Janelle Monae covers the May issue of Marie Claire. The May issue is the Fresh Faces issue, and there are five cover subjects: Janelle, Aja Naomi King, Emily Ratajkowski, Zoey Deutch and Alexandra Daddario. To me, Janelle isn’t a fresh face because she’s been around for years. She had her breakthrough as an actress last year, of course, so in that sense she’s “fresh.” Anyway, I like Janelle a lot – she was one of the best parts in two Oscar-nominated films last year, Moonlight and Hidden Figures. And I hope we get to see more of her in the years to come. As for this MC interview… she sounds badass. Someone needs to cast her as Lysistrata.

On respecting women: “People have to start respecting the vagina. Until every man is fighting for our rights, we should consider stopping having sex. I love men. But evil men? I will not tolerate that. You don’t deserve to be in my presence. If you’re going to own this world and this is how you’re going to rule this world, I am not going to contribute anymore until you change it. We have to realize our power and our magic. Because I am all about black-girl magic, even though I’m standing with all women. But this year? This year, I am so carefree black girl.”

On being strong and in control as a woman: “It is important to redefine what sexy is. To redefine style… It is important for women to be [in control], especially when gender norms and conformity are pushed upon us. Women automatically are told that this is how you should look. This is how you should get a man. This is how you should get a woman. You need to fit into all these boxes to be accepted. I don’t subscribe to that way of thinking. I don’t think we all have to take the same coordinates to reach the same destination. I believe in embracing what makes you unique even if it makes others uncomfortable. I have learned there is power in saying no. I have agency. I get to decide.”

On the origin of her singular sense of style: “Being poor helped me be more creative. It was my superpower. I had to get comfortable in my own skin—you know when somebody walks in a room and they have such a confidence that they dare you to say something about them.”

[From Marie Claire]

Should women – realistically – withhold sex until men respect us? It’s literally a question as old as time. I don’t believe that men, as a group, will ever entirely respect us. We will convert some men to our cause, and maybe withholding sex will change a few minds. But is withholding sex indefinitely really going to move the needle that much? No. Probably not, because there will always be women who are like “Oh, I’m not like those nasty feminists, I love sex!” Also: this whole idea of withholding sex plays into the notion that sex is something that only men really want, not women. Women enjoy sex just as much as men for the most part. Still, gotta start somewhere! And you’ve got to break a few eggs to make an omelet, you know? We’ve tried talking to them. We’ve tried educating them. We’ve tried to be their friends. And it’s still not working. Order your vibrators and let’s get to it.

Photos courtesy of Nicolas Moore/Marie Claire.