Was my brother metrosexual? To my understanding, a metrosexual person is someone who takes care of their appearance and is straight. I first came across the term in middle school, when it was used to describe David Beckham. I could make the argument that Prince was too, given how meticulous he was with his morning routine—right down to his hair regimen.

Prince had a school uniform: a black polo or sweatshirt and black dress pants. There wasn’t much room for creativity. But morning after morning, he would carefully iron his pants. I have faint memories of water swishing in the iron and steam rising as he moved the iron up and down, ensuring he looked polished before heading to school. Prince was into shoes, especially Air Forces. In many ways, he showed me up. Unlike him, I didn’t care much for my appearance and was often scruffy, to my regret. Once, when we were out, he even took me to get my upper lip waxed. Growing up, I was a tomboy and didn’t think much about my appearance until much later. I can assure you those days are long gone, with me often threading my lip and using other weapons of torture to upkeep my appearance.

He also took pride in being physically fit. I’d argue that shows like Dragon Ball Z, where characters undergo intense training, played a role. Prince was a regular at GoodLife Fitness. I used to work out with him—short sessions a few times a week, doing crunches and other exercises at home.

That said, Prince was unapologetically himself. He grew out his hair and used a pick to shape his afro, combing it until it reached the volume he wanted. He also went regularly to Movitas to get cornrows. In a world that often dictates what’s considered “professional,” Prince went against the grain. He mirrored artists of the time like Ludacris, drawing inspiration from 2000s hip-hop culture and Black Entertainment Television. I explore Prince’s style more in thoughts on grief, but I’ll admit—he set a standard.

He also reminds me of British-Ghanaian broadcaster Reggie Yates—someone who built a career at the BBC and on Top of the Pops without losing a sense of where he came from. Cornrows, piercings, individuality—never quite conforming. A take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

So one takeaway from Prince? Yes, wax your lip—but more importantly, be unapologetically yourself. Whether at work or with friends, don’t shrink. Take up space.

thoughts on grief is my first novelette—detailing the years since my brother’s passing. It explores themes of identity, belonging, faith, and nervous system dysregulation, among other topics.

I’ve secured a cover designer and will be revealing the cover when appropiate—stay tuned.

Thank you for reading the newsletter—it really supports the thoughts on grief launch this summer. I also ask you to get a couple of your mates to subscribe to this newsletter ahead of the novelette’s launch.

Warm regards,
Princess

"Pretty intense life experiences. It's very good so far." – Lina Smith, Founder of True Image Fitness

"I really appreciated this piece of work; it is quite lovely and very expressive of the state of grief." – Hugh Barker, Editor (Bloomsbury, Ebury)

Chai & Chat – 8 July – I will promote thoughts on grief and also discussing my experience in care with staff of York Region Children’s Aid Society.

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Republished for web version.