Yara Shahidi Is The Leader We Didn't Know We Needed
Yara Shahidi stole our hearts as Eddie Murphy's adorable daughter on Imagine That. And now, she's kicking ass and taking names as the main character on the Black-ish spinoff, Grownish, and gradually coming to be one of the industry's most influential teenagers. The activist advocates for social issues on and off screen, was recently accepted to Harvard, and is a fashion icon at the same damn time. You know you're lit when Michelle Obama writes your letter of recommendation and Oprah tells you that your future's so bright, it burns her eyes.
The actress has actively been a crusader for women's rights, gender identity, and racial equality, making the statement that unless everyone has a voice, none of us do. She even celebrated her 18th birthday by launching an initiative to increase voter turnout when she hosted a voter registration party. Now if that isn't commitment to civic duty, I don't know what is.
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The 18-year-old recently shared her passion for political engagement in Oprah's SuperSoul conversations:
"Our generation realizes that age has never been a limit in terms of social activity and being able to look back at the civil rights movement... and see that it does not matter how old you are to get engaged. If anything, it is so important to make it our mission, especially if you have the privilege to do so, to be socially aware and to help our global community."
In last week's episode of Grownish, Shahidi tackled political protests but this wasn't the first time that the actress has gone toe-to-toe with "the man." Shahidi feels that her platform gives her even more incentive to be politically engaged. Shahidi told PorterEdit:
"If we are going to be on this red carpet, what are we going to talk about? We are not going to just ignore the fact that there are riots happening and there is a KKK rally. And so, just being with a team that supports that [is special]. There is so much fear of actors being political, like that's not our place, even though I feel that media has always been so inherently political."
The ambition that powers the philanthropic powerhouse is rooted in her reverence for the women that paved her way. At Glamour's International Day of the Girl event Shahidi said:
"While our political and social climate is ever changing rocky and scary at times, we can look back and better understand our societal structures and how revolutionaries of the past have changed these structures, and we have to look at this because then we can figure out how we change these structures because we are a result of their work. And the next generation and the generation after that will be a result of the work that we do."
Shahidi's revolutionary spirit is proof that as women with purpose, we all hold the power to spark much-needed societal change, but the change will only be successful if we do it together.
Featured image by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage