Black women, to always save the day and always “yes,” and always carry everything on our shoulders. And the fact that these young Black women are standing up for themselves and putting boundaries out there is, when I say inspiration with a capital I," she told Essence. 

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Main image courtesy of Instagram/@lizzobeeating