50 Diva Quotes For The Goddess In You
Make your presence felt with our luxurious diva quotes.
The word diva has evolved several times since its original use.
Do you consider yourself a diva?
Let’s learn more about the word to find out.
What is a diva?
In its original context, the word diva was applied to female opera singers.
The etymology of the word comes from a Latin word meaning goddess.
Check out these cool diva facts below:
- The term diva was initially a term of respect and admiration.
- Italian actress Lyda Borelli is often cited as the first diva of modern times.
- Today, diva is a term that is applied to egotistical or demanding entertainers.
Who was the first diva?
In today’s terms, diva is a word with a complicated history.
Initially, the term diva was a term of respect given to opera singers and performers who reached a certain level of success.
Over time, the word diva garnered a definition that critics define as a derogatory and sexist description of women.
The word prima donna has a similar history.
Prima donna initially described the first lady or principal singer in an opera.
Prima donna and diva were originally terms considered synonymous with beautiful singing voices.
Lyda Borelli was a silent film actress whose stage presence, looks, and figure captured the hearts of audiences.
Thousands of Italian teenagers copied her style in the early 1900s.
People gravitated toward her style because of her charisma and skill.
While history is full of powerful women who might fit the classic diva archetype, Borelli is recognized as the person who gave a voice to modern divahood in the entertainment industry.
During Borelli’s era, the male equivalent for the word diva was divo, which referred to the lead male singer in an opera company.
For whatever reason, the word divo never gained traction like its feminine counterpart.
How did the word diva change over time?
The word diva would enter American English until the later nineteenth century.
Over time the term diva took on new definitions.
Unfortunately, many of these definitions carry negative connotations.
Diva signifies a talented actress, singer, or entertainer with a certain temperament that denotes a womanly arrogance.
In American English, there is no male counterpart for the word diva.
However, as times change, the word is applied to both male and female entertainers and athletes.
Professional football, baseball, and basketball players who demand certain wages or make particular requests of their teams and colleagues are referred to as divas.
This definition also carries negative connotations that many consider sexist.
How are people reclaiming the word diva?
Diva energy was initially associated with the divine.
Today, the word has mutated into an unflattering reference to womanhood.
Women in politics and entertainment or criticizes for being “bossy” or “difficult” rather than “ambitions” or “assertive” in their professions.
The word diva has come a long way.
Some seek to reclaim the term’s original meaning and push further transform its definition.
If you want more awesome content, check out our diva quotes below.
Short diva quotes from big-time divas
These quotes are short and sweet, and full of diva flavor!
1. “I’m such a diva on set.” — Emily Blunt
2. “A diva without a venue is a maniac.” — Toni Basil
3. “By the time I was five, I was a little diva.” — Stevie Nicks
4. “I’m easy to get along with; I’m not a diva.” — Jeffrey Dean Morgan
5. “I’m not a diva. I’m a tadpole trying to be a frog.” — Toni Braxton
6. “I’m not a diva, and I’m not mean to people or have weird rules.” — Charli XCX
7. “So if diva means giving your best, then yes, I guess I am a diva.” — Patti LaBelle
8. “If I had any talent that God could give me, I would be a great diva.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg
9. “It takes a long time to get to be a diva. I mean, you gotta work at it.” — Diana Ross
10. “It’s never too late to reclaim your inner diva and reclaim your inner strength.” — Michelle Visage
Diva quotes and sayings about the true meaning of divahood
Divas come in many forms, sometimes, they win over your heart, and other times they are a headache.
11. “I’m totally Italian, but I’m not a diva.” — Patti LuPone
12. “I’m not a blues singer. I’m a diva.” — Nina Simone
13. “There’s no half-singing in the shower. You’re either a rock star or an opera diva.” — Josh Groban
14. “To me, diva means an extraordinary, outrageously theatrical, brilliant performer.” — Roger Taylor
15.“I’ve got four dogs, and I just don’t do dog doo. I’m a diva when it comes to that.” — Kobe Bryant
16. “Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing.” — Aretha Franklin
17. “I don’t mean to be a diva, but some days you wake up, and you’re Barbara Streisand.” — Courtney Love
18. “A lot of people hear the word ‘diva’ and think of it as a negative. I see it as a positive.” — Nick Cannon
19. “It’s not like I’m this glamour diva who hands everything over and I just sit on my throne at home.” — Heidi Klum
20. “I’d love to be a diva. But I’d then have to send so many apology notes for my abhorrent behavior.” — Amy Adams
Classy diva quotes about life
Part of being a true diva is maintaining your integrity and letting your light shine.
