Since her debut in 2012, SZA has become one of the most popular vocalists in the world. SZA, who has been nominated for nine Grammys, has released an album and four extended plays (EP).
She’s also worked with a number of talented artists, like Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, The Weeknd, Maroon 5, DJ Khaled, and Doja Cat for their new single “Kiss Me More.”
Despite the fact that SZA has dominated the music industry, little is known about her. Here are seven lesser-known facts about her that we’ve compiled.
1. What Does SZA Mean and What Is SZA’s Real Name?
Solána Imani Rowe is the singer’s real name. The Supreme Alphabet of The Five-Percent Nation, a cultural movement rooted in Islam, inspired her stage name SZA.
Various hip-hop musicians, including Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, Common, and AZ, have been influenced by the trend.
SZA was mostly influenced by Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA. The letter ‘S’ in SZA refers to sovereign or savior, while the letters ‘Z’ and ‘A’ stand for Zig-Zag and Allah, respectively.
2. Who is SZA and where did she come from?
SZA is from Maplewood, a small town in New Jersey. She was raised in an observant Muslim home where she was required to wear baggy clothing in order to maintain modesty. She refused to watch or listen to television or the radio.
Despite the fact that her mother is a devout Christian, the singer admitted to attending Jumu’ah, the Muslim Friday prayer. When SZA was younger, she was also unable to decorate the house with Christmas trees; nevertheless, her father eventually agreed to allow her to decorate the house with small Christmas trees without lights.
SZA used to wear a hijab as well. After the events of 9/11, however, that changed because she used to get ridiculed at school for being Muslim. She began removing her hijab and participating in gymnastics in order to blend in.
SZA was dissatisfied with her actions, so she began hiding again; yet, she continued to be bullied. After a lot of backlashes, the artist decided to stop wearing the hijab.
3. Marine Biology is SZA’s major.
SZA went to three different colleges after graduating from high school. Because she used to smoke pot with her roommate, the singer struggled in college. Both of them failed their classes as a result of this conduct.
She eventually found a home at Delaware State University, where she majored in marine biology. She was intended to go to graduate school, but she never did. Instead, she worked a variety of jobs to supplement her income, including bartending at a strip club and working at Sephora.
4. She Despises Hearing Herself Speak
SZA admitted to Kerwin Frost that she despises hearing herself. When asked about her album CTRL, the singer admitted that she has only listened to a few tracks but not the entire record. She mentioned that listening to oneself was unpleasant for her.
5. SZA Lives A Fit Lifestyle
The Oscar winner didn’t always have tight abs and a toned figure. She used to be over 200 pounds and wore baggy clothes to disguise her physique. She began exercising and eating a healthy diet in order to reduce weight and tone her figure.
When it comes to eating properly, SZA follows a strict diet. She hasn’t consumed any meat, dairy, bread, or sugar. She consumes a lot of fish, veggies, and complex carbohydrates, as well as plenty of water.
6. She suffers from severe anxiety.
SZA is a vocal supporter of mental health. She has always been outspoken about her mental health difficulties, and she recently revealed that she suffers from crippling anxiety.
SZA set up a hotline for her fans in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. Her admirers would be able to “cry, laugh, or discuss” their problems on the hotline, which would be open two days a week.
This initiative also provided numerous drugs and mental health resources.
7. Her family is really supportive of her.
SZA’s family is her biggest supporter, from her father rocking her song to her mother attending award presentations with her. The singer was joined at the 2018 Grammy Awards by her mother and grandma. According to SZA’s Instagram, her mother recently attended the 2021 Billboard Music Awards alongside her.
