Normani Felt Hidden Being the Only Black Girl in Fifth Harmony: 'I Don't Think They Knew How' to Be There for Me

Mar. 15, 2025

Normani in Paris on Sept. 28, 2024.Photo:Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Over six years since girl groupFifth Harmonydisbanded,Normaniis opening up about her experiences in the group.

Normani joinedKeke PalmerandLaw Roachfor the latter’sHow to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World’s Only Image Architectbook launch at Neuehouse in Hollywood on Wednesday evening.. Palmer and the former Fifth Harmony member shared their experiences with using fashion as an extension of themselves.

For Normani, she explains that fashion was a way to be “vocal” as a Black woman in the music industry. “I felt I could really depend and rely on my fashion to speak for me, which was really an outlet,” she told the crowd.

Fifth Harmony in Los Angeles in November 2016.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

She also got candid about her time in Fifth Harmony, and what the transition into independence was like.

“It all ended so fast at a very high level,” Normani said about going from a group to a solo career. “I was just really grateful to have the opportunity to do things my way because I felt like for so long, I felt hidden.”

She further went on to say she often felt that she had to “do the most in order to be seen.”

“I was the only Black girl. Not to say that the girls didn’t want to be there for me, but I don’t think that they knew how to because my experience was my own,” the “1:59” singer said.

Former bandmateCamila Cabellocongratulated the singer on her album release, writing on Instagram, “putting out a project is vulnerable and hard and you are doing it beautifully ! congratulations on your first album and many more to come !!!!!!!! 🚀🩵.”

The pair eventually reunited at Paris Fashion Week. Cabelloposted the phototo her Instagram alongside others from the trip, captioned, “real miami girl in paris.”

Normani and Camila Cabello at Paris Fashion Week on Sept. 27, 2024.Peter White/Getty

Peter White/Getty

As for a Fifth Harmony reunion, Normani shut down the rumors afterAlly Brookeappeared to tease one. She didn’t write it off completely, tellingBillboard, “I definitely see that being a possibility in the future. That would be a special moment for sure.”

source: people.com