Lauren Jauregui is arguably Fifth Harmony’s most outspoken, politically “woke” member. Since penning an open letter to Donald Trump supporters, and chatting with HuffPost back in March about immigration and feminism, Jauregui has made it clear she is not afraid to fight for what she believes in.
In an interview with Vulkan Magazine, Jauregui shared her thoughts on feminism, the meaning of modern-day girl power, and the role Fifth Harmony plays in conveying a positive and inspirational message for other women.
The interviewer asks Jauregui if she feels her passion for feminism is somewhat hypocritical, given the “sexualized image” that she and the other members of Fifth Harmony embody. Her response to that criticism could not have been better.
I would say that regardless of how the brand has been created, we are four hard working women who have succeeded in making our dream to become artists a more possible reality through this. We’ve reached millions of people all over the world who watch our interviews and listen to the message beyond the sexualization, which is to love yourself first and to understand your worth.
Jauregui openly acknowledged that some of her song’s lyrics have flirtatious, sometimes even provocative, undertones, but she was quick to point out that embracing one’s sexuality should not take away from any feminist convictions. She explained that “women embracing their sexuality should never be a reason to disregard their intellect or ability to speak on topics beyond that.”
Jauregui also noted that numerous fans have turned to the group’s songs for comfort and emotional support.
“We had so many of our fans tell us how worthless they felt before they found out about us and watched our interviews and listened to our music,” she said.
Now if that isn’t female empowerment, we don’t know what is.
Catch the full interview with Vulkan Magazine here.