Mariah Carey loves her diva reputation. The "Butterfly" singer says she takes it as a compliment to be called a diva because it just means she's successful.

She says, "They throw that word around like it's a friggin' Frisbee! I grew up hearing it, because my mother is an opera singer."

"The actual definition is 'a talented female singer.' Definition two is 'a difficult woman who is successful,' I believe. So I take it as a compliment."

Although the 37-year-old singer has a difficult reputation, she insists she's not demanding.

She tells Parade magazine, "You know what? I guess I am a diva in many ways! When it comes to certain things, yes, I can be difficult and a little bit rigid about what I want. Am I demanding? I don't think I'm demanding enough."

"I think if I were more demanding, I would have felt that I had some sort of power, as opposed to feeling like a pawn, which is something I had to grow out of."

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