Katy Perry's Honesty Sets Her Apart

Of all the pop stars currently reigning over the country, few are more visible than Katy Perry. She's a bestselling artist and a tabloid favorite, seemingly selling out arenas and covering major magazines practically every week. With all that press, it's no wonder Perry, like most celebrities, has found herself in hot water more than a handful of times over the years, the most recent examples being her culturally-appropriating performance at the AMAs and her anti-feminist statements. Yet one area that Perry, unlike nearly all of her contemporaries, has never disappointed? Her honesty. Perry has always been one of the most open stars in the industry, never shying away from telling the truth. And a recent interview with Marie Claire, in which Perry discussed her divorce from Russell Brand and her relationship with religion, among other intimate things, is no exception.

In the interview, Perry opens up about some of the most personal things in her life, including her reasons for being so honest.

I feel like my secret magic trick that separates me from a lot of my peers is the bravery to be vulnerable and truthful and honest. I think you become more relatable when you're vulnerable. When you try to market yourself like some supernatural figurine who can't be fucked with, I always resort back to Scripture: Pride comes before a fall.

It's a smart statement, and for someone as famous as Perry, it's refreshing to hear. Typically, celebrities work tirelessly to cultivate a certain image of themselves (Miley: wild. Gaga: unique. Rihanna: fearless), and while we're sure Perry is careful about what she says, it's nice to know that she embraces honesty. It's a good career move — just look at Demi Lovato's comeback success to see that fans love stars who come off as relatable and real — especially for someone who has faced so much flack for other aspects of her personality over the years.

During the interview, Perry speaks about everything from her very public divorce from ex-husband Russell Brand ("I was, like, just eating Flamin' Hot Cheetos and drinking, and that's it") to her post-breakup mentality ("there are two ways you can go: You can either nurture yourself or go destructive. I have gone down the destructive path before, and that didn't work for me") to her feelings about having kids ("I'm definitely not there yet, and I can't plan that far in advance... [Brand] really wanted me to have children, and I knew I wasn't ready—I think it was a way of control").

All these revelations are fascinating, but the most interesting part of the interview comes when Perry discusses her relationship with religion.

I'm not Buddhist, I'm not Hindu, I'm not Christian, but I still feel like I have a deep connection with God. I pray all the time — for self-control, for humility.

For a major celebrity, religion is typically in the "do not go there" area of conversation, since no matter what one's take is on the subject, it will almost always lead to controversy. Perry's decision to openly, unapologetically discuss her faith is a bold move, one that certainly separates her from the majority of her peers.

The whole interview is worth the read — Perry also talks about her relationship with her conservative parents, her feelings about boyfriend John Mayer, and her attitude towards self-confidence (spoiler: she has a lot of it). Even if the piece doesn't change your view on Perry completely, it's nice to know that there's at least one major artist out there who makes honesty a priority.