Queen Latifah Covers July Essence

Queen Latifah appears on the July cover of Essence looking just like summer and fabulous as always. In this interview, the usually private Latifah opens up about her past, revealing that she suffered abuse as a child at the hands of a caregiver. “He violated me,” she says of the abuser. “I never told anybody; I just buried it as deeply as I could and kept people at an arm’s distance. I never really let a person get too close to me. I could have been married years ago, but I had a commitment issue.” I’m sure her story will help a lot of those who have struggled to deal with similar experiences.

The actress, rapper and author also talks about her twenty-plus year career, turning forty and her plans for the future. Hopefully, her plans include one more rap album. Did any of you catch her performance with Alicia keys at the American Music Awards this year with Alicia Keys and Kathleen Battle? If not, you can check it out here. Give It to ’em Queen!