"Honestly, if I'd have ended up as Hannah Montana, I don't know if the show would have gone as well. I probably would have told them all to go fuck themselves by the time I hit 11. And I don't know how that would have gone down."
Blonde haired and blue eyed bouncing baby girl, Taylor Momsen, was born July 26, 1993, in St. Louis, Missouri. She would grow up Roman Catholic and attend The Lady of Lourdes school. At the age of three, she would land her first gig in a Shake n Bake commercial. Then she was cast in THE PROPHET'S GAME. You probably were introduced to her at the same time and the same way that I was - as adorable Cindy Lou Who in HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. I remember watching this little porcelain girl and thinking that was an extremely talented child and added her song 'Christmas, Why Can't I Find You?' to the list of random shit I sing at Christmas time.
"My favourite blogs are where you get the mothers saying, ‘She’s the worst influence on my daughter, I would never let my daughter dress like that’, or, ‘This girl’s such a whore, she’s a slut’. And I’m, like, you’re a mother! And I’m 16."
After THE GRINCH, Taylor landed the title (well, half title) role of Gretel in HANSEL AND GRETEL. It would be three years before she would work again, this time in a never aired WB series called MISCONCEPTIONS. When she became 13, she worked on SAVING SHILOH, and would be cast in the Disney flick, UNDERDOG, the following year.
I would say the next coolest thing would due the role that she didn't book as HANNAH MONTANA. I would have definitely have dug the music and show more, but I really like the direction that Taylor actually went. There is a stereotype forced upon young women, especially those purty blonde haired, blue eyed gals that there is a certain way to conduct yourself and a certain type of person that you should be. I think Taylor gave that stereotype a double fisted one-fingered salute. And she was a young teen when she did it.
"I do think the Disney bubblegum shit that the world is living right now is pathetic. I thought we passed that repression."
At this point, you might be asking yourself - seriously, Sylv? Taylor Momsen for an inspirational woman? and I retort, fuck yeah, but I have my reasons. This goth punk rocker - we will get to her music career shortly - doesn't allow herself to fall into the nice and proper 'ladylike' bullshit which is archaic to sat the least. I'm not saying you have to be like this girl, but it would make the world a much more refreshing place if everyone was just themselves without trying to hard to be what people think they are supposed to be.
I've seen this young woman call ladies of all sizes, races, religions, and what have you onto stage with her and take off their tops, bras stay on, Taylor usually has x's over her nipples, and make every single girl feel sexy, cool, and like a rockstar as she sings to them and dances with them. It has always been about loving the person that you are, not mattered how fucked up or different with Taylor that is a rad perspective and message from someone so young.
"I've had lots of relationships. My parents know that I'm not going to date someone who's sixteen. Boys are so much less mature than girls as it is; there's just no way- I would eat a boy my age alive."
In 2008, Taylor worked with director Gus Van Sant in his flick, PARANOID PARK. At the time since 2007, she has been playing Jenny Humphrey on GOSSIP GIRL - to keep track, this started when she was fourteen. This was also the time she signed on with IMG Models for her modelling work. On August 16, 2011 - she told Elle Magazine that she was quitting acting to focus on her music career - her band the Pretty Reckless. The idea behind it being that she feels more comfortable being able to be herself rather than play someone else. She writes, sings, and plays guitar for the group.
"The other day, this reporter brought his 12 year old daughter to an interview. She was looking at me opened-mouthed, like: 'I want stripper shoes Daddy!' He hated me! I hope girls read what I say in interviews -- they should just be themselves. They wouldn't want to be like me. I'm crazy. I'm fucking out of my mind. I've been told I was out of my mind since I was 11."
The band signed with Interscope Records. Their first album, entitled Light Me Up, was released on August 30, 2010 in the UK. It debuted at number 6, and respectively at 18 in Ireland. The first three singles were 'Make Me Wanna Die', 'Miss Nothing', and 'Just Tonight'. She is currently touring with her band and will be on the cover on the next FHM Magazine.
What I like most about Taylor is that she does what she wants without letting other people's judgements into the mix. Her wardrobe looks like the sex kitten lingerie of a vampire, she doesn't shy away from being crass, she lives her life as the person that she wants to, and she doesn't judge people. Phenomenal young lady.
~Sylv