It’s easy to assume that a woman like Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas has it totally together and is full to the point of gushing over with self-confidence and poise. Perhaps it’s easy for us to assume that because of the confident way she performs on stage both with the Peas and during her solo gigs. Maybe it’s because she is brash and full-force in her interviews and lyrics, in the dance moves she’s perfected and in her unmistakable sense of style. But Stacy Ferguson, A.K.A. Fergie, will be the first to tell you that that “person” is all about completing her mission which is, as she sees it, “Basically, to be at my best in this business, which is show business.”

The show business Fergie is certainly derived from the day-to-day Fergie, and she isn’t without needs and flaws and an uncanny ability to be as “real” as the next girl. Like many celebrity women who put out a super strong persona, Fergie thinks it’s very important for women, especially young women, to understand that no one walks around bullet-proof in this world.

Fergie was born in Hacienda Heights, a suburb about 35 miles from Compton. She recalls trying to be tough like the Mexican-American girls in her neighborhood and then she fondly recounts the many transformations Fergie has made over the years until she gets to today. Her messy blond waves are now glossy, straight and almost black. The eyebrow piercing (but not the hole) is now gone. Her knee-highs and kilts are now sleek, stylish couture dresses, and her present style is every bit as genuine as it has ever been.

She stresses that it is fun and necessary to “go to work”. For her that means rock and roll and everything that goes with it. But it is even more necessary to know who you are and be true to that. While Fergie says that she is no typical diva, experience has taught her to be vocal about her needs. “I’m not talking about green M&M’s in the dressing room. I need structure. I need to get enough sleep. I need to make sure that I’m having regular workouts and that they put in time for hair and makeup and nails, because I have to have my nails done…because when you’re traveling, the sin doesn’t look as nice.” You can’t voice your needs and have them met if you don’t know yourself well enough to know what you need to allow you to be at your best.

The image you create for yourself, whether it’s your “work” image or your “at-home” image, has to be consistent with who you are when you’re at rest. When you aren’t trying to impress or woo or con someone. Your self image is really linked to your self worth and every single soul on the planet should know that they are worth a lot.

Fergie will be the first to toss her long hair to the side and show you her extensions. She’ll tell you that she’s really glad that her eyebrows have started to grow in again after years of “psycho plucking.” She shows off her hands and the striped stickers that cover her nails and tells you that, “I’m a little bit rough, and I’m always grabbing things or mosh-pitting onstage. My hands aren’t really dainty.” And that’s okay because it all comes together to make her Fergie. Onstage she’s a commanding, confident rock star. Off-stage she’s a confident woman who gets up with puffy eyes and messed up hair just like the rest of us, and after years of soul searching she’s good with that.

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