Photo: Ethan James Green

Mariah Careyis opening up about her diva origin story.
“There are things people are not aware of, because this whole quote unquote ‘diva’ thing is always what people see first… Yes, I play into it,” she explained. “And yes, part of that is real. I can’t help it.”
“Like, what do you do if you grew up with an opera singer for a mother, who went to Juilliard and made her debut at Lincoln Center? There’s just a certain amount that is going to emerge. So, yes, it’s just an affectation, and sometimes it’s purposely done, and sometimes it’s just, like, you know, a response,” Carey added.
Ethan James Green

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
She also opened up about her “extremely dysfunctional childhood” as she revealed the root of her well-known love for the Christmas season.
“When you grow up with a messed-up life and then you’re able to have this transformation where you can make your life what you want it to be? That is joy for me,” Carey mused. “That’s why I want my kids to have everything they can have. I want them to be able to understand that they can be anything they want to be.”

“‘Save up your money. Buy some conditioner and a comb, just wet your hair, keep the conditioner on it, and let it air-dry. You’ll be OK,'” Carey said earlier this month, adding: “Oh, and I would’ve said, ‘Please don’t shave your eyebrows. It’s never gonna look good on you.'”
RELATED VIDEO:Meghan MarkleTells Mariah Carey She Was Not Treated as a ‘Black Woman’ Until She Started DatingPrince Harry
Carey is also preparing to celebrate the holidays with her two-hour specialMariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!, airing Dec. 20 on CBS and Paramount+.
Mariah Carey.Ethan James Green

W MagazineVolume 6 The Holiday Issue is on newsstands Dec. 6.
source: people.com