Iggy Azalea Talks Modeling, Beef with Azealia Banks, & Her Accent

Before hitting the stage at one of her gigs in the U.K., Noisey caught up with Iggy Azalea. The blonde bombshell opened up about her accent, feud with Azealia Banks, and being told she was too fat to model.

The Australian rap diva, who moved to Atlanta when she was 16 to start a hair business, shot back at those who criticize her accent. “I don’t really have to defend myself ’cause it’s my art,” she said. “So if I wanna rap like I’m from outerspace, I can. It’s my own business.”

She addressed her much-publicized beef with fellow femcee Azealia Banks. “She’s been saying stuff to me for months. Neither her nor I were popular enough for anyone to catch on to it,” said Iggy. “I think rap is a competition [like] how people compete at sport, and this is still a sport. Everybody differs. Some people like to have friendly competition and shake hands before and after a game, and some people like to bite each other’s ears off while they’re boxing. I’m not really a dirty fighter. I just run my own race.”

Before she signed a deal with Wilhelmina Models, Iggy was approached by Elite Model Management, but was told she was “too fat” and was asked to lose four inches off her hips. “I was like, ‘That’s ridiculous.’ What would I even be? I would have to have one of my hips removed.”