Kaliii talks to THR on the pink carpet at the 2023 VMAs and calls herself the "manifestation queen" after being nominated for Best New Artist. Plus, she shares her advice for other artists who want to be at the VMAs one day.
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00:00 Welcome to the VMAs. You're nominated tonight. How are the nerves heading into tonight?
00:05 Oh, we good. Like, I'm supposed to be here. I'm happy.
00:09 Like you were saying before, you got to manifest it, right?
00:11 Exactly. I'm the manifestation queen. I'm living in my moment and my energy.
00:17 How much does this nomination mean to you?
00:19 It means a lot. I love to be here. It means that, you know, I just said God is listening.
00:24 And that's the biggest and the most important thing.
00:26 And that I just stuck to doing what I really love to do. And it just, it means a lot.
00:30 Honestly, the girls is taking over. So for the lineup to be full of the girls, I'm just happy to be here.
00:36 For the first time, all of the artists of the year are women. What does that mean to you as an artist?
00:42 It feels good. Like, it was supposed to happen like this.
00:45 Like, and we're going to continue to do that same thing because it's not taking us off the map. Okay?
00:50 Absolutely. I did want to ask, what would be your advice to other artists who are hoping to one day make their way onto the VMA stage?
00:58 I would say tunnel vision. Stay authentic to yourself. No nobody owe you nothing.
01:03 So you got to believe in yourself before you expect everybody else to believe in you.
01:07 I also wanted to ask, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop tonight.
01:10 What is an iconic hip-hop moment in history that always sticks out to you?
01:15 Honestly, it's so funny. I'm going to say when Nicki Minaj was like, "Miley, what's good?"
01:24 It's funny. I'm sorry. Like, I love them both though. Like, no shade. No shade.
01:28 But it was just funny. Like, as a little girl seeing that, I'm like, and I'm at these award shows now.
01:33 So like, I'm ready for another moment like that.
01:36 Iconic. Got to keep your eye out. Well, congratulations. Have fun tonight.
01:39 Yeah. Thank you so much.
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