When I was a child, one of my favorite pastimes was theater. There was something so fulfilling about being on stage and connecting with the talented individuals breathing life into characters and stories. So naturally, I entered college as a theater major, hopeful of creating more of these moments; I ended up switching later on. However, the love for the craft never left, and my respect for actors only grew. And every now and then, I watch a movie or television show, come across a new actor, and think to myself, ‘Ooh, you can tell they’re for real about this.’ This background brings me to the present and our conversation with NAACP award-winning actress Gail Bean.
I was first introduced to her during the FX series Snowfall, where she played the flawed yet beloved character Wanda. Since that time, she’s been in other culture favorites like Atlanta, Insecure, P-Valley, and more. And now she’s gearing up for a new one: Amazon’s Harlem, which is personally one of my favorite shows to watch and discuss with girlfriends..because whew, the relatable dating stories. Anyway, during this chat, we spoke about her acting journey, what we can expect from her character in Harlem, and her viral friendship with the talented and handsome actor Malcolm Mays.
Gail Bean
Photo by Detavio Samuels
Like many performers, Gail’s road into the entertainment industry wasn’t a clear one. Although she’s acted for years, she originally planned on being a lawyer. “I was going to be the female Johnny Cockran,” she says with a smile. But after finding more of a connection with acting, she made the bold decision to change her plan. The unique journey only makes her appreciate where she is currently even more. By the way, I’m saying ‘where she is’ literally and figuratively since she recently moved to New York, a dream she’s had for years.
“I think I was always supposed to be here. When I first moved to LA, I wanted to be in New York. I trained out of Susan Batson Studio, and we used to go every other month. But when I moved from Georgia, it was out of my budget. Steven Speilberg even flew me to New York once and asked me why I was living there” (slight flex).
She continues, “I officially moved in October, but I was gone for the holidays and traveling for months. I came back in February, and all the blessings started to flow. I booked Harlem, P-Valley returned, and another project I auditioned for circled back. And I know what they say about New York, but I think the people are genuine and kind for the sake of humanity.”
Living in New York is also the perfect backdrop for filming Harlem. She shared a bit of what we can expect from her character, saying, “She’s really different from me and anyone I’ve ever played. I’m soft. She’s a business venture capitalist. And she has a love interest on the show. People are really going to see themselves in my character; she blurs a lot of lines between business and pleasure.”
Gail Bean and Malcolm Mays
Photo by Giles Williams
When she said that, I couldn’t help but jump into her friendship with Malcolm Mays. I mean, she walked into it, right? And have you seen the videos? They look great together - almost like more than friends. So I just blatantly asked, ‘I mean, how do you feel about all of us being so captivated by your relationship with fellow actor Malcolm Mays?” Shocked, she laughs and says, “It’s nice to have someone in the industry. We go to the movies, watch indie films, work on projects, and talk about real life. It’s great having someone you can play tennis with about everything. There’s times when I want to post pictures, but I already know people are gonna say we're in a relationship. At no point have we said we’re together. But he knows I love him down, and he loves me. That’s going to be my best friend until the end of eternity.”
Her openness made me reflect on friendships and relationships. There have been many conversations around this topic: do friendships change when people get into serious relationships? Can having an attractive best friend affect your dating life, and what about intimidation? Can men and women really be friends? But Gail isn’t worried about these convos at all. “Whoever my dating life consists of, they need to know I wouldn't cheat on my mate. I’m a loyal person. All of the friendships in my life are never a threat to the significant other in my life.”
She went on to explain how his kindness and connection to the industry feel like a safe place for her. Also, his masculine perspective provides a different way of looking at things, which helps her in various ways. “Malcolm is very well-rounded, and he’s like a man’s man. He tells me the truth. But also, he talks to me about my career and myself as a woman," she explains. "I remember sitting in his car crying about the industry; at the time, I kept getting callbacks but never booking the roles. I was sick of people “liking” me; I wanted them to book me. He said, ‘Gail you're a talent, and your time is going to come. This time next year you’re going to book a show,’ and I did."
