Black women are lit, and Shonda Rhimes and Debbie Allen just teamed up with Dove to produce a short film series to prove it. The talented duo recently announced the release of the second season of Real Beauty Productions, an initiative created by Dove in 2017 designed to redefine beauty standards to reflect real women.
Allen, a prominent actress, TV director, and dance instructor, is a perfect match for this project, given her accomplishments in diversifying markets where black women aren't highlighted. She said that she decided to hop aboard this project simply because it was necessary.
"I felt that this is an initiative that has a real purpose and real meaning, and it could make a difference in our community. This could help millions of young women step out of a dark space and into the light…They'll look at these stories we're telling and I'm sure they'll see a reflection of themselves."
2018 is the year of the Black Girl Renaissance, and stars like Shonda Rhimes and Debbie Allen are using their platforms to elevate all forms of feminine power. "An Hour With Her" encourages women across multiple generations to have open conversation about issues like self-esteem and beauty standards. Having this dialogue amongst one another will give us the opportunity to develop a theology where young women of color can develop their perceptions of beauty, and see that manifestation of beauty within themselves.
According to Dove, experts suggest that one hour of conversation about self-esteem and positive self-image has the power to change the way a woman sees her own beauty for a lifetime.
Allen told Blavity that her passion for the project came after reflecting on her own experience battling traditional European standards of beauty and learning to take pride in her own physical appearance. Allen said that her favorite part of Black Panther was when Okoye took her wig off because it revealed how beautiful and multifaceted that black women are, naturally.
"We as black women need to see ourselves, and we look so many different ways, and people have to stand there, look at themselves, and see a reflection of God. There is a reason why we don't all look the same. We don't need to look the same."
In the latest episode, actress Chelsea Harris, an ambassador for Dove's Self-Esteem Project opened up about how she was able to overcome bullying and appearance related negativity as a woman of color.
"For me, some of the different aspects of being African American became things that I just didn't feel good about. I used to wear makeup that was way too light for my skin, and I used to have these bright green contacts. Then I would wear a lot of long super straight hair extensions. It's just one of those things where I looked in the mirror and didn't even recognize myself."
She continued on to say how her collaboration with Dove Self-Esteem project 10 years ago allowed her to develop a new perspective about self-esteem.
"It was about defining my own beauty. And that's my measure of self-esteem now. How do I feel about myself when it's not based off of anybody else's standards. It's so important to define what beauty is for you."
Women of color are constantly held to a standard of beauty that is unrealistic and unattainable and we often drive ourselves to extreme measures to seem more aesthetically acceptable to a society infatuated with overtly outdated Western theology. But our melanin is poppin', and here to stay.
"An Hour With Her" is necessary to the current political landscape because if we don't identify our own standards of beauty, society will decide them for us.
To watch the latest episode from the second season, click here:
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
