Mariah Carey Gives Her Take On The Music Industry And Dating Younger, Opens Up About Financial Struggles During Childhood

In a new interview with Cosmopolitan, Mariah Carey shares her opinion on the music industry, growing up in financial hardship and her dating life.

Carey was just a teen girl when she was welcomed into stardom, quickly becoming the 90s “It Girl.” “They have no idea what I went through as a child to even get to be an 18-year-old girl with a record deal,” Carey said. “This was before you could just go on YouTube and sing.” Carey’s success, however, was not in the beginning stage of her life, as she explained she and her family struggled with financial issues when she was a child. “They have no idea what I went through as a child to even get to be an 18-year-old girl with a record deal,” she said. “This was before you could just go on YouTube and sing.”

Carey grew up on Long Island, outside New York City. Growing up a biracial child of African-American, Venezuelan, and Irish lineage, Carey said she was often misunderstood. “People didn’t understand who I was, what I was, my ethnicity, the fact that we didn’t have money,” Carey explained. Her dysfunctional childhood contributed to her love for Christmas. “As a kid, I always hoped for great Christmases, and we didn’t have them,” she remembered. “My brother and sister would come back to wherever I was with my mom, and they’d be fighting and ruining the holiday. I would still be like; You know what? I just want to have the best time.”

Through her ups and downs, she stayed positive and trusted her fans. Carey explained that even her now-infamous 2016 performance of “All I Want For Christmas” wasn’t the worst experience for the songstress. “If people think that’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, then, first of all, they haven’t studied my career well enough,” she said. “After what I’ve been through, who really gives a shit if my monitor broke, fell off, came out of my ears because the stupid robe was too loose? These things happen, and it’s over. My true fans stick with me, and the rest of the people will get over it.”

Her fans indeed have stuck with her through her journey, including her relationship history, which has recently involved younger men. “I haven’t had that many, but there has been a variety pack. I’ve only been with five people in my life, so I’m kind of a prude, honestly, compared to most others in the field.” Her last comments were on musical artists, women’s sexuality, and the transition to stardom for creatives today versus her time. “A lot of artists say they write, but they don’t really write. No offense to anybody. That’s just what I’ve seen,” Carey said. “A lot of girls are just nude in front of everybody. No offense to them,” the singer said about style. When it comes to music videos, Carey said, “They don’t do $2 million videos anymore. Anybody can make a video now.”