Born in Detroit on New Year’s Day in 1999, Diamond White made a huge splash auditioning for FOX-TV’s The X-Factor at just 13 years of age. She stunned judges Simon Cowell and Britney Spears and wowed the crowd with an unforgettable rendition of “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
That launched the multi-talented ingénue’s singing and acting career marked by memorable voice-work on some of today’s most-popular animated shows: Transformers: Rescue Bots, Disney’s The Lion Guard and Pinky Malinky. She’s also been making live-action movies and, here, talks about reprising the role of Tiffany in Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween.
Hi Diamond, I’m honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.
My pleasure, Kam!
I just finished watching your original audition for The X-Factor. It literally left me in tears.
Really?
Absolutely! It was especially moving because of Simon Cowell’s condescending tone towards you even before you started singing. It was like he was deliberately trying to make you nervous. I was touched that you still had the composure and confidence to bring you’re a-game in front of that huge audience.
Well, thank you.
Have you ever seen that video of James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti’s duet of “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”?
I don’t think I have.
You, of all people have to check it out. How did you come to try out for the show?
I was dared to audition by one of my friends. So, when I went in, I wasn’t really worrying about whether the judges might be super-mean or super-intense. I was just there to have fun, and felt that whatever happened, happened.
Speaking of fun, have you had fun doing Boo! and Boo 2!?
Yeah! And I actually had more fun making the second one, because I was less nervous about working with [director/co-star] Tyler Perry.
Was it hard working opposite so many comedians?
Not really. Whenever I’m in a room with funny people, I kinda just play off of them. My role here wasn’t to be funny. It was just to give people a hard time, which I do naturally. [Laughs]
Is a Boo 3! already in the works?
I have no idea. I’m not in the loop when it comes to that.
Which do you prefer, acting or singing?
Acting and singing go hand-in-hand. Whenever you sing, you act out a story, especially in music videos. Acting is a muscle I like to use while singing. I’d say I’m definitely an artist first.
Who have you been listening to lately?
I’ve been watching a lot of SWV [Sisters with Voices] and Aaliyah videos.
What are you working on, musically?
Tomorrow, I’m releasing the video for my song, “Cleopatron.” And I’ll be dropping a new single every month until I go on tour later this year. They’re all written by me. No fake songs. So, I’m letting people inside my head.
In terms of acting, do you prefer live-action or voiceover work?
I’m a really big fan of cartoons, and I’ve been doing animation for a while, but I’ve got to say live-action because there’s a lot more going on. And it’s more fun to be able to watch as well as listen to myself, even though sometimes I hate what I look like.
And do you prefer doing TV or film?
Film! I really want to get into indie films and play some riskier characters. It’s been a dream of mine to do an action film where I get to kick some butt.
Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you’d like to star in?
The Bodyguard.
The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?
I really like Gucci, but not very expensive things that take away paychecks. Sorella’s really nice, too.
Ling-Ju Yen asks: What is your earliest childhood memory?
The day a classmate painted on my Juicy Couture blouse at school. That was the day I realized I was a bourgie kid. I was about five. My mom got mad and complained at the school like Madea.
What is your favorite food to eat?
I like really, really, really pastas. A good fettuccine alfredo with chicken and shrimp is my go-to.
The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?
That’s a very interesting question. At home, I’m really to myself. I can write in my journal and listen to music for hours. I like to be social, but some people are scary. So, I have to kinda prepare myself mentally to be on the carpet. Once I’m in that frame of mind, red carpets are easy.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
I see a human who’s always changing. I never see the same person twice, because there’s always something different going on in my head. But I’ve always seen a strong black girl in the mirror since I was little.
Has that strength served you well in your career?
In the film industry and in the music business, you don’t see many dark-skinned females being shown in the light they deserve. I’m hoping to change that because how we’re represented is really important. That’s something I carry with me all the time.
Do you have a generic question that I could ask other celebrities?
I have a good one. Ask them to share a thought that they’ve never even put on paper?
Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
It’s always the simple questions, like, “How are you feeling today?” No one ever asks, “How are you actually doing?”
Well, how are you doing?
I’m about to get my hair done. And I always feel really good after getting my hair done. [Laughs]
Larry Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?
The Demogorgon on Stranger Things.
Judyth Piazza asks: What key quality do you believe all successful people share?
I think anyone who’s creative is definitely a little crazy. It’s tough to be courageous enough to pursue a wild idea.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Auditioning for X-Factor. But I still do something crazy every day.
The Anthony Mackie question: Is there anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?
I hate using the word “famous.” I don’t think it means much anymore, because there are so many people all over the internet who are famous for no reason. I see myself as successful. It’s always been a goal of mine to buy my mom a house in L.A. that’s 10 times better than our home in Detroit that burned down.
“Realtor to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan asks: What’s your dream locale in Los Angeles to live?
She wants to be in Calabasas. But some parts of Calabasas are apparently very ratchet [i.e., ghetto] now. And I can’t have her living in a bad area.
What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Have a goal, but don’t have a fixed plan on how to get there. Be flexible and make smart choices, because you don’t want to see yourself in a bad light.
Finally, Samuel L. Jackson asks: What’s in your wallet?
I don’t have a wallet. I just have my driver’s license, a credit card, my allergy medicine and a few dollars in the bottom of my backpack. [Laughs]
Thanks again for the time, Diamond. I look forward to speaking to you again soon.
Me too, Kam. Thank you so much!
