Janelle Monáe praised for topless cover photo on Rolling Stone

Glass Onion star Janelle Monáe has been praised for baring all and going topless in a new cover photo for Rolling Stone.

The 37-year-old actor, who uses she/her and they/them pronouns, graced the cover on the June 2023 issue of the iconic magazine, where the tagline describes her as 'freer than ever'.

Monáe's appearance comes as they prepare to release a new album, titled The Age of Pleasure, on 9 June, and as they celebrate having changed their 'whole f**king lifestyle'.

The album is inspired by 'all of [her] friends', people from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, the Caribbean, Atlanta, L.A. and Chicago, and ahead of its release, Monáe said she wants things to 'feel so true' to their life.

“I used to consider myself a futurist. I know what that means, to obsess about the next thing. A present tourist is what I’m calling myself right now. I’m actively focusing on being present," she said.

Part of being true to herself involves letting herself be free - a feeling that she definitely gets when her body isn't hidden away.

“I’m much happier when my t**ties are out and I can run around free,” they told Rolling Stone.

Monáe embraced their freedom on the cover of the magazine, where they used their hands to cover their nipples as they gazed just above the camera.

The singer and actor also shared the photo on Instagram, writing simply, 'THANK YOU', to those who had helped make it happen.

The cover has been met with widespread praise from fans celebrating the image, with one commenting: "Love everything they’re doing."

Another described Monáe's photo as the 'best' Rolling Stone cover since 1973, while another went a step further, writing: "This really might be the best cover in their history, which is really saying something."

A lot of fans described the cover as 'perfect', though that's a word Monáe herself has a complicated relationship with.

They self-diagnosed themselves with OCD, previously telling the podcast TransLash: “I started to have this unhealthy relationship with being perfect, so that nobody would leave me."

In the cover interview, Monáe said that she now knows how to 'coach [herself]' if the issue comes up again, and works with an 'emotional-support coach' for support.

Monáe discussed her openness to talk about herself, saying she can talk about her 'identity' and 'sexuality' - in fact, she can talk about 'all things Janelle Monáe' - though there's one part of her life, she wants to keep private: her love life.

"It’s not necessary," she said.

The star obviously knows where they draw the line, and the fans are clearly here for it.