What is a Diva?

Hello, Darlings!

Since I started this blog, I've had a lot of folks ask me or talk to me about the meaning of the title "Diva" and why we chose to name our company "La Diva Bella".

The simple answer is we are just "calling it what it is", but I will elaborate (as usual).

Our heritage (from our father's side) is Italian and we are darn proud of that. And, we've always been keen on the name Bella, which of course means "beautiful".

But, "Diva"? Isn't that derogatory or something? Doesn't it essentially mean "witchy" (with the "b")?

Well, no. (Or as I like to say: "Yeah.....no.") Actually Diva--in Italian or Latin--means "Goddess". So putting it all together we've got "The Beautiful Goddess", which we absolutely just loved.

But there was a deeper meaning to the name choice, too.

Remember when the words "gay" or "dyke" were not used to in polite conversation?

I do. It just wasn't right to address people tht way.

But then a curious thing happened, all the folks that were being called "gay" and "dyke" in a negative way decided to embrace the moniker (fancy word for name) and make it their own. Sort of reverse psychology in a very positive way, right?

Well, that's sort of what happened to us.

For a long time, I was called a Diva every time I wanted to do something original, creative or just off-the-beaten-path. It was meant as a slur on my originality, I know. But once I actually thought about it, I realized that I really didn't think it was an insult at all. In fact, upon searching the meaning, I realized that a Goddess was something I really wanted to emulate--possibly even be. So, I decided to embrace the name and everything changed from there!

First off, I wasn't ticked off by being called a Diva anymore and I actually started to thank people who called me that which pissed them off...haha!).

Then I started looking for the word Diva in everything. I got a key change that said Diva on it and a bag that said: "Do me over, Diva!", too. I became proud of the name and took it back for us, darlings!

And since I do truly believe there are goddesses in all women--and I mean EVERY woman--we also incorporated the slogan: "Because Inside Every Woman is a Goddess!"

Honestly, at first, some people were sort of shocked. And some didn't want to be called a Diva. "Oh, no, not me. Maybe you, but not me." But with every passing day, we've added more and more Diva Devotees on our side. A revolution has begun!

So it's time to ask yourself. Are you treating yourself like the Goddess you are, Diva?

Do you put up with inferior or derogatory behavior from others because they don't really understand your divine nature?

It's time to embrace the title and start acting "as if", ladies.

Act "as if" you really ARE a Diva, and you know what? Pretty soon everyone else will start treating you the same way. And before you know it, you'll be proud to wear the title and maybe even have to insist on it in conversation. (Hey...look at one of my all-time idols, Queen Latifah. At some point she declared herself royalty and now she is!)

Try it and let me know what transpires, darlings!

Have a wonderful weekend! Hope to see you!