Mariah Carey's new memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, offers a deep dive into the moments and memories that shaped the mega star's life and career. A revealing tell-all, it also unearths personal interactions with some of her greatest influences—including the late Princess Diana.
Mentioned in the book, the royal had quite an effect on the singer. She even served as inspiration for Carey's lavish, ruffled Vera Wang wedding gown, which she wore to marry then Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola in 1993. But it's Carey's recollection of seeing Diana at a fashion party in 1995 that's making headlines.
Per Billboard, Carey writes about seeing Diana at a fashion party in New York City, reflecting on the royal's role in pop culture while considering her own legacy 25 years later.
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"She had that look—the dull terror of never being left alone burning behind her eyes. We were both like cornered animals in couture," Carey writes in her memoir.
The "We Belong Together" singer goes on to detail the evolution of the public gaze and how it has transformed from the invasive paparazzi culture of the late '90s and early aughts to the modern-day critical scape of social media.
Carey adds, however, that the invention of social media has its positives, writing that it's also a space for die-hard fans of high-profile figures to come together and defend their idols. It's that online support that Carey believes would have helped the princess feel a bit less alone.
"[On social media] our fans can come to our defense, bring all the receipts, and create a united front so strong than no bland host or commentator or ravenous paparazzi can even begin to compete with their influence," writes Carey. "We are the media. I only wish Princess Di had lived long enough to have Instagram or Twitter. I wish she had lived to see the people become the press."
Bianca Betancourt is the culture editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, where she covers all things film, TV, music, and more. When she's not writing, she loves impulsively baking a batch of cookies, re-listening to the same early-2000s pop playlist, and stalking Mariah Carey's Twitter feed.
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