Print Exclusive: Cover Girl Chloé Abadi Fall 2024 Issue Full Interview

On the morning of June 12, 2024, Abadi is sifting through her emails, curious about which new opportunities await her, while the morning sun seeps through her bedroom window. She scrolls endlessly, deleting the junk until she comes to a full stop at a response from a Backstage ad. The producer is asking for a video submission via email for the project, “The Fiona Gold Series: Book 1 Soundtrack (Working Title).”

Chloé is ecstatic, as this could be the start of a new beginning and the chance to showcase her singing abilities. Wasting little to no time, she begins working on her submission tape, emailing the producer shortly thereafter to submit her vocal audition for the project. A few days later, she hears back and learns that she will be given the job.

Known for being the largest city in Florida, covering more than eight hundred and forty square miles, Jacksonville is recognized for its diverse neighborhoods, rich history, and cultural scene. It is here that Abadi can breathe a sigh of relief, the small hairs on her neck no longer standing in anticipation of the decision that could potentially change her life.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, where she spent most of her life, Chloé Abadi is an actor, singer, and model. “Both of my parents are immigrants, so I never really lived an uninterrupted American or Floridian lifestyle,” she tells She’s SINGLE. “My mother came here from Laos when she escaped at seven years old, moving to Oklahoma. Meanwhile, my father was living in the north of France. When they were both in their early 30s, they met on an online French server. My mother studied French in school in Oklahoma, and that is how she could communicate with my father. Eventually, they met in person and decided to live in Jacksonville.”

Abadi describes herself as half-white and half-Asian: “The white is French-Arabic, and the Asian is Laotian-Vietnamese."

The youngest of three girls, Abadi is not very open to discussing her childhood, citing it as “really disappointing to recollect.” However, like many of her peers, she uses platforms like TikTok and Instagram to vaguely describe her experiences growing up in hopes of motivating other young women. More importantly, she documents her journey to finding confidence as an up-and-coming musician.

“I have always sung my whole life—at home, in the shower, in the car, in the garage, etc. I’ve never thought of my voice as good enough to sing in front of my friends, let alone an audience or strangers. I didn’t grow up with any praise or attention from anyone, so I honestly have a handful of talents I never use or show anyone because no one in my life ever asked or seemed to care."

But it wasn’t talent alone that got Chloé through her audition; it was her charismatic personality and ability to showcase her dynamic and relatable disposition that make her an outstanding act, one that can see longevity in the music industry. Despite often viewing the glass as half-empty, Abadi pushes herself without becoming emotionally dependent on the outcome of any situation.

With a new outlook on life and navigating the waters with a renewed sense of courage, Chloé looks forward to “being able to work in a way that is enjoyable,” citing that this is the first time she’s ever done something for herself because she liked it—the idea and the concept as a whole. “I finally did something for myself because it was something I liked, not something someone told me I needed to do to be successful. It’s definitely a risk, but I am not limited by my uncertainty, so honestly, wherever I go with it, I will feel fulfilled that I even took the opportunity.”

An opportunity can often feel like a gift from the universe, especially when it aligns with your goals and dreams. Many people view opportunities as moments of potential that, when seized, can lead to growth, success, and fulfillment. Whether you see them as gifts from the universe or the result of your own efforts, recognizing and making the most of opportunities can be transformative.

Abadi is on a journey of self-discovery, but she is determined not to lose herself. Despite training for the big stage, she has another passion in mind. “Honestly, more than anything in the world, I would just like to be a mother. It sounds silly, but I really just want to be a mom to beautiful children who love me and their present and amazing father, who also needs to love me,” Chloé smiles. “My goals aren’t really that of the normal American dream, I guess. I don’t care for money, fame, looks, land, etc., too much. I could have all of that and still feel empty.”

As a single woman, Chloé believes more than anything that love is real, but she’s not always too hopeful about finding it among this generation of men and women. “A lot of people just have horrible morals and the wrong values nowadays. Every person I have dated or been in a relationship with, except for one, has cheated on me, and all of the ones that cheated did it more than once, too. But I still remain optimistic because I am young and I do want to have a family of my own one day. In the meantime, I’m just focusing on my goals and honing my talents to see how far it can truly take me.”

Although her demeanor is mild-mannered and easy-going, Abadi wants more than anything to be seen and recognized for her vocal abilities, with singer Adele being the inspiration behind much of the music she covers today. “Singing Adele songs for thirty minutes is usually my best vocal exercise,” Abadi chuckles. “She somehow hits all of the ranges without ever straining herself, and that’s just the perfect way to prepare myself for more challenging ballads in the future.”

But Abadi also has a deep admiration for Queen, who happens to be her favorite band of all time. “It’s like, I’d love to be in a room with them—Roger Taylor, John Deacon, and Freddie Mercury. Freddie, with his degree in Art, would make for good company. I’m a very good artist, it’s probably better than any other talent I have, including singing. Despite this, however, I would just never do it for money because it’s really just when I want to express myself.”

