Karrueche Shares How She Turned Self-Doubt Into Confidence
Your vision is one that the universe and your creator gave to you, so you can't get mad when other people don't see it. Karrueche Tran has made her mark as one of the breakout stars of 2018, and she's made it clear that she's here to stay. Despite tabloid rumors and an unfair narrative created by her highly publicized relationship, she's fought through criticism, hate, and self-doubt for a seat at the table, and proves that it's every woman's time to eat.
The 30-year-old actress stars in the TNT Hit Drama, Claws, which premiered its second on June 10. The rising star opened up to StyleCaster about how her road to success came with some bumps and bruises, some of which were self-inflicted.
After her polarizing break-up with Chris Brown, Karrueche was attacked by social media and felt her life had come to a complete standstill. The young actress said that she was at a loss, and knew that she needed to find a purpose to latch on to.
"I hate to say the word fame, but because I was in a certain situation, in a high-profile relationship, I was recognizable. It was kind of like, 'I have these followers. But what else do I have?' I hit a point where I was like, 'What am I going to do with my life?'"
It was not until after her manager suggested acting that she had even considered the career path. Initially, she was intimidated and felt incompetent because unlike her peers, she had no real qualifications aside from the dozens of acting classes in which she had invested.
"I felt ashamed and embarrassed, like people weren't taking me seriously because I didn't have this substantial résumé. Like I didn't qualify to call myself an actor."
How many of us are guilty of talking ourselves out of opportunities because we feel like we don't deserve them? This same self-sabotage is something that Karrueche had to resolve within herself.
"What I had to realize is everybody has their own story and just because I didn't grow up in theater or on Broadway or as a child actor doesn't mean I can't do this."
After coming face-to-face with a serious case of self-doubt, Karrueche then understood that she had to use her platform to create the change that she wants to see both in herself, and in the world, even if other people couldn't see that.
Karrueche got her big break as the sassy millennial Virginia Loc on Claws in 2017, and says that she hopes to use her character to inspire other young women of color that have had to fight to survive in a world that doesn't believe in them. After surviving her own experience with domestic abuse, she knows that a number of young women, including herself, are victims of physical exploitation in one way or another. She said:
"Virginia had to fight to survive. Her story is that unfortunately she has had to use her body. She comes from the strip club. She's very much from that world. That's a lot of other women's stories as well. That's what makes Virginia and what makes this show so real and relatable. It's because there are a lot of women, some women who I know, that have had to go through the same thing that Virginia did."
The Claws actress told StyleCaster that the confident and strong character that she plays on screen hasn't always been a reflection of her reality, and that she too has had to battle with her own insecurities.
"I'm petite. I'm small, and I always wanted be curvy and thick and have a big booty and big boobs. That's because that's the perception of what's beautiful out there to a lot of men. With social media, we have this perception that we have to be perfect and we have to look a certain way and we want to look like other people. I think it's pretty fucked up."
Although in the past social media trolls have made her feel very much unpretty, even going as far as to say that she looks like an adolescent boy, Karrueche knows and loves the woman she's becoming, and encourages other women to do the same.
"I've dealt with self-esteem and self-image issues. I've accepted who I am with my body. It took a while for me to do that. If people learn to accept who they are, that they don't have to be perfect, that they don't have to look a certain way, that we're all individually different, that that is OK, I just think things would be much, much better."
Though easier said than done, we have to understand that the journey doesn't come with a blueprint or instructions, but just because other people can't see the beauty in your gift doesn't mean it isn't there. You don't have to have a "perfect" body or a multi-page resume to live out your dreams as a manicurist who works at a fictional nail shop that washes money for infamous drug lords, just ask Karrueche. The sky's the limit for you, too.
Featured image by Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
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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Crystal Renay Is Prioritizing Healing, Her Kids, And Her Coins Amid Divorce
Crystal Renay is reclaiming her time and her identity after dealing with heartbreak. The model was married to Ne-Yo for seven years and they share three young children together. However, after a cheating scandal that resulted in a baby outside of their relationship, Crystal decided to end her marriage to the “So Sick” singer. Now, she is focusing on her bag and her kids. She is co-owner of Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles, launching a lip kit line, and is back on TV starring in the new WE TV reality series Bold & Bougie.
But it wasn’t an easy road, especially with reality TV. From the beginning, Crystal and her castmates bumped heads due to misconceptions and alliances with her ex-husband’s former partner, Monyetta Shaw. However, the mother of three exclusively tells xoNecole that she doesn’t regret her decision to join the show.
Crystal Renay
Photo courtesy
“Honestly, being in that space, we had a– you know, when you're first getting to know people, sometimes it can be smooth, and sometimes it can be rocky,” she says. “In our case, it was a little bit rocky and just getting to know each other, and I like to call it growing pains. And I felt like we had a couple of moments, but all in all, like the experience was really good for me, and I would do it over again.”
Crystal describes herself as “career-oriented” and says she is in her selfish season because she is now prioritizing herself first. But she admits that she is still healing from her divorce. The reality TV star shares some tips for others who may be going through the same thing.
“I would definitely say pray, pray as much as you can. Try to take your emotions out of your reactions to things because it’s always going to be something that you don't like in the situation,” she says. “But we can't move off of emotion because 10 times out of 10, a few months later, you're not going to feel like that. So, I'm a firm believer in not doing things that I will regret later. So I would just say be patient with yourself and stay positive.”
While there may be an opportunity to find love again, that’s not Crystal’s focus at the moment. She is in the rebuilding phase of her life, emphasizing the importance of self-care, personal growth, and finding her own happiness. She has had her share of challenges, including dealing with negative emotions and the public's perception of her, but her priorities involve spending quality time with her children and running lucrative businesses.
“I would definitely say pray, pray as much as you can. Try to take your emotions out of your reactions to things because it’s always going to be something that you don't like in the situation.”
“With my kids, I'm very hands-on. I’m team mother with soccer kids, and they don't really make no goals because they like five years old, but I'm there cheering them on every week,” she jokes. “I want to travel, especially this summer, with my kids and take them somewhere internationally because they're at the age where they can handle a long flight. So, me just spending more time and more new experiences with my kids is my main focus with them and showing them all the love that I could possibly give them.”
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Photo courtesy of Crystal Renay