Gwen Stefani has appeared on the cover of the latest issue of Paper Magazine, and looks flawless in a series of different glossy set ups for the fashion title.
But it’s not all about the glamour, as the accompanying interview sees the No Doubt star questioned on some interesting topics regarding her political beliefs, feminism, and cultural appropriation criticism she received for the ‘Harajuku Girls’ era of her solo career.
Gwen, 51, stuns on the front cover, modelling a tight-fitting striped T-shirt, emblazoned with her surname ‘Stefani’ across the chest, and easily gives off some major Debbie Harry vibes.
Considering the Don’t Speak singer is engaged to country singer Blake Shelton, many have questioned whether the pair disagree over politics, assuming that Shelton is a Republican given the genre of music he works in.
Cover girl: Gwen Stefani, 51, appears in the latest issue of Paper Magazine where she talks about politics, feminism, and facing claims of cultural appropriation
Blake, 44, has previously said he ‘doesn’t do politics’ refusing to endorse either party, but from this interview it’s clear that Gwen sees herself as a Democrat.
‘I think it’s pretty obvious who I am. I’ve been around forever,’ she says. ‘I started my band because we were really influenced by ska, which was a movement that happened in the late ’70s, and it was really all about people coming together.’
‘The first song I ever wrote was a song called ‘Different People,’ which was on the Obama playlist, you know, a song about everyone being different and being the same and loving each other.’
Hey Blondie: The singer appeared to be channeling her inner Debbie Harry for the fashion shoot
However, she didn’t seem to want to go further, saying: ‘I’m not a political science major. I am not that person. Everyone knows that. So why would I even talk about it?’
Elsewhere, Gwen touched on the criticism she received in her career when she faced claims of cultural appropriation around her 2004 solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
She was often accompanied by Japanese-American backup dancers called the Harajuku Girls.
Hollaback: Elsewhere, Gwen touched on claims of cultural appropriation when she was accompanied by Japanese-American backup dancers called the Harajuku Girls
Blonde ambition: No Doubt singer Gwen showed off a few different hairstyles for the glossy spread
Stunning: In another striking post, Gwen wore a floral-themed outfit consisting of denim flares and a lace crop top
Just A Girl: The singer said she had no idea what feminism meant when she released her hit single with the band No Doubt
Comedian Margaret Cho criticized Stefani and the group for reinforcing negative ethnic stereotypes of Asian women, even calling it a ‘minstrel show’ that reinforces ethnic stereotypes of Asian women.
‘I want to like them, and I want to think they are great, but I am not sure if I can. I mean, racial stereotypes are really cute sometimes, and I don’t want to bum everyone out by pointing out the minstrel show,’ Cho wrote in 2005.
However, Gwen pondered in the interview: ‘If we didn’t buy and sell and trade our cultures in, we wouldn’t have so much beauty, you know? We learn from each other, we share from each other, we grow from each other.’
New music coming soon? Gwen is now said to be working on her fifth solo album, and released a new single Slow Clap, earlier this year
Glam rocker: She started her music career with the rock band No Doubt back in 1986
Close-up: The glossy fashion spread was shot by photographer Jamie Nelson for PAPER Magazine
‘And all these rules are just dividing us more and more… I think that we grew up in a time where we didn’t have so many rules. We didn’t have to follow a narrative that was being edited for us through social media, we just had so much more freedom.’
Meanwhile, speaking about feminism and her hit Just A Girl, Gwen said: ‘I don’t even know if I knew what feminist at that time was. I was very sheltered growing up with my family.’
‘I wasn’t political. I wasn’t angry…I don’t need to go on Instagram and say ‘girl power.’ I just need to live and be a good person and leave a trail of greatness behind me.’
‘Stop talking about it and stop trying to bully everybody about it. Just do it. And that’s how I feel like I’ve lived my life.’
Gwen is now said to be working on her fifth solo album, and released a new single Slow Clap, earlier this year.
Opposites attract: Many have questioned whether Gwen and fiancé Blake Shelton have differing political views (pictured Season 17 of The Voice in 2015)
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk
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