The bar at Le Meridien King Edward Hotel in Toronto starts to slowly fill up as late afternoon turns to early evening. It's a quiet crowd compared to the hotel's past patrons. It has been home to many scandals: John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their "bed-in for peace" in 1963. Cleopatra's Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton (doomed lovers on and off screen) stayed there together while still married to others in 1964.
 
Deborah Cox, about six months pregnant, sits at a table sipping cranberry juice and Sprite mixes while snacking on trail mix instead of sipping on martinis like other guests. Most people would probably say she's the antithesis of the famous females mentioned because she stays out of tabloids, but like them, she is a strong woman artistically and personally who stands behind her beliefs. It might be a far stretch to say that Cox is a feminist, but her latest album, The Promise, is full of empowerment for life and love and no track conveys that better than the breakout single "Beautiful U R".
 
"It's a true testament to what people were craving for," Cox explains. "["Beautiful U R" is] something else other than the same ol', same ol'. They wanted something that was more... inspiring and hopeful... I think it's timely too because our girls are in crisis now with the whole body image thing. There's so many issues we got to deal with, so much put on our backs that I don't think people really realize it until you put it out there, put it in the forefront."
 
Cox would know about the issues of young girls, the Scarborough native grew up shy and unsure of herself. It's quite a difference from the woman who accepted her star for the Scarborough Walk of Fame inside Scarborough Town Centre earlier this year. She was poised and confident, but it's not because she's changed. Her perspective has changed.
 
"The trick is to not let people know what you're insecure about so you can remain or seem confident," she shares. "So I won't ever tell anybody what I hate about my body or anything like that 'cause then they'll just focus on that."
 
Insecurities also manifest themselves in her career as well. She admits to still being self-conscious about her songwriting, still trying to separate herself from the work. Yet Cox has managed to take over all aspects of her career, creating her own label, Deco, with husband Lascelles Stephens. It's a good example for her children, five-year-old Isaiah and two-year-old Sumayah (as well as the one on the way), and her fans. Her determination to make good choices and learn from her few bad ones connects her to her fans.
 
"I think it's important for people to see you're human," she says. "That you deal with the same issues everybody deals with. And once people see they can relate to you then it makes them feel comfortable as well because they feel the thought is, 'Wow if Deborah Cox went through that or can get through it then I can to.'" What makes her more inspiring is the decision to release and promote The Promise while pregnant. Critics would attest that pregnancy made lackluster careers for Brandy and Monica, calling it a curse. And how can a mom-to-be fully commit to promoting a project while being dedicated to taking care of herself? Well the Miami resident "counts [her] blessings" because many women all over have it harder. Here at King Edward the bar staff and Koch reps answer to her every whim.
 
"It's easy to sit in a great hotel literally just talking all day," she laughs. "It's not really that hard work."
 
Words By: Carol Santos