The Female Empowerment Series: Melanie Thomas

"I’m a singer and a part of the pop band Now United, and what excites me the most is that I’m able to learn and grow everyday as an artist. I learn what being in the music industry means, I can share my passion with millions of people, and I get to do all of that surrounded by the best people!

I was actually discovered on Instagram. When I was younger I used to post singing covers on YouTube and Instagram and talent scouts basically reached out to me through instagram direct messaging asking me if I wanted to audition for them."

"When I first joined Now United, I was at a stage in my life where I was trying to decide what my next move in life was going to be. I kept asking myself, 'what can i do that feels right to me?' I had a dream of becoming an artist. I made a decision in my mind that I will be ready at 16 years old to let opportunities come to me, and if the opportunites come, then I’ll have to take them. And that’s exactly what happened."

"Patience. I’ve been learning in the industry that patience is key to everything. I know that it’s hard, especially if you are like me and want things to be done right away and everything to be perfect, but in reality that’s not how things work. You have to be patient in your decisions, in forming your opinions, in your life in general!" 

"My mother. She is such a strong and powerful woman! She has been trough so much and she has always been a huge inspiration for me and continues to be an inspiration for me every single day."

"The food! When you grow up in a certain country and you are used to that local, homemmade food that your mother cooks for you, you don’t want to loose that for the world!"

"My favorite thing to do is to go for a walk with my childhood friend around the city like we used to do everyday when we were really young. Those moments are just so memorable."

"I would send The Million Roses to my grandmother, who I have so much love for. I would send her classic roses probably, because she has never received flowers, my grandmother lived her whole life in a village in the Ivoiry Coast."

"I love to just take care of myself, especially to take care of my skin. I have such sensitive skin but once I care for it daily I feel confident and ready for the day."

“Never let anybody tell you that what you are doing isn’t good, isn’t enough or is unnecessary. Back in school I used to be told that my singing on social media was unnecessary because nobody was doing it and it looked weird, but that’s the reason I am where I am today. I was also told that my hair was too curly and weird so I couldn’t be pretty, but that’s the biggest part of my confidence today.

Believe in yourself first!"

"In 10 years I want to be the most successful I can be as an artist, I want people to recognize me for my talent and hard work, but also as a person, I want people to see me for who I am, and to learn from me."