( CNN ) -- Dear Girls of the World , . I was a 12-year-old girl living in the center of Cotonou , Benin , in West Africa . Music was all around us , with the traditional singers and their drums and with the radio blasting songs from the entire world . Singing had always been my passion . My mom even told me I sung before I spoke . One day , I discovered an uplifting song that made everyone dance . It was called `` Pata Pata . '' The power and beauty of the voice singing it mesmerized me . I had to get the 45 rpm single right away . That 's when I first heard the name of Miriam Makeba , the famous South African singer . I also learned her struggle against apartheid and her success all over the planet . Even though at home I could see the respect that my father had for my mom , I could feel the world was unbalanced and that it was so hard for girls and women to succeed . Many of my girlfriends at school were dropping out at an early age as the social pressure was huge . Most of them could not choose their own destiny . It was as if they would always be the daughter , the wife or the mother of someone . But looking at Miriam 's smile on the cover , her confidence and the respect she inspired , I started to dream . If an exiled African woman born from a poor family had been able to accomplish so much , there might be a little chance for me to follow her steps . Lost in my thoughts , lying on my bed , listening to her music for hours , learning by heart the lyrics of all her songs -- in my imagination , I was already traveling with her , singing with her , meeting world leaders and advocating with her for the freedom of her people . That dream has never left me . I grew up and I experienced much rejection , many obstacles , but Miriam 's voice was always singing in my head . I started to have some success singing on the national radio . One day , on the way back from school , a group of teenagers recognized me and insulted me , calling me a whore because I was a singer . I came back home , crying , and wanted to give up singing for good . Mama Congo , my maternal grandmother , happened to be home . She asked me why I was crying so much . Once I explained , she gave me a piece of advice that I have never forgotten and that I want you to remember when you feel your dreams are shattered . She told me : `` Do you want to be a singer ? '' `` Yes , Grandma '' `` Then , you ca n't let the opinion of other people discourage you . Do n't give up on your dreams , do n't allow them to define who you are or they would have won ! '' Many years passed . I left my country like Miriam had done . I worked hard , listening to constructive critics and ignoring the naysayers , keeping Miriam 's songs close to my heart . Then , in a different decade , in a different country , the day finally came when I was asked to sing as the opening act of my beloved idol . I could not believe it . Please remember girls : Do n't let anyone define who you are ! -- Angelique Kidjo . More : CNN 's `` Girl Rising '' Read more open letters . Open letter from Christiane Amanpour : It 's time to power the world . Open letter from Queen Rania of Jordan : More than tiaras and cupcakes . How to help | Take action with 10x10 .
Angelique Kidjo writes an open letter to girls of the world . She says that she is a girl and not a boy, so why do we need to be told what clothes are appropriate for us?