Mary J. Blige on becoming herself

"That was something that I was happy about, because it's all I had in identity," she said. "You know, I didn't know who I was. So if ghetto fabulous and keeping it real and all of that was what I was, I was cool with that ... until I learned that I can be more than that."

After years of drinking and cocaine use, Mary J. Blige shed the drama in her life, with the help of her husband and manager Kendu Isaacs.

Mary J. Blige and Kendu Isaacs at the Embassy of the United States in Paris during Paris Fashion Week, March 7, 2011.

/ Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

And although she and Isaacs have been married for eight years, Blige initially had some doubts about the relationship:

"Even after I was married, I still couldn't believe it, that it was real," she said. "And he really did love broken down, little old me. 'Cause I just never saw myself like the woman that a man like him would want."

"Explain that? Because?"

"Because my past was just horrific. I felt ashamed about everything. Me dropping out of high school, me not, you know, just not being beautiful enough. I just didn't feel like I was smart enough or beautiful enough, you know, for years."

But after almost two decades in the spotlight, 40-year-old Mary J. Blige has finally made peace with her past, present, and future.

"You've been in this business for a while. Do you still enjoy it as much as you did when you were 17, 18, 19 years old?" asked Pitts.

"I enjoy it more now," she said. "Because now I can see it. And I know what it is. But when I was younger, I didn't know what the heck was going on. I was just singing for my life!

"I was running and hurting, and the only thing was coming out was pain. So now I'm enjoying my life because I know who I am."

"Who are you now?"

"I'm Mary Jane Blige. Jane Blige! You know, that's it. I know who I am. I am not perfect. I'm not the most beautiful woman in the world. But I'm one of them."

For more info:

• maryjblige.com

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[longtree-2009]

wonder how many millions she has, the value of her total assets as of today. wonder if she has given back at all besides her music. wonder why she presents blonde hair, no doubt a wig or dyed.

[Gardenwife]

Who gives a flying flip about her hair? Who cares?

[LoaieS]

"Pitts asked what Yonkers do for her?"
Should have been
"Pitts asked what Yonkers did for her?" or "Pitts asked what did Yonkers do for her?"
Yonkers is the name of the town. This is where serial killer David Berkowitz was from.

[paparazziNews]

Mary, what do you say to us who never got out of the Ghetto, and being much older than you, still tried as hard to succeed and gave it our all, but just couldn't make it out of the Ghetto? What do you say? Was doing the cocaine involved in getting you the top and out of the Ghetto? Was the parties within the industry get you hooked on cocaine as you were coming up, was doing drugs with other famous entertainers help you to network at all the famous parties in the New York hot spots at high end clubs, tell us, did that play a role in your success? I think it's a fair question?

[macdoodle1]

You ARE one of the lucky ones. Never forget it and use it well.