Janelle Monáe is an American singer, songwriter, and actress best known for her signature black and white outfits and her acclaimed studio album The ArchAndroid. Her debut EP, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase), received widespread critical praise and helped launch her into the spotlight in the U.S. She later founded Wondaland Records, a collective and label aimed at promoting like-minded artists who have since become influential in the U.S. music scene. Janelle has also acted in critically acclaimed films such as Moonlight and Hidden Figures, and has made guest appearances as herself in various television series. She won the Rising Star Award at Billboard’s Women in Music Awards and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance: Female at the Black Reel Awards. She has served as a brand ambassador for the American cosmetics brand CoverGirl, appearing in numerous campaigns and commercials. Her upbringing in Kansas City, Kansas has deeply influenced her worldview and is often reflected in the themes of her music. A vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, Janelle publicly came out as non-binary in April 2022, on the American talk show Red Table Talk. She stated: "I'm nonbinary, so I just don't see myself as a woman, solely... I feel like God is so much bigger than the 'he' or the 'she.' And if I am from God, I am everything." She also refers to herself as a "funkstress", celebrating her identity and genre-blending musical style.