Monica 'After the Storm' - Center Stage

IN 1995, the sun broke through the clouds, lighting up the life of 15-year-old recording artist Monica, who earned multiplatinum status with her first CD, Miss Thang, followed by the multiplatinum second CD, The Boy is Mine (1998), with the Grammy-winning duet with Brandy. Then without warning, she was engulfed by a storm. First, she watched helplessly as her first love, Jarvis Weems, shot himself in the head, police said. Then, her cousin and best friend, Selena Glenn, died from a brain aneurysm. Finally, her former lover, rapper C-Murder (Corey Miller), was jailed on second-degree murder charges.

"Some of the things that happened to me definitely were not things I could handle being in the spotlight," says Monica, who took nearly four years off before releasing her third CD. "It's really the reason I titled my album After the Storm. People have talked about what the storm was, but they never really talked about how I made it through those things," she says. "That's what my focus is."

Monica made it through by incorporating her journal entries about Weems into the song "I Wrote This Song" (It hurts so bad that I had to choose if I want to live, or die with you). "I feel blessed that I was the person he chose to be there with him when it all took place," says Monica, who denies contemplating suicide herself. "I was able to explain to him that I loved him and that I would be sure to take care of the things that were important to him."

Monica Arnold began her recording career at age 11. "Being in the spotlight for most of my life has taught me to be responsible for what actions I take and what comes out of my mouth," says Monica, who raps on several songs on the new CD.

She is now dating someone in the entertainment business whom she won't identify. She says she likes strong men with strong personalities who are supportive, goal-oriented and willing to make things happen.

What are her biggest dreams?

The 5-foot-9, 129-pound singer, who wears a size 4 without exercising, wants to model, record 10 albums, marry, have four or five children and own a couple of companies.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group