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As a woman in modern society, it can be difficult to find your footing and develop the confidence you need to take on daily challenges—big or small—whether it’s related to work, your personal life, relationships or even wearing makeup.

Launching today, M.A.C Cosmetics’ Challenge Accepted campaign invites customers to use their products to “test and shine a light on their performance.” Who better to emulate this campaign than rapper Saweetie and the icon herself, Cher. Both women never settle and empower their communities to be the best versions of themselves. We chatted with Saweetie about being a part of the campaign, working with Cher and how she stays confident in challenging times.

How would you describe the Challenge Accepted campaign with M.A.C?

Saweetie: I feel like as women we are constantly being told what  we can do, how we can be perfect, what parts we can make smaller. There’s a lot of things that go into being beautiful. But let’s just challenge ourselves to be comfortable in the moment, not even just with our life, but in one moment. We should challenge one another to just be happy with who you are in that moment. And that moment will eventually become a habit. And that habit will then become a state of mind.

What drew you to the Challenge Accepted campaign?  

S: I love to partner with [brands] that make people become better people. As a person, I feel like either you’re inspiring or you’re not. I like challenges that can challenge men, women, everybody, to break the status quo and become a better version of themselves. If that’s what the goal is, I’m all for that.

This isn’t your first collaboration, but were you nervous to work with M.A.C? 

S: I was excited when I got the call that they’d be interested in working with me. I was like: ‘Yes!’ I’m grateful to be working with them. Everybody who I’ve worked with has this attitude of ‘we can do anything, and we’re gonna have so much fun doing it and we’re gonna put out the best work possible.’ It’s a great team to work with.

What was it like working with Cher? How did she inspire you? 

S: Cher is so much fun. We had a moment where she told me things that happened throughout her journey that made her better—[she faced] many challenges, and she overcame them. It really opened my eyes and inspired me to not only keep going, but to know what I’m doing, what my purpose is, what my intentions are. So, she’s great. She’s so full of wisdom.

You’re very outspoken about what you want—how did you gain this confidence? 

S: I gained confidence from not having confidence. It [has] been a journey for me to know myself. I have to know my weaknesses, my strengths, and I try to strengthen my weaknesses. My confidence comes from expanding my knowledge of myself and the world. I was watching a video that said people who are more confident are more knowledgeable about the world—they [become] knowledgeable of themselves, they know what their purpose is, what their intention is. I feel like the lack of knowledge is like a question mark [within yourself.] Once you alleviate those question marks from within, your confidence goes up. 

How do you deal with any challenges you face? 

S: I handle them. Because if you just try to hide them, they’re still there. And if you don’t address it, it’ll get worse—it’ll fester. So when I have things [to do] that I don’t like or are challenging, I try to handle it, especially when it’s a personal situation. We all have our own internal battles that we face, so I try to deal with them as quickly as possible.

How do you feel when you wear M.A.C products?

S: I feel sexy. I feel bossy. I feel icy. I just feel good—and we all want to feel good.

Where will you be showing off the Challenge Accepted collection?

S: Everywhere! We shouldn’t have to wait for an event or a festival [to show off our makeup.] We should just want to get ready for ourselves. I’m so excited to play with the products—and shoot, I might just wear it and take a cute little selfie.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Shop the Challenge Accepted products on M.A.C Cosmetics.

Read more:
Saweetie Is Just Getting Started
MAC Cosmetics Co-Founder Announces New Beauty Brand
Lily Collins on Her Beauty Essentials, Self Care and Emily in Paris Season 2