DIVA ADDITIONAL DIGITAL CONTENT More info on Contents page 3
Photography Olivia Lifungula
Hair + Make-up Cat Parnell
Styling Ella-Louise Gaskell
It’s a blissfully sunny August day and Emeli Sandé is beaming from ear to ear, radiating unadulterated Black queer joy. Her first time ever at UK Black Pride, she is soaking up the electric atmosphere, exploring the myriad stalls, listening to powerful talks and relaxing to some of her very favourite music – “Beyoncé, hip hop, soul”. Feeling liberated by all that she has seen and heard, she heads to the main stage, dances her heart out in the crowd and even does an impromptu performance of her hit single, Read All About It: “You’ve got a heart as loud as lions / So why let your voice be tamed? / Maybe we’re a little different / There’s no need to be ashamed.” Emeli looks out at the sea of loving faces gazing back at her, many of them with tears in their eyes. As she leaves the stage, feeling overwhelmed, embraced and emotional, a man envelops her in a huge bear hug and says two simple yet monumental words: “Welcome home”.
Three weeks later, I visit Emeli at her gorgeous house, a tranquil haven in the heart of East London. As soon as you walk through the front door
