VH1 Exclusive Interview: Tokyo Vanity Isn’t Sure Why Everyone’s Making a Big Deal About Her Virginity
“Don’t try to judge me or make it seem like what I’m doing is not normal because what y’all doing has been normalized.”
Written By | by
Photo By | Kiki Archer / @IMPRINT_ent
Before Tokyo Vanity even graced your television screen, the 23-year-old rapper was ready to show the world what it looked like to be a body positive, full-figured, no nonsense artist. She may be a newcomer to the Love & Hip Hop Atlanta scene, but she’s ready to make her mark.
As we saw on this week’s episode of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, she’s currently dating Tabius, but she’s “not into playing house with [him]” while she’s in Atlanta. And aside from being an independent woman who doesn’t need a man, here’s why:
So why did Tokyo want to talk about her virginity on national television? Her pride in her choice has something to do with it, but it goes a bit deeper than that.
“It’s not what you hear in your everyday life and I feel like there’s so many other people out there like me, you know? I feel like there’s so many other people out there like me, but they don’t talk about what it is that they’re doing or they don’t talk about that because they feel like it’s embarrassing or maybe people are gonna make fun of them. But, I don’t give a f-ck about nobody making fun of me because, at the end of the day, I’m what was normal.”
What has the reaction been so far to her coming out and telling the world that she is a proud virgin at 23 years old? There’s “really more positive than negative,” but she doesn’t really understand the negative backlash or people who either say her decision to wait is wrong or that she is outright lying about being a virgin.
“Like, I just don’t understand why, like, everybody’s got such a big issue and stuff like that because there’s a lot of people that’s hitting me up like, ‘Oh, I’m so proud of you!’ or ‘I’m just like you!’ or ‘I go through the same thing.'”
Tokyo says that the mixed reactions make it difficult because “[She] wants to be the voice for those women,” but she also has to read the negative comments.
No stranger to a clap back, Tokyo did respond on social media after getting mixed messages following the episode. In a strongly worded Instagram post she said, “It puzzles me how a grown woman can have something negative to say about me choosing to have sex.”
Why did she feel the need to respond? Well, to put it simply, it’s who she is and she’s not apologizing for it.
Even though she seems super comfortable with her sexuality and virginity being a topic of discussion, was she ever worried about what people would say about her decision to wait until it felt right to her? Well, yes and no.
In an industry that is all about sex, does she ever feel pressured to lose her virginity or to change who she is because of that and because of the industry that she’s in?
“I don’t ever feel pressure to do anything because I’m such a strong person. Can’t nobody tell me to do nothing that I don’t want to do. Anything that I do in life is because Tokyo Vanity wanted to do it. I’m real big into owning up to whatever it is I do and, you know, I won’t say that anybody ever influenced me to do anything because I’m the influencer.”
She does admit that the industry has sexualized women, but she also knows that, at the end of the day, she’s not changing for anyone. She told VH1, “I do feel like that industry is hypersexualized and it feels like women, we have to prove ourselves more, we have to do degrading sh-t to make people take us seriously or get people to give us attention. Me? I’m not doing that. If I have to do something crazy for you to listen to me, then you’re not the person who I need to be working with.”
Part of the reason she doesn’t feel pressure to change has to do with the fact that she feels she is representing other women in her journey. “There’s so many girls out here that wanna be like me. So why would I let an industry or something make me want to be like everybody else? I feel like, in life, that should be our goal: To be different. To be set apart. So, you know, that’s definitely what I’m trying to be.”
And what would she say to girls who are in the same position as her and maybe are nervous to tell people that they’re virgins?
“You are a prize and you are a gift. Know your worth and know yourself. What’re you rushing for? You’re going through the same thing with men that a woman who’s having sex is going through.”
“I just feel like at all times you have to be you, and I feel like it’s very important for women to love themselves and love the skin that they’re in and, despite what anybody says about you, at the end of the day, regardless of when you leave the room if they’re saying something negative or positive, they’ll still talk about you while you’re not there to defend yourself. So, girl, just be the best you that you can be because people always gonna talk and have something to say, so just live your best life.”
You can catch Tokyo Vanity on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, Mondays at 8/7c.
Tokyo Vanity is using her voice and no-nonsense attitude to make sure people respect beauty in all its forms on this season of Love & Hip Hop.