Lau said:
I think most people have the wrong impression of her. She's really down-to-earth and fun; she has a killer sense of humor (the first time I met her she was joking around with me about my teachers and wrote a note to them as a joke). Her music is amazing. Not just vocally, but creatively she had done some of the best work in the genre IMO. I'm not talking about songs like "It's Like That" or "Heartbreaker" (which are both very good song, I think, especially HB) but her groundbreaking songs like "The Roof" and "Fantasy (Remix)."
Yes, I will she admit she dresses sexily and flaunts her body, but I have never her do anything lewd. She is a very private person, actually, and is not promiscious at all. In her entire career, she has had only 3 boyfriends and that includes her husband. She is on her fourth at the moment. She quietly says she doesn't believe in casual sex.
I guess the real reason I love Mariah is because we share similar values AND she is someone I can admire (creatively, in her life, etc.). She's a bit diva-ish sometimes, but honestly, most of the rumors you'll hear about her come from the Mirror in the UK and were made up but she doesn't bother suing because she would rather spend her energy elsewhere. She is very involved in philanthropic efforts, quietly donating her time and money to funds. She has a children's camp in NY for underpriveleged children (named in her honor) and she comes for a day or two every summer and days in between she invites people from the entertainment industry to speak to the kids (it's a career-awareness camp, meaning they learn about different jobs). She has spent the last three Thanksgivings at orphanages with children, celebrating and sharing food. She invited 100 orphans to her home for Christmas and took them all sledding, gave them presents, etc. She doesn't ask for anything in return and politely turns down most awards given to her for her charity efforts (though she did receive a Congressional Award in 1999).
The Mariah people see on TV is the result of her a) trying to keep her true self/life private and thus she gives "superficial" answers to interview questions to avoid talking seriously about some things and b) joking. For example, most people fail to realize Mariah was joking the whole time during her episode of MTV Cribs -- she thought it would be funny to see people's reaction.
I understand people dislike and even hate Mariah. I dislike other celebs. I respect everyone's opinion, I just don't want this thread to turn into an argument -- only a thread for celebrating MC.
