'I needed to be independent from her:' Lourdes Leon reveals her mother Madonna 'has controlled her her whole life' in candid interview about her upbringing
Lourdes Leon has candidly revealed that her mother Madonna is 'such a control freak' who has been that way for her 'whole life.'
The oldest daughter of the pop icon, 25, chatted with Interview Magazine on Thursday with Madonna's longtime confidante, actress Debi Mazar, about her upbringing.
'My mom is such a control freak, and she has controlled me my whole life,' Leon told Mazar in the interview. 'I needed to be completely independent from her as soon as I graduated high school.'
![The latest: Lourdes Leon, 25, says her mother Madonna, 63, is 'a control freak' who has controlled her for her 'whole life' in an Interview Magazine Thursday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/15/02/49196787-10094547-image-a-64_1634260395485.jpg)
![Madonna was snapped in NYC at an event last month](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/15/09/49196805-10094547-Madonna_was_snapped_in_NYC_at_an_event_last_month-a-28_1634287185848.jpg)
The latest: Lourdes Leon, 25, revealed her mother Madonna, 63, is 'a control freak' who has controlled her for her 'whole life' in an Interview Magazine Thursday
The model said that she gained a sense of independence by paying for her college and apartment, going into detail on her upbringing.
'We don't get any handouts in my family,' Leon said, adding that she 'obviously ... grew up with extreme privilege.'
She explained of Madonna's parenting philosophy, 'I think my mom saw all these other kids of famous people, and she was like, 'My kids are not going to be like this.' Also, I feel like if your parents pay for things, then it gives them leverage over you.'
Leon said that her mother has encouraged her to branch out in her career from modeling.
![Luxe life: The second-generation star was seen last month at the Met Gala](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/15/02/49196781-10094547-image-a-65_1634260404104.jpg)
Luxe life: The second-generation star was seen last month at the Met Gala
![Lourdes was seen walking the runway in Milan last month for a Versace show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/15/09/49196771-10094547-Lourdes_was_seen_walking_the_runway_in_Milan_last_month_for_a_Ve-a-29_1634287185866.jpg)
Lourdes was seen walking the runway in Milan last month for a Versace show
'My mom is very insistent on making me think about what I want to be known for beyond my looks,' she said. 'That's not what I want people to remember me by. It's not real.
'Financially, modeling is a smart decision. I enjoy being very hands on with the campaigns I do, so that I'm not just modeling, per se.'
She said that she has interest in dancing, fashion and aesthetics, but remains undecided on an acting career.
'I don't know how I feel about acting yet,' she told Mazar, adding that 'actors really annoy me and I can't be around them.'
![Leon lauded her mother's musical talents, saying that she recognizes how 'influential and amazing' the Vogue singer is. Madonna was snapped last month at the MTV VMAs in NYC](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/15/02/49196801-10094547-image-a-81_1634261916378.jpg)
Leon lauded her mother's musical talents, saying that she recognizes how 'influential and amazing' the Vogue singer is. Madonna was snapped last month at the MTV VMAs in NYC
She told Mazar that while she 'can sing,' she doesn't have a passion for the music business.
'I just don't care about it,' she said. 'Maybe it's too close to home.'
Leon lauded her mother's musical talents, saying that she recognizes how 'influential and amazing' the Vogue singer is, 'and how empowering to other women and ahead of her time she has always been.'
She added: 'I didn't fully comprehend that until I realized the importance of empowerment and what it means to be a woman.
'She's probably the hardest worker I've ever seen. I didn't inherit that, unfortunately. I inherited her control issues, but not her work ethic.'
Leon, whose father is actor Carlos Leon, is Madonna's oldest child. Her six siblings include Rocco Ritchie, 21, David Banda, 16, Mercy James, 15, and twins Estere and Stelle Ciccone, nine.
![Throwback: Madonna and Lourdes were snapped at a 2009 event in NYC](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/15/09/49196795-10094547-Throwback_Madonna_and_Lourdes_were_snapped_at_a_2009_event_in_NY-a-30_1634287185925.jpg)
Throwback: Madonna and Lourdes were snapped at a 2009 event in NYC
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