Soul singer Heather Small chats to DIVA publisher Linda Riley about becoming a patron of the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival in our special February issue
INTERVIEW BY LINDA RILEY, IMAGE BY BENJAMIN DRAKES
For our special February issue of DIVA, guest edited by Lady Phyll, Heather Small is our dazzling new cover star. Well known for her solo success and with the group M People, Heather is a worldwide icon. On a recent trip to Barbados, DIVA publisher Linda Riley met with Heather to talk all about her latest adventure: becoming patron of Cardiff-based film festival, Iris Prize. Here’s your sneak peek!
Heather Small on her Iris Prize patronage
“There’s certain things you do that put joy in your heart and make you smile from the inside out: that for me is the Iris Prize.”
Heather Small on the Black Lives Matter Movement
“I grew up in the 70s, which was openly racist without any kind of filter. I’ve had to navigate both covert and overt racism. We didn’t have Black Lives Matter as a movement, but there were other movements and there’s always the movement in oneself.”
Heather Small on being an ally to the LGBTQI community
“I understand that feeling of not fitting in. There’s many a door I’ve had to shoulder my way through. I don’t take offence but I let it galvanise me into action. That’s what you have to do when somebody says you don’t belong.”
PLUS… Heather reveals the story behind her LGBTQI anthem, Proud
Our February 2021 issue is on sale now at the links below.
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