Speaking of self-expression, it seems that in today’s musical climate, fans have come to expect music artists to be perfect and share every aspect of their lives. Sometimes, taking what they love and sharing it with the world can prove detrimental. This parasocial relationship can bring with it the constant pressure to appear flawless, which not only ignores the fact that everyone has imperfections but also reinforces a narrow definition of beauty that is often unrealistic and unhealthy.

When fans demand that artists look picture-perfect, it perpetuates the idea that a woman’s worth is tied to her appearance. Some may prefer to keep things simple. “I don’t have a skincare routine, and I’m not even that big on makeup. I just started wearing makeup in January of this year. Before that, it was only ever mascara and lipstick. I know as much about beauty products as I do about zodiac signs,” she chuckled. “I really just try to avoid gluten and oily food, as well as make sure that I’m constantly washing my face and never letting anything touch it throughout the day. Yeah, I know that sounds too simple since we’re in the age of social media where everything you do is expected to be some monumental discovery,” Chloé tells us.

The music industry has become too complicit in promoting harmful ideologies around beauty, which suffocates artists with real talent. “People think it’s easier to get famous with social media and stuff, but honestly, I feel there’s too much competition and expectations placed on artists outside of their vocal abilities. Not only that, but the shock value is essentially gone. A good singer twenty years ago would have stayed in the back of your head for decades, but now you can go online and find twenty random blokes who can sing better or even worse than Beyoncé, and depending on how they look, they have a chance at stardom.”

Overnight success in music traditionally means that an artist or band seemingly rises to fame and mainstream recognition almost instantly, often after the release of a single hit song or a viral moment. However, the reality behind this term often obscures years of practice, hard work, and the gradual buildup that led to the breakthrough moment. In the 21st century, the concept of overnight success has evolved dramatically due to the impact of social media, streaming platforms, and the internet.

But these rising stars are not exempt from the financial strains that come with pursuing their passions. “I’ve definitely sold feet pictures at one point in time to earn money for studio time. I am sure those pics are still out there,” Chloé smirks. “I don’t mind though, I needed to do what was best for me at the time, and the best advice I’ve ever been given is that the world will continue to spin with or without you, so you have to take care of yourself. Only you will ever have your best interests at heart.”

Although social media gives the illusion that success is only one viral video away, it takes a large investment from a number of performers to produce the content that is necessary to push. Not only that, but viral videos are unpredictable, so you always want to ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward—whether it’s for four people or four thousand. Whether it’s acting or singing, this new form of rapid rise comes with its own challenges.

There is also the pressure to maintain relevance and momentum, which can feel intense, and the window of opportunity can feel shorter and shorter with each passing moment. Sometimes the best thing you can do is release your art and let the world decide what to do with it. In the meantime, you should focus on your downtime and not take it for granted. Spending time alone or watching her favorite TV show is one of the ways that Abadi regroups.

“When it comes to shows, I can’t get myself to start anything new. It’s too large of a promise. I like to stick to my comfort shows in my downtime. I rewatch The Walking Dead, Supernatural, Sherlock BBC, The Office, Naruto, Avatar, and Doctor Who, to name a few. I just cannot stand the idea of watching anything else, especially as a musician who has to spend a lot of time developing new music and trying to center my thoughts. I just like knowing what’s already going to happen; it’s my safe space.”

According to the familiarity principle, people tend to develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar with them. Exposure to the same shows or content can leave you feeling less nostalgic and more inspired, which has been a recurring theme for many music artists today. Sampling has grown in popularity—more so than ever before—but while some artists are quite content with rewinding the creativity clock a few years back, Abadi is intrigued by dinosaurs.

“I love spending time in nature, and it’s just something that keeps me grounded. Sixty-six million years ago, aka the Age of the Dinosaurs, isn’t something I see referenced a lot in the musical space, but I’d love to explore that side creatively and work with other like-minded individuals to see what we can come up with to share with the world.”

If not dinosaurs, a little friendly animal closer to home for Chloé is a cat. When asked if she could invent a holiday and what it would celebrate, she said, “National Cat Day for sure! It’s probably already a thing, but everyone has to give love to their cats, and if you don’t have one, then find a friend with one and give it some love,” she giggled.

“No, but seriously, I love cats. In the perfect world, I would be married to my celebrity crush, Jensen Ackles, who I’ve loved since the ripe age of fourteen. The character he plays in Supernatural is the guy version of me, so I’m sure we’d have the best relationship. He’d also probably be cool with the little candle shaped like a penis that my old manager gave me because it was on his birthday cake—it just sits wherever I leave it,” she laughs. “Always on display.”

Eccentric and whimsical, Chloé is for the girls and gals who have an innate personality, always willing to think and believe outside of the norm, who have a strong sense of individuality and creativity that drives them to pursue unconventional paths in life. Although she’s a rising musician with a heart of gold, there’s a small side of her that rebels against conformity—rejecting conventional norms in an effort to assert her independence, and Chloé does just that, even at the young age of twenty. There’s more to her than what meets the eye, and we think it’s high time everyone starts paying attention.

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by Lisa K. Stephenson & Stephanie Elaine