Olivia Rodrigo 'resents' unfair 'pressure for young women in pop music' to be instant successes

Olivia Rodrigo thinks there is unfair ‘pressure for young women in pop music’ to instantly succeed.

The drivers license songstress, 18, talked about society’s unfair expectation for young artists during a conversation with SNL’s Bowen Yang for V Magazine. 

‘It’s like this thing where you’re only successful if you’re under 30,’ she reasoned, adding: ‘I’ve always resented that because I think I’m just going to get better with age.

Pressure: Olivia Rodrigo talked about the pressure put on young women in pop music for V Magazine

‘You know what I mean? I’m just going to become a better songwriter and know what I want to say more [with time].” 

The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star showed no shortage of star-power in the dramatic spread, which was photographed by Inez and Vinoodh and styled by Nicola Formichetti.

In the interview, Olivia also talked about how important it is to her to represent her fellow Filipinos.

‘I sometimes get DMs from little girls being like, “I’ve never seen someone who looked like me in your position,”‘ she remembered.

Glam: The star stunned in a shoot by Inez and Vinoodh and styled by Nicola Formichetti

In conversation: The drivers license songstress, 18, talked with SNL’s Bowen Yang

Why? ‘It’s like this thing where you’re only successful if you’re under 30,’ she reasoned, adding: ‘I’ve always resented that because I think I’m just going to get better with age’

‘And it makes me literally want to cry just thinking about it. I feel like I grew up never seeing that. Also it was always like, “Pop star,” that’s a white girl.’

Olivia went on to talk about one of her own pop idols, Taylor Swift, and how she’s influenced her own music.

‘I’ve really just looked up to her since I was very young. I think her writing every single one of her songs was a big inspiration for me,’ said Rodrigo.

‘I take songwriting the most seriously out of any career that I have. It’s just so important to me. And I think that’s sort of the same with her. 

Represent: In the interview, Olivia also talked about how important it is to her to represent her fellow Filipinos, saying she’s proud to break from the mold of pop stars being just ‘white’

Idol: Olivia went on to talk about one of her own pop idols, Taylor Swift, saying: ‘I’ve really just looked up to her since I was very young

Peer: ‘She’s just obviously brilliant at it. And it’s just so cool to also be in a place in my career where people who I’ve looked up to for a really long time suddenly become my peers’

‘She’s just obviously brilliant at it. And it’s just so cool to also be in a place in my career where people who I’ve looked up to for a really long time suddenly become my peers. 

‘That’s such a crazy thing that I still haven’t wrapped my head around. I’m like, the biggest fangirl.

‘And so many artists, other than Taylor, I’ve had that experience with, too. It was so surreal. 

‘It’s like, “What is my life?” Two days ago I was at the White House too. It’s like,  “What?” I don’t get it.

Wow: ‘That’s such a crazy thing that I still haven’t wrapped my head around. I’m like, the biggest fangirl’