Queen of Comebacks
Is she a self-indulgent diva or a brave woman who keeps on fighting, no matter the odds? Discover the secrets of Mariah Carey, pop's most complex star.
By Madeline Lin
Mariah Carey's latest single is entitled "Triumphant." And no wonder. At 42, she has gorgeous 19-month-old twins, a loving husband and a US$18-million dollar contract as a new judge on the TV hit talent show American Idol.
But amid the dreams, there is also plenty of drama. In January this year, Mariah shared photos of her in Aspen with her husband Nick Cannon, a TV and radio host. They proudly carried their twins - nicknamed "Roc and Roe" - and tweeted pictures of the family in matching designer ski outfits.
But just a few days later, Nick was rushed to hospital - it turned out he had kidney failure. In February, he collapsed again due to blood clots in his lungs. This time, the photos were not so happy - they showed Mariah sitting anxiously by Nick's bedside.
Aged just 31, Nick has been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. He has had to quit his daily radio show, but says his condition is under control. No doubt to thank Mariah for her support, he whisked her off to Paris to re-pledge their marriage vows in April this year.
This time, the pictures show Nick on bended knee, presenting Mariah with a diamond big enough to rival the lights of the Eiffel Tower glinting behind her. Dressed in matching white outfits, the couple looked like rock royalty in a glam world where money is no object.
Misunderstood?
You can say all this glamour (and drama) is fitting for a woman who is known as the ultimate self-indulgent diva. Before concerts, she has demanded such perks as "a basket of puppies" and "no furniture with patterns." She even has a helper to walk backwards in front of her - in case she trips in her high heels.
No one can say it's normal... but before we judge her, her past may be telling. Born to an Irish-American mother and an Afro-Venezuelan father, Mariah has had a tough childhood. By age four, she went to sleep with loud music in her headphones to drown out her parents' fighting. "There was always tension. They fought all the time," she says.
"I write these songs about feeling different and alienated because I grew up bi-racial, not feeling like I belonged, and not having any money.
"I started writing poetry when I was six. One teacher didn't believe the poems were mine because they were so dark and sad. But I wrote about what I experienced in my childhood."
After her parents' divorce, Mariah's older sister went to live with their father, leaving Mariah and her brother with their mother, a struggling opera singer. Money was in short supply. So Mariah became a back-up singer, attending school during the day and working in recording studios and bars at night.
But her family problems were far from over. At age 15, Mariah's older sister became pregnant, drifted into prostitution, then became addicted to drugs and alcohol. By 1994, her problems were so severe Mariah and her mother went to court to gain custody of Alison's two children.
Mariah's eldest nephew Sean is grateful. Now an Ivy League law school student, he says "Mariah became the caretaker of our family at an extremely young age. Without her, I don't know where I'd be."
Role Model
Sadly, Mariah's first marriage repeated her parents' doomed pattern. At age 23, she wed Tommy Mottola, the boss of her record company, but says she was trapped in an "emotionally abusive" marriage. Tommy apparently monitored her every move and ordered staff not to look her in the eye to intimidate her. Says Mariah, "I longed for someone to kidnap me. I used to fantasise about it."
When she finally divorced four years later at 27, Mariah sang about being "free as a butterfly."
But perhaps the stress caught up. Mariah began acting more and more oddly, smashing items in hotel rooms and performing a striptease on live TV. She was hospitalised with "a physical and emotional breakdown," and her contract was bought out for US$50 million (accompanied by humiliating sighs of relief from studio executives). Insiders said her career was over.
Back On Track
But it turned out that a good rest was all she needed. Mariah's next three albums were massive hits and in 2008, she finally got lucky in love when she met Nick on a video shoot.
Three years later, her twins Moroccan Scott (a boy) and Monroe (a girl) were born - and only after Mariah had endured a miscarriage.
Even today, the dramas are not over. Mariah's sister Alison, who is now HIV-positive, has resurfaced, using the media to beg Mariah for "a glimpse of her nephew and niece." Last year, she was reported to work as an "adult escort" charging US$250 for "erotic body rubs." So far, there is no news from Mariah about this possible family reconciliation.
Complicated and demanding? Yes, that's Mariah. But she is also just a woman who has had defeat, setbacks and hurts just like any woman.
Her saving grace is that she acknowledges that she is imperfect.
"I'm not vain, I'm insecure," she once said. Mariah also knows the most important thing - you have to make the most of your life, and keep coming back.
She jokes, "There is light at the end of the tunnel... hopefully it's not a train coming towards you!"
THE SLENDERISATION OF MIMI
Mariah gained 32 kg carrying her twins, but jokes, "In photos, it looks like 4,000 kg! So I have empathy with people who have to lose weight." Post baby, it's considered safe to lose one kilo a week, or up to five kilos a month. But check with your doctor first - especially after a C-section.
1. DE-BLOAT Mariah claims 18 kg worth of her baby weight was due to water retention. Combat bloating by eating a low-salt diet, elevate your legs when possible and drink lots of fluids to flush toxins out. Go for water-rich fruits and greens, like watermelon and cucumber.
2. BE A WATER BABY Mariah loves swimming, which gives your body an overall workout. To tone up, Mariah also did underwater leg lifts, arm circles and squats.
3. GET OUT Mariah's been snapped taking her Jack Russell dogs for walks in the park. Walking is a great way to stay active, and connecting with a pet boosts positive feelings and gets you out of the house.
4. EAT IT! Mariah followed a diet from US weight-loss company Jenny Craig. She ate three small meals plus two snacks per day, or 1,200 to 2,500 calories a day. Her meals were 50 per cent carbohydrates, 25 per cent protein, and 25 per cent fat, like a tuna wholemeal sandwich.
5. LOOK FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT One of Jenny Craig's strongest points is 24/7 support available to encourage healthy eating and exercising. Similarly, look for a workout buddy to amp up your weight loss bid and make going to the gym more fun. Sharing your plans with family members can prevent them from bringing home sinful morsels that add inches to your waistline!
(MDJ)