Gail Bean
Photo by Giles Williams
She continues, “As women, we naturally pour into others like that, but you don’t always get that from men. Because they don’t typically get that. So it’s nice to have a man there like that. There’s one other time where I cried about my career, and it was actually to my brother.”
Hearing that background gave the videos from the 55th NAACP Image Awards of him admiringly gazing at her more context. They manifested that moment. And we all know there’s nothing like praying and affirming something, then watching it come to life. Gail won a NAACP Image award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Snowfall. “That moment at the NAACP (Image) Awards was so euphoric, unbelievable, Godly, and rich. I really felt like I could die tomorrow, and I’d be okay. I didn’t know what else to say but thank you, God..”
She continues, “John (Singleton) has always been in my corner, and I feel like he had a hand in it. I was truly grateful that people watched it and voted. It was for all of Snowfall - from cast, writers, people who put together lights and everything - I felt like all of us won. I was grateful it was my first award from such a powerful show and network.”
Gail came from the theater. She always enjoyed acting but didn’t really take it as seriously until somewhat recently. In fact, she compared it to dating, “You know how you’re just hanging out and one day then something happens and it’s like okay, I need to know where this is going? That’s how acting was. One day, I just decided to take it seriously.” I think it’s safe to say, they go together - real bad.
But seriously, I think her journey is a reminder that when you trust yourself and your path, God will bless you. Oh, and she did close the interview with a little nugget. She and Malcolm Mays plan on creating a romcom together; that way, we can all get in our feels, even if they’re really just friends.
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Feature image by Nailah Howze
RELATED
So, we handpicked one hundred It Girls who embody that palpable It Factor moving through us as young Black women, the kind of motion lighting up the world both IRL and across the internet.
It Girl 100 became xoNecole’s most successful program, with the hashtag organically reaching more than forty million impressions on Instagram in just twenty-four hours. Yes, it caught on like wildfire because we celebrated some of the most brilliant and influential GenZennial women of color setting trends and shaping culture. But more than that, it resonated because the women we celebrated felt seen.
Many were already known in their industries for keeping this generation fly and lit, but rarely received recognition or flowers. It Girl 100 became a safe space to be uplifted, and for us as Black women to bask in what felt like an era of our brilliance, beauty, and boundless influence on full display.
And then, almost overnight, it was as if the rug was pulled from under us as Black women, as the It Girls of the world.
Our much-needed, much-deserved season of ease and soft living quickly metamorphosed into a time of self-preservation and survival. Our motion and economic progression seemed strategically slowed, our light under siege.
The air feels heavier now. The headlines colder. Our Black girl magic is being picked apart and politicized for simply existing.
With that climate shift, as we prepare to launch our second annual It Girl 100 honoree list, our team has had to dig deep on the purpose and intention behind this year’s list. Knowing the spirit of It Girl 100 is about motion, sauce, strides, and progression, how do we celebrate amid uncertainty and collective grief when the juice feels like it is being squeezed out of us?
As we wrestled with that question, we were reminded that this tension isn’t new. Black women have always had to find joy in the midst of struggle, to create light even in the darkest corners. We have carried the weight of scrutiny for generations, expected to be strong, to serve, to smile through the sting. But this moment feels different. It feels deeply personal.
We are living at the intersection of liberation and backlash. We are learning to take off our capes, to say no when we are tired, to embrace softness without apology.
And somehow, the world has found new ways to punish us for it.
In lifestyle, women like Kayla Nicole and Ayesha Curry have been ridiculed for daring to choose themselves. Tracee Ellis Ross was labeled bitter for speaking her truth about love. Meghan Markle, still, cannot breathe without critique.
In politics, Kamala Harris, Letitia James, and Jasmine Crockett are dragged through the mud for standing tall in rooms not built for them.
In sports, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Townsend have been reminded that even excellence will not shield you from racism or judgment.
In business, visionaries like Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye and Melissa Butler are fighting to keep their dreams alive in an economy that too often forgets us first.
Even our icons, Beyoncé, Serena, and SZA, have faced criticism simply for evolving beyond the boxes society tried to keep them in.
