A r i a n a G r a n d e is without question the woman of the hour. The pop powerhouse, famed for her cascade of chart-topping albums and infectious singles, has also stamped her presence on the silver screen, earning both Oscar and BAFTA nominations for her acting role. (Source: Pitchfork, UPI) 

In a recent exclusive conversation with OK! magazine, Grande revealed how her remarkably extensive career—despite being only 32—has furnished her with the tools and tenacity to navigate the dizzying highs and inevitable lows of global stardom. Few artists can authentically claim to understand what it’s like to live under such intense scrutiny from all corners of the globe as she can.

Her personal life has long fueled public fascination. Her past relationship with her collaborator, Mac Miller, who tragically passed away in 2018, remains a poignant chapter of her story. Later, her high-profile romance with Pete Davidson made headlines; three years after that ended, she married real-estate agent Dalton Gomez, only to subsequently divorce him. And during the filming of the blockbuster musical adaptation Wicked she met co-star Ethan Slater (who plays Boq), in a case that felt eerily like life imitating art.

Another high-profile female artist who is certainly accustomed to her romantic life being tabled in public—and whose work often reflects that dynamic—is Taylor Swift. Grande says she deeply connects with Swift’s understanding that women in the entertainment industry often face different expectations than their male peers. “I think there is a different expectation on us, especially for younger women in the industry,” she told OK! magazine. “And if we speak out about treatment we have received, we can be labelled a diva. That’s why it is so important as women that we keep on supporting and speaking out for each other.”

She admits that managing relationships under the microscope is something she knows intimately—though she doesn’t believe she’ll ever become truly comfortable with the reality. “Having relationships that are so heavily scrutinised is never easy, but you can only control what you can control,” she explains. “All you can do is protect your privacy and relationship as much as you possibly can.”

On the professional front, Ariana’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. She began her career on Broadway as a teenager before achieving worldwide recognition in the Nickelodeon shows Victorious and its spinoff Sam & Cat. After her television success, she pivoted to the music world, launching her debut album in 2013, which soared straight to number one on the US charts. Her subsequent albums, including Dangerous Woman and Thank U, Next, solidified her as one of pop’s major players—and in 2018 she took home a Grammy for Sweetener.

Following this dominant musical phase, she returned to her acting roots in dramatic fashion—fulfilling a long-held dream by securing the role of Glinda in Wicked. The film’s success has been staggering: it became the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation film of all time, and Grande received her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the role. Furthermore, the film picked up many nods at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes. 

She eloquently summed up the difference between her music work and acting: “There is obviously a creative process to both, but in the way you prepare they are entirely different. When you are writing music it is about trying to get your experiences and emotions into a song. When you are trying to get into character it’s about trying to become somebody else—what makes them tick, what’s going on in their head, what are their motives.”

One thing is certain: Ariana’s “most Wicked chapter” may have concluded for now, but Glinda will forever be with her — floating in that magical bubble, waving her wand — wherever her path leads next.