THE MAKING OF MARY HIP-HOP SINGER BLIGE EVOLVES INTO FASHION DIVA AND ACTRESS.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Fashion Editor

Once upon a time, you found Mary J. Blige on the concert stage in a miniskirt, baseball jersey and high tops. Now she sparkles in a silver rhinestone-studded bra with matching choker and gloves.

The hip-hop diva has also found more stages to conquer - as a spokesmodel for a cosmetic company, with her face and body splashed all over fashion magazines and as an actress.

But it's more than just changing her image for the Grammy-winning artist, who not only is taking acting lessons but also working on her GED - the equivalent of the high school diploma that she never got.

Before we get on with her growing pains, let's ask the question we all dying to know: That large rose tattoo on her thigh - very evident in all those revealing clothes - is it real?

``Yes, it's real, and it hurt really bad,'' she says, holding court recently in her tented dressing room at the Santa Monica Passport event in typical diva duds: an awesome pair of stiletto-heeled red boots with a jacket to match, plus jeans.

But stiletto heels haven't slowed down the 29-year-old singer/songwriter from Yonkers, N.Y. This month she's featured in Vanity Fair's triple-gatefold first-ever all-music issue.

``We collectively felt she was a fabulous star with a wonderful voice and has turned into a great soul diva,'' said Vanity Fair contributing editor Lisa Robinson.

Her new nonmusic notoriety is due to her gig as the Viva Glam III girl for MAC cosmetics. Not only has she appeared in numerous fashion magazines for several months in a saucy gold dress with matching golden tresses, but she also appeared last month at Macy's/American Express Passport fashion benefit for AIDS to present a check for $50,000 to the Children of Uganda on behalf of MAC. She has made other appearances, including an Oct. 23 appearance at the United Nations for the Race Against Poverty Awards, where she performed Stevie Wonder's song ``Overjoyed.''

She's also been on a 33-city concert tour promoting her latest album, ``Mary,'' that features duets with '70s icons such as Elton John, Eric Clapton and Aretha Franklin.

She's also made her first film, ``Prison Song,'' in which she stars with Elvis Costello, and there's an IMAX movie shot after the Grammys in which she performs with George Clinton of ``Atomic Dog'' fame that's due for release in January.

Already a real-life superhero for her support of numerous charitable organizations in her hometown, as well as Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Planned Parenthood and the Los Angeles-based Project Angel Food, Blige will battle crime and protect the innocent beginning in January on Stanlee.net.

We recently talked with Blige about all the changes in her life:

On her changing image: ``It's a natural transition. I never played dress-up as a child. In fact, I was more of a tomboy until I was 19. Now I'm a big fan of fashion, but I have my own style. ... And yes, I've thought about designing a real line of clothing, but for right now I'll wait and see.''

On her new concert outfits: ``I love picking out which Dolce & Gabbana outfit I'm going to wear for each concert. They're one of my concert tour sponsors, so I have to wear their clothing, but I have complete power over all selections. And I wear their designs on and off the stage. ``But,'' she laughs, ``I save the cleavage for stage.''

On her new sound: ``First of all, with 'Mary,' I didn't exactly intend for it to go mainstream. I didn't put Eric Clapton, who is very soulful on his guitar, and Elton John, who was at one time a big part of black music, on my album because I want to cross over. I put them on 'Mary' because I like what they do ... and I figured it was a way of inviting them into my r&b world.''

On working with Eric Clapton: ``I met him at a dinner party, and he said, 'I love you.' And I said, 'Who are you?' It turned out he was really nice, so I asked him (to be on my album), too.''

On the duet with Elton John on her song ``Deep Inside'': ``My people ... my fans ... understand that this song is not for them. It's for anyone who's getting ready to approach me.''

On Lauryn Hill, who provides her signature old-school doo-wop production on the song ``All That I Can Say'': ``I don't think any other artist would have done that for me. ... When she looks at me it's not with eyes of envy, but rather a respectful, female intimacy.''

On that Versace handbag John gave her: ``It was a personal gift, and it's between me and Elton.''

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Mary J. Blige, on stage during her current tour, wears Dolce & Gabbana because the fashion company is her tour sponsor.

(2 -- color) Blige, in a shot from her new album, says that fashion never mattered to her. ``I never played dress-up as a child. In fact, I was more of a tomboy until I was 19.''

(3 -- color) The singer is making quite a few unusual appearances these days, including this one, on a package of hair color.

(4 -- color) Blige wears her sponsors clothes ``on and off the stage. But I save the cleavage for stage.''