Reagan James
Reagan James was a contestant on the seventh season of The Voice, where she made it to the top twelve, and just recently she decided to attend Los Angeles Valley College to begin her studies in Astrophysics.
Reagan and I met in her hometown of Burleson, and after her move to sunny California, she seemed slightly out of place of the Texas city she grew up in. Her bodysuit, embroidered denim jacket, big hoop earrings, and high pony were not something that Central Texas residents were used to seeing on a Tuesday afternoon.
Many people of Burleson viewed Reagan as a hometown hero and followed her progress throughout the Voice four years ago. Reagan shared with me that, at the time, she didn’t feel like the adoration was deserved. “People, for whatever reason, liked me.”
As we sat down, Reagan revealed that she was quiet and reclusive on the Voice. “I was a teenager going through the worst thing I had been through at the time. And I hate that because I wish I could have gone back and been more involved and enjoyed it more.”
“Now that I am living in L.A. I’m like, ‘I should know this town like the back of my hand!’” Reagan told me before we ordered, “I barely remember anything. I had been so locked away from anything around me. But I’m happy for it. It molded me into who I am now and actually a person I am proud of.”
Reagan shared with me how she began her journey into music when she was 8 years old. Both her mother and her step-father at the time were cover band musicians. “My step-dad was a really, really good guitar player.” Reagan commented, “We have completely different tastes, completely different voices. But, growing up in a house that valued music is where it all started.”
Reagan confided, “On the Voice, I was by far the weakest vocalist.” We briefly argued over that statement. “No I was,” she assured me, “Go back and listen to me sing. I had no breath control. I couldn’t do any runs. I couldn’t sing above a very low note. And if I did, it was very stressed and very tense. I got through as far as I did because of who I was,” she said, referring back to the large fan base that supported her journey through the talent show.
Reagan claims that she did not start to develop “a pretty good voice” until about 2 years ago, two years after her time on the Voice. And even then, “In the past 6 months, my voice has gone to a completely different level that I never thought I would have.” Reagan testified, “I can do things that I never thought I could do.”
“It’s awesome,” Reagan quipped. “Now it doesn't really look like I have a limit. I’m excited about growth.” Regan reminds herself, that “if I am where I am and I’m 19,” then “my voice is going to be awesome when I’m 25.”
I asked Reagan about her life after the Voice, and she shared her story about her sudden weight loss due to the show. “I lost 25 pounds, rapidly, because I just stopped eating.” Reagan said leaning forward, talking with her hands, “And the worst part of it is that ever since I lost that weight I have been extremely insecure. I hate being skinny.”
“I can do things that I never thought I could do.”
“I have always preferred to be thicker and curvy.” Reagan told me, “I spent about a year and a half trying to gain weight, and I didn't gain it back until about six months ago.”
“There is nothing worse than obsessing with your body everyday, and literally everyday, you’re stuck. Because you wake up, you look in the mirror and you are like, ‘Wow’ I’m so not where I want to be. You find clothes to put on and you are like ‘wow, this fits me in such an unflattering way.” Reagan said, as we continued to talk in our corner table.
After the insecurities that Reagan faced after the Voice, Reagan has become a staunch advocate for self-love. Even though she preaches self acceptance through her tweets, Reagan shared with me that on social media she will typically only post the photos that show off her good angles. “We paint the best pictures of ourselves. I may post a picture without makeup, but I got it to right where I need it.”
Reagan sighed, “That’s something I hope that I can let go of. Not that I’m not transparent, because I hope that I am, but be a little less aware, and not worry so much about those things.”
As we were ending our interview and finishing our meal, I asked Reagan what her life motto was. “I won’t be defined by the chaos in my mind,” she divulged, sharing with me that this saying is actually tattooed on her hip. “It sums up how I feel about my self-image issues and loneliness. I don’t want to be defined by that.”
Reagan, armed with her outlook on life, concluded “There isn’t a limit to anything that I want to accomplish. If I want to learn something, if I want to do something, I do it.”
“I won’t ever let anything hold me back.”