From everyday women to cultural phenoms, the pattern is the same. Our light is being tested.
And yet, somehow, through it all, we are still showing up as that girl, and that deserves to be celebrated.
Because while the world debates our worth, we keep raising our value. And that proof is all around us.
This year alone, Naomi Osaka returned from motherhood and mental health challenges to reach the semifinals of the US Open. A’ja Wilson claimed another MVP, reminding us that beauty and dominance can coexist. Brandy and Monica are snatching our edges on tour. Kahlana Barfield Brown sold out her new line in the face of a retailer that had been canceled. And Melissa Butler’s company, The Lip Bar, is projecting a forty percent surge in sales.
We are no longer defining strength by how much pain we can endure. We are defining it by the unbreakable light we continue to radiate.
We are the women walking our daily steps and also continuing to run solid businesses. We are growing in love, taking solo trips, laughing until it hurts, raising babies and ideas, drinking our green juice, and praying our peace back into existence.
We are rediscovering the joy of rest and realizing that softness is not weakness, it is strategy.
And through it all, we continue to lift one another. Emma Grede is creating seats at the table. Valeisha Butterfield has started a fund for jobless Black women. Arian Simone is leading in media with fearless conviction. We are pouring into each other in ways the world rarely sees but always feels.
So yes, we are in the midst of societal warfare. Yes, we are being tested. Yes, we are facing economic strain, political targeting, and public scrutiny. But even war cannot dim a light that is divinely ours.
And we are still shining.
And we are still softening.
And we are still creating.
And we are still It.
That is the quiet magic of Black womanhood, our ability to hold both truth and triumph in the same breath, to say yes, and to life’s contradictions.
It is no coincidence that this year, as SheaMoisture embraces the message “Yes, And,” they stand beside us as partners in celebrating this class of It Girls. Because that phrase, those two simple words, capture the very essence of this moment.
Yes, we are tired. And we are still rising.
Yes, we are questioned. And we are the answer.
Yes, we are bruised. And we are still beautiful.
This year’s It Girl 100 is more than a list. It is a love letter to every Black woman who dares to live out loud in a world that would rather she whisper. This year’s class is living proof of “Yes, And,” women who are finding ways to thrive and to heal, to build and to rest, to lead and to love, all at once.
It is proof that our joy is not naive, our success not accidental. It is the reminder that our light has never needed permission.
So without further ado, we celebrate the It Girl 100 Class of 2025–2026.
We celebrate the millions of us who keep doing it with grace, grit, and glory.
Because despite it all, we still shine.
Because we are still her.
Because we are still IT, girl.
Meet all 100 women shaping culture in the It Girl 100 Class of 2025. View the complete list of honorees here.
Featured image by xoStaff
Then there were those who gave up their zip code altogether and found a permanent home in the skies. After years spent recruiting students for a university, Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare became a full-time travel influencer and founded her travel company, Shakespeare Agency. And she's not alone.
These stories mirror the experiences of women across the world. For millions, the pandemic induced a seismic shift in priorities and desires. Corporate careers that were once hailed as the ultimate “I made it” moment in one's career were pushed to the back burner as women quit their jobs in search of a more self-fulfilling purpose.
xoNecole spoke to these three Black women who used the pandemic as a springboard to make their wildest dreams a reality, the lessons they learned, and posed the question of whether they’ll ever return to cubicle life.
Answers have been edited for context and length.
xoNecole: How did the pandemic lead to you leaving the cubicle?
Randi: I was becoming stagnant. I was working in mortgage and banking but I felt like my personality was too big for that job! From there, I transitioned to radio but was laid off during the pandemic. That’s what made me go full throttle with entrepreneurship.
Gabrielle: I moved around a lot for work. Five times over a span of seven years. I knew I needed a break because I had experienced so much. So, I just quit one day. Effective immediately. I didn’t know what I was going to do, I just knew I needed a break and to just regroup.
Lisa-Gaye: I was working in recruiting at a university and my dream job just kind of fell into my lap! But, I never got to fully enjoy it before the world shut down in March [2020] and I was laid off. On top of that, I was stuck in Miami because Jamaica had closed its borders due to the pandemic before I was able to return.
