Why Kerry Washington Wants You To Adopt A 'Main Bitch Energy' Mindset
Kerry Washington has been minding her happily married and successful life away from the spotlight for the past year or so, shooting and preparing for the release of her new Hulu show, UnPrisoned. And although sis doesn’t need an introduction, her latest character, Paige Alexander -- a therapist who is the daughter of a formerly incarcerated man, the legendary, Delroy Lindo -- does as each of them struggle to find a new normal in her father's transition from lockup to civilian.
The duo recently visited The Late Late Show with James Corden in full press mode, to discuss the show, and what Delroy's character coins as "main bitch energy."
Corden asks, "Kerry, your character has something that's called 'main bitch energy,' what is that and how can I get some?" Her answer?
"Well, it's really--I have to credit Delroy, it's a line that our brilliant writers wrote on the show but his character delivers where he says to his daughter, 'you are a main bitch.' And it's such a beautiful moment where you get to see how sometimes your parents don't tell you exactly what you want to hear, in the way you want to hear it, but what they're saying still has so much meaning and love and is the right thing at the right time."
She continues, "You don't have to be the supporting character in the story of your life, you can be the protagonist of your life. You don't want to be the side piece. You want the main bitch award, you want to be the main bitch."
Kerryyyy. Talk your shit, sis!
And never misconstrue the situation, Washington may be promoting a new character with main bitch energy, but she has always rocked it. For years she has served main bitch realness all up and down the A-list in roles such as Scandal, Django Unchained, Ray, Save the Last Dance, and more. Now, she is bottling that very energy to focus on a bigger picture: prison reform and rehabilitation efforts in the United States, something she says is a main theme and takeaway that she hopes viewers grasp while watching.
“Eighty million Americans are living with a criminal record,” Washington says on a panel to an SXSW audience. “So many of us have been part of the system, or loved someone who was in the system, and many people who have experience with the prison system don’t speak up about their experiences out of shame.”
Creator and producer, Tracy McMillan, who was also present and who the show is loosely based on, agrees, adding, “I hope [UnPrisoned] leads to policy change. That’s the next step."
As for Corden trying to cash in on his main bitch energy lessons, he goes on to point out one of the show producers, who he says runs everything around his studio, to which Washington applauds through snaps, "Yassss, claim your title, claim your power!"
Now that's main bitch energy.
Watch the full clip below:
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Featured image by Josh Brasted/Getty Images for Neutrogena
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
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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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy