Songstress Janelle Monáe has been named as the recipient of Billboard's Rising Star award for her incredible career and contributions to music so far. 

She will be handed the prize at the 2013 Billboard Women in Music event in New York City on December 10 and speaking about the honour in an official statement, she explained:

"Being recognized for your hard work and passion is always humbling and encouraging. I feel honored Billboard has taken note of my journey in the music industry thus far."

"I hope by receiving this award I'm encouraging aspiring acts to stay true to their own artistic visions and never give up."

During a recent interview with Uptown magazine, she opened up about her persona and confessed that she isn't what people expect: "People think I am so straightlaced and buttoned up. There's a lot of life underneath this tuxedo. I like to have fun. I enjoy practical jokes. I enjoy rolling around the mall in wheelchairs."

"But if I am anyone's hero, please don't meet me. Stay away. I'm not what you think I am. We keep coming back to this notion of identity. Honestly, I'm just a ghetto black girl underneath it all. My tuxedo is supposed to make me look refined."