21. “I’m determined to be a diva.” — Lexa Doig
22. “Would they call me a diva if I were a guy?” — Zaha Hadid
23. “Sometimes I think it’s better to be a diva.” — Julia Barr
24. “An extraordinary diva would never sit by herself.” — John Lone
25. “I think the era of the diva actress is coming to an end.” — Amanda Seyfried
26. “It’s seemingly disappointing to some that we had no diva meltdowns.” — Robert Rinder
27. “I was crazy. And I was too much of a diva. I’m glad I’m not like that anymore.” — Ronnie Radke
28. “A diva is someone who pretends to know who she is and looks fabulous doing it.” — Jenifer Lewis
29. “I didn’t think there was life after modeling, believe me. It’s a hit to the ego when you are not the diva on the set anymore.” — Carol Alt
30. “When I was younger, I used to just want to please everybody and not want to be an issue or not be considered a diva.” — Dylan O’Brien
The best diva attitude quotes about remaining fabulous
Being a diva is not about being fancy; it is an attitude and state of mind.
31. “The diva tag just won’t go away.” — Katherine Jenkins
32. “I think the diva is kind of a cliche.” — Glenn Close
33. “I don’t do like diva trips and stuff.” — Shirley MacLaine
34. “If my mum thinks I’m acting like a diva, she’ll soon tell me off. She’ll cut me down to size!” — Katherine Jenkins
35. “Actually, I take it as a compliment. Diva is a derivative of divine. That’s quite a title to carry around.” — Calista Flockhart
36. “A true diva’s heart is open, and she’s ready to play by her own rules – rules that are gentle and kind.” — Jennifer Lewis
37. “I know that I’m definitely not a big snob, and I know that at the times that I am a diva, I know I’m being a diva.” — Jackie Evancho
38. “My definition of a diva is somebody whose talent does not match what they’re trying to play, so all this temperament comes out.” — Glenn Close
39. “Let’s look at who Billie was: she was this person, this singer, this beautiful diva who could move the audience with the slightest gesture of her hand.” — Erykah Badu
40. “My idea of a diva has always been a singer; whether male or female, who gets on that stage and captivates you with their presence and their voice.” — Jordin Sparks
WWE diva quotes about becoming a champion
You have to be tough to make it as a professional wrestler.
Here are some diva quotes celebrating the divas of professional wrestling.
41. “It was my dream to become a WWE Diva.” — Maryse Mizanin
42. “When it comes to the live events, you get to see great Diva matches you don’t see on ‘Monday Night Raw.’” — Eve Torres
43.“I would love to have a Divas Hardcore championship. If we had a hardcore cage, we’ll just paint the cage pink or something and make it extra girly, so it’s so, like, Diva.” — Paige
44. “When you think about a WWE Diva, you think of us girls in WWE, not, like, the girls that are in the indies, the girls in TNA, or in other different companies. So yeah, the word ‘Diva’ means a lot to me.” — Paige
45. “With WWE, I got this audition and thought there was no way that I was going to actually get the job. They were doing the WWE Diva Search at the time, and I didn’t think I would get the job because I wasn’t a wrestler.” — Lana
46. “Being a Diva is not easy. We are on the road 300 days a year. We don’t get a lot of family or personal time. With ‘Total Divas’ on top of that, on our days off, we have the cameras following us, and that’s not for everyone.” — Nikki Bella
47. “We always called ourselves Divas. I came in through Diva Search. I was a Divas Champion. I always felt like it had this negative feeling to it because a Diva is so much more high maintenance, and that’s the last thing we women wrestlers are.” — Brie Bella
48. “When I was younger, I didn’t want to come to WWE because I didn’t fit into the mold. I couldn’t identify myself with the term’ diva.’ The divas brand was meant to put a spotlight on the women, but the term, to me, felt more glamorous than me.” — Becky Lynch
49. “I feel like people always thought my sister and I were models. I think it was just because if you went through Diva Search, that’s just what you were. We were never models; we were athletes. We were athletes who fell in love with wrestling.” — Brie Bella
50. “We love to be athletic, but at the same time, we love to entertain. So my sister was actually looking to play pro soccer in Italy, and I convinced her. I said, ‘Please, there’s this thing called WWE Diva Search. I really want to go. I think we can do this.’ And sure enough, they gave my sister and me a shot.” — Brie Bella
We all have a little bit of diva in us
Many words or terms in the English language are based on misogyny and racism.
Diva is a word with a beautiful origin and a checkered history.
Many people know the word’s original meaning and look to restore it.
Regarding diva, actress Calista Flockhart once noted, “Actually, I take it as a compliment. Diva is a derivative of divine. That’s quite a title to carry around.”
For those aware of the true meaning, the word is a mark of honor and recognition.
Modern usage may muddy the original meaning.
However, that has not stopped strong women in the entertainment industry from moving forward.
Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, once said, “Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing.”
Franklin has always advocated that being a diva means being a leader and letting your charisma positively impact people.
Do you have a favorite diva quote?
Please, be sure to let us know in the comments below.
