(Photo: W Magazine, June 2011)

It’s been ten years since Alicia Keys burst onto the scene in 2001 with her Grammy-winning album “Songs in A Minor” and W magazine is saluting the career anniversary of the singer/songwriter/producer (and new mom of son Egypt).  In the June 2011 issue of the magazine, Mario Sorrenti captures the feminine-yet-tough style balance Keys' has settled into as of late as she models Alexander McQueen pieces—including a wool jacket that was styled with an Ellen Christine hat and Versace ring. Makeup artist Aaron De Mey complimented the military look with a glittery smoky eye and red lip that matched a manicure that Yuna Park painted on.

Though she gets much more glammed up now than she did when she debuted, Keys looked back on her early days when she was sporting a signature style of braids and pants outfits and said, “I just wanted to be who I was, which was like so many other girls I knew. We grew up in the city, had a hard edge and obstacles to overcome, but we were still young and beautiful. I didn’t want to be all dressed up, all made up—I wanted to be myself, which hadn’t been done before.” She added, “How terrible would it have been if I had come out with some watered-down version of who I am? People fell in love with the real me, and I still feel blessed that that was how the journey began.”

On the music front, Keys will flash back to the album that started in the June 28 release of the deluxe and collector’s editions of “Songs in A Minor” that both include the original track listing as well as bonus and live material. She’ll also perform on the BET Awards on June 26.