Many may know Iggy Azalea for her hit single “Work,” past relationship with A$AP Rocky or her voluptuous bottom, but today she’s Paper magazines October cover girl. Iggy sat down with the glossy to discuss her growth as an artist, upcoming tour and love life.

“When I was a kid, Iggy was my dog,” the 23-year-old rapper says. “Iggy was the runt of the litter, but he always survived. I really loved that dog. He was tough, cool, determined, fighter. He had all the characteristics I admire in people. When he got put down, I got a nameplate necklace with his name. People started calling me that, too.”

Iggy stayed true to being a survivor like her childhood dog after dealing with numerous issues to becoming a successful rapper today. She was eventually noticed by Beyoncé’s team at her Bowery show during a “twerk off,” the same dance competitions the young Aussie has at almost all her shows. This, she believes, inspired Miley Cyrus. “She probably fucking watched my videos online and decided to try it.”

The raunchy raptress is known for her body and is almost always being mistaken for a model. “It pisses me off that my iTunes biography says I’m a model-turned-rapper. I was never a model before. Why do people have it in their stupid fucking fantasies that I was a model?” -Shanae Hatchett

Check out the rest of the interview and photos here.