Randi O
xoN: Tell us about your journey after leaving Corporate America.
Randi: I do it all now! I have a podcast, I’m an on-air talent, I act, and I own a public relations company that focuses on social media engagement. It’s all from my network. When you go out and start a business, you can’t just say, “Okay I’m done with Corporate America,” and “Let me do my own thing.” If you don’t build community, if you don’t build a network it's going to be very hard to sustain.
Gabrielle: I realized in New York, there was not a lot to do for Black lesbians and queer folks. We don’t really have dedicated bars and spaces so I started doing events and it took off. I started focusing on my brand, Raw Honey. I opened a co-working space, and I was able to host an NYC Pride event in front of 100,000 people. I hit the ground running with Raw Honey. My events were all women coming to find community and come together with other lesbians and queer folks. I found my purpose in that.
Lisa-Gaye: After being laid off, I wrote out all of my passions and that’s how I came up with [my company] Shakespeare Agency. It was all of the things that I loved to do under one umbrella. The pandemic pulled that out of me. I had a very large social media following, so I pitched to hotels that I would feature them on my blog and social media. This reignited my passion for travel. I took the rest of the year to refocus my brand to focus solely on being a content creator within the travel space.
Gabrielle
xoN: What have you learned about yourself during your time as an entrepreneur?
Randi: [I learned] the importance of my network and community that I created. When I was laid off I was still keeping those relationships with people that I used to work with. So it was easy for me to transition into social media management and I didn’t have to start from scratch.
Gabrielle: The biggest thing I learned about myself was my own personal identity as a Black lesbian and how much I had assimilated into straight and corporate culture and not being myself. Now, I feel comfortable and confident being my authentic self. Now, I'm not sacrificing anything else for my career. I have a full life. I have friends. I have a social life. And when you are happy and have a full quality of life, I feel like [I] can have more longevity in my career.
Lisa-Gaye: [I'm doing] the best that I've ever done. The discipline that I’m building within myself. Nobody is saying, ‘Oh you have to be at work at this time.’ There’s no boss saying, ‘Why are you late?’ But, if I’m laying in bed at 10 a.m. then it's me saying [to myself], 'Okay, Lisa, get up, it's time for you to start working!’ That’s all on me.
xoNecole: What mistakes do you want to help people avoid when leaving Corporate America?
Randi: You have to learn about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. You have a fast season and a slow season and I started to learn that when you're self-employed the latter season hits hard. Don't get caught up on the lows, just keep going and don't stop. I’m glad I did.
Gabrielle: I think everyone should quit their job and just figure it out for a second. You will discover so much about yourself when you take a second to just focus on you. Your skill set will always be there. You can’t be afraid of what will happen when you bet on yourself.
Lisa-Gaye: When it comes to being an influencer the field is saturated and a lot of people suffer from imposter syndrome. There is nothing wrong with being an imposter but find out how to make it yours, how to make it better. If you go to the store, you see 10 million different brands of bread! But you are choosing the brand that you like because you like that particular flavor.
So be an imposter, but be the best imposter of yourself and add your own flair, your own flavor. Make the better bread. The bread that you want.
Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare
xoNecole: Will you ever return to your 9 to 5?
Randi: I wouldn’t go back to Corporate America. But I don’t mind working under someone. A lot of people try to get into this business saying, “I can't work under anyone.” That’s not necessarily the reason to start a business because you're always going to answer to somebody. Clients, brands, there’s always someone else involved.
Gabrielle: I went back! I really needed a break and I gave myself that. But, I realized I’m a corporate girl, [and] I enjoy the work that I do. I’m good at it and I really missed that side of myself. I have different sides of me and my whole identity is not Raw Honey or my queerness. A big side of me is business and that’s why I love having my career. Now I feel like my best self.
Lisa-Gaye: I really don’t. For right now, I love working for myself. It's gratifying, it's challenging, it's exciting. It’s a big deal for me to say I own my own business. That I am my own boss, and I'm a Black woman doing it.
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Featured image courtesy of Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare
Originally published on February 6, 2023