Quotes by

Beth Ditto

As a kid, I was always mad – just noticing the women at Thanksgiving, running around the kitchen, while the men were watching football. For one, I dont want to cook, and for two, I hate football. I was stuck in the middle. – Beth Ditto

I feel sorry… for people whove had skinny privilege and then have it taken away from them. I have had a lifetime to adjust to seeing how people treat women who arent their idea of beautiful and therefore arent their idea of useful, and I had to find ways to become useful to myself. – Beth Ditto

Reclaiming the word fat was the most empowering step in my progress. I stopped using it for insult or degradation and instead replaced it with truth, because the truth is that I am fat, and thats ok. So now when someone calls me fat, I agree, whereas before I would get embarrassed and emotional. – Beth Ditto

When I was a teenager I would lock myself in the bathroom for hours, bouffanting my hair like Patty Duke and trying to recreate Barbra Streisands flawless eyeliner, only to comb it all out and wash it all off before stepping out into the world a butchish bisexual teen. – Beth Ditto

Its really hard for me to sometimes put myself out there, like Hey, how do you feel about making music together? because maybe Im afraid of rejection or I dont want to put anybody out. Its the Southerner in me, like, I dont mean to bother you but do you mind making a song? – Beth Ditto

Ive never had a very quiet voice. I tried in choir to make it smaller, and it just didnt work out. And I listened to a lot of soul music when I was growing up on my own accord. But I was mostly into Mama Cass and Gladys Knight, and they all had big voices too just different than mine. – Beth Ditto

For me the greatest revenge of all is having a happy adulthood, waking up in my gorgeous turquoise bedroom in the morning beside a person who really inspires me. Thats the best revenge a girl-loving girl from the Bible belt could possibly have. And, importantly, its healthy. – Beth Ditto

Get a Job is about all the rich kids we knew when we were younger, kids who never had jobs but always had money for partying or getting their hair done. – Beth Ditto

Ive had people ask me in interviews what its like to have money, but thats not how it is. I have a middle-class life. I have a room in London but not a house, nor a BMW. – Beth Ditto

When I moved out of my moms house at 18 I was almost as sad to leave her sewing machine behind as anything else. – Beth Ditto

I was given baby doll toys myself, and they proved a stark reminder that my life was expected to revolve around childbearing – just as my moms had before me, and her moms had before her. – Beth Ditto

We all seek approval, and our mothers seal is usually the most important. The nitty gritty is that we have to accept ourselves, even if it is just to be ready for the next cut-down. Moms blessing or not. – Beth Ditto

I have no control over what people think of me but I have 100% control of what I think of myself, and that is so important. And not just about your body, but so many ways of confidence. Youre constantly learning how to be confident, arent you? – Beth Ditto

Im constantly thinking about what Ill do next. I never count on music being a career of longevity. I mean, longevity is key, and I hope that it lasts, but you just dont know, because its not in your hands, you dont make the decision. – Beth Ditto

When I am made fun of in the press I just remember those days when Id come home to find that the water had been turned off because my mother couldnt afford the bill. Suddenly, everything feels easier. – Beth Ditto

You live in this shadow that youre going to burn in Hell until youre saved. And I still worry about it a little. I dont believe in Heaven, but I do still fear Hell. – Beth Ditto

As with most phobias, the fear of flying does make some sense, but if ever there was a fear worth quashing then this is it. After all, life is short, and theres a great big world to explore out there. – Beth Ditto

I dont feel famous and I didnt want my autobiography to be like a Paris Hilton story. – Beth Ditto

When you see a fantastic colour or cut in a magazine, perched up on some famous so-and-sos head, its tempting to ask your stylist for the same, but do not be fooled. The hair in those fancy photos can be very high maintenance. – Beth Ditto

Do I ever think Gossip will be really massive in America? No, I dont think itll happen – and thats fine. Its kind of nice because I get to experience everything at once. I get to come home and it not be weird, like in Paris or something. It is nice to be completely anonymous. – Beth Ditto