40 Diva Quotes for Radiating Confidence

The word diva brings up images of a woman on stage refusing to sing because the band is ever so slightly out of time. Whether this is a sign that she is simply passionate about what she does or is instead fussy is up for debate as many try to pin down what a diva truly is. Read the 40 quotes below to find out more.

A diva, usually associated with famous and highly talented singers, is meant to be a woman who is difficult to please, temperamental and arrogant. However, many have taken the definition and given it a positive spin.

Rather than being difficult to please, the diva knows what she wants; rather than being temperamental, the diva is in touch with herself, and rather than arrogant, the diva is hugely confident.

Either way you look at it, the word exudes the image of a powerful woman, whether in a negative or positive light. Read the 40 quotes below to explore the world of divas.

Beyoncé’s quote: "A true diva is graceful and talented and strong and fearless and brave and someone with humility." | Image: AmoDays

The True Meaning of a Diva

"A diva is a female version of a hustler." — Beyoncé, "Diva"

"To me, diva means an extraordinary, outrageously theatrical, brilliant performer." — Roger Taylor

"Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well." — Aretha Franklin

"A true diva knows there's more to life than glue-on lashes and red lips. You already know—or at least you know you're supposed to know—that beauty comes from the inside, but to be a diva, you've got to get to the point where you actually unquestioningly believe that. You can spend hours and a ton of money perfecting your flawless face and sick body, but if you don't have the personality or the sense of humor to back it up, then you're focusing on the wrong damn things. An ugly personality always trumps a beautiful face. Always. And anyone who doesn't know that isn't a diva. She's just an [expletive] with an attitude." — Michelle Visage

"Being the kind of diva I'm talking about isn't about demanding all the green M&M's be plucked from your snack bowl in your dressing room. It's about staying late, trying harder, and working whatever you've got." — Michelle Visage

Aretha Franklin’s quote: "Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well." | Image: AmoDays

"A true diva is graceful and talented and strong and fearless and brave and someone with humility." — Beyoncé

"The word diva to me means doing something supernatural with something natural." — Patti LuPone

'A Diva and Proud' Quotes

"A lot of people hear the word 'diva' and think of it as a negative. I see it as a positive. I want somebody who knows what they want out of life and isn't afraid to show it." — Nick Cannon

"By the time I was five, I was a little diva." — Stevie Nicks

"Actually, I take it as a compliment. Diva is a derivative of divine. That's quite a title to carry around." — Calista Flockhart

Nick Cannon’s quote” “A lot of people hear the word 'diva' and think of it as a negative. I see it as a positive. I want somebody who knows what they want out of life and isn't afraid to show it." | Image: Amodays

"I don't see anybody categorized as a 'fashion diva,' except for me! And I like that. I am thought of as a diva because I wear an evening dress, and I take care of my look when I go out. I go to parties regarding business, not for fun. And that's why they call me a 'diva.'" — Donatella Versace

"And I think every woman can be a diva, and every woman can be just a woman. I think life is a runway, and you can do everything you want. If you want." — Daniela Vega

"There's nothing wrong with being a Diva. If it's because I take care of myself and look good, then I don't think there's anything wrong with that." — Carmella

"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a [expletive]. You've got to go out and kick [expletive]." — Maya Angelou

Patti LaBelle's quote: "So if diva means giving your best, then yes, I guess I am a diva." | Image: AmoDays

"So if diva means giving your best, then yes, I guess I am a diva." — Patti LaBelle

I Am No Diva Quotes

"I've seen the real extreme diva behavior, and I don't think that's who I am." — Mariah Carey

"I'm easy to get along with—I'm not a diva." — Jeffrey Dean Morgan

"A diva without a venue is a maniac." — Toni Basil

"I'm no diva, but I can be annoying in a recording studio. Of course, I try to be a diva in terms of confidence of performance and owning a song, but I've never behaved like one in terms of the negative connotations of the word." — Nicole Scherzinger

Mariah Carey’s quote: "I've seen the real extreme diva behavior, and I don't think that's who I am." | Image: AmoDays

"I am not a diva: I am a Jones. 'Diva' is so overused. Diva, icons, the whole thing, legends... To be a diva, what is that?" — Grace Jones

"I'm totally Italian, but I'm not a diva. If you could see the way I'm dressed in daily life, that's not a diva. Appearances are so not important to me." — Patti LuPone

More Diva Quotes

"Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. Maybe they just need to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with them." — Carrie Bradshaw

"I tend to hide behind my status of being a diva; it's easy for me to embrace that part of me and seek confidence by being a bit outrageous at times." — Alex Newell

"To me, Egypt is a wonderful history, a wonderful people, and it's represented through artists like Om Kalthoum, who is considered the fourth pyramid of Egypt. She's a wonderful diva whose voice, for me, is really Egyptian." — Mona Eltahawy

Michelle Visage’s quote: "It's never too late to reclaim your inner diva and reclaim your inner strength." | Image: AmoDays

"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

"I'm too busy putting my energies into my performance to be a diva." — Shirley Bassey

"When I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better." — Mae West

"I'm not a diva. I'm a tadpole trying to be a frog." — Toni Braxton

Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s quote: "I'm easy to get along with — I'm not a diva." | Image: AmoDays

"There's something so special about a woman who dominates a man's world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer." — Rihanna

"Success can make you go one of two ways. It can make you a prima donna, or it can smooth the edges, take away the insecurities, let the nice things come out." — Barbara Walters

"I believe that it's better to be looked over than it is to be overlooked." — Mae West

"If I had any talent that God could give me, I would be a great diva." — Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Toni Basil’s quote: "A diva without a venue is a maniac." | Image: AmoDays

"I've got four dogs, and I just don't do dog doo. I'm a diva when it comes to that." — Kobe Bryant

"It's never too late to reclaim your inner diva and reclaim your inner strength." — Michelle Visage

"An extraordinary diva would never sit by herself." — John Lone

"I don't mean to be a diva, but some days you wake up, and you're Barbara Streisand." — Courtney Love

"It's never too late to reclaim your inner diva and reclaim your inner strength." — Michelle Visage

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s quote: "If I had any talent that God could give me, I would be a great diva." | Image: AmoDays

While we may struggle with some temperamental and borderline terrifying singers, there is no doubt that many of the women that some have claimed are divas" are some of the best pop stars of the 20th century. These include Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, and even Avril Lavigne.

While we don't have to turn our diva dial all the way down, we can learn to access our inner diva to become more confident. To help you with this, read these 73 alpha female quotes to unlock your all-powerful inner wolf.