Ryan Destiny Is Showing Us She Has The Range
If you don't know her by name, you definitely know her by face. Ryan Destiny is a multi-hyphenate creative reminiscent of a young Lauryn Hill in more ways than one that has been making her mark as a star on the rise, one career move at a time.
While the Detroit native is definitely beautiful, she is also talented and is now set to add another genre to her filmography: Psychological horror. As if 2020 wasn't already psychologically-horrifying enough, Ryan is going to take us on a mind trip as the lead in the upcoming film Oracle, produced by Will Packer Productions. In it, she discovers a property she's working at has a traumatic past, and that trauma mixed with hers unearths hellish energies from within the house.
Her new role is further proof that Ryan is ready to transition to the next stages of her career and show the world she is a force to be reckoned with, and not just a pretty face. As she uncovers her multiple talents and multiple layers, she is gifting us with her vulnerability and transparency so that we can embark on the journey with her. You can't really appreciate where someone is going unless you understand where they have been, and for Ryan, this rise to stardom has been 10 years in the making.
Just in case you've seen Ryan Destiny on the scene, and still want to know about her, here are 5 fast facts about the star and her continuous rise.
1. When it comes to her iconic role as Alexandra Crane on Fox’s ‘Star’, her mood is "Thank you, next!"
Most Ryan Destiny fans know the starlet for her time as Alexandra Crane in the Lee Daniels Fox show Star. The show was abruptly canceled in 2019 after three seasons. In an interview with ESSENCE, the then-25-year-old stated:
"After a show you're starring in gets canceled, you definitely get a little shook. But you've got to trust God's process. The opportunity to have opportunities is a huge blessing."
Despite seeing the good in "goodbye", Ryan is also quite vocal about learning her worth all while navigating through troubled waters during her experience on the hit show. In an interview with Teen Vogue, she also shared:
"I think that that show taught me that I can [do] and I'm worth a lot more than I thought. And it's OK to say that. Just because other people may not see it doesn't mean it's not true. I knew my power way more, and I was past the point where I was letting people, no matter what they've done in the industry control me. I think it's easy to let people control you and step over you, and I was just really over that by the time the show ended."
2. Ryan plays Jillian on ‘Grown-ish’.
Her relatable role as a transfer student from an HBCU who has the looks of a model, the intellect to confidently speak about politics, and Zoey's ex-man (played by Luka Sabbat) as her current bae has been a pleasant addition to the hit show's latest season. Although the show is currently on hiatus due to the pandemic, Ryan's character Jillian has been recurring since the start of season 3, so make sure to catch up!
3. Ryan Destiny doesn’t play about her music.
In addition to acting, Ryan has a love affair with music and was actually how she got her first taste of the industry. Although she wouldn't start acting for real-for real until 2013, she alongside two group-members who formed the collective trio New Limit, auditioned for America's Got Talent. They were so good, they made it all the way to the finals but ultimately decided it wasn't the move. She eventually caught the eye of Universal Republic before the trio split, leading her momager and her to hold auditions to form the group Love Dollhouse. They'd sign with All Def/Capitol Records and go on to release the single "Can I" before splitting in 2015.
Ryan has been about that solo life ever since. Though her sound is distinctly R&B, she is not afraid to experiment with her sound and is pushing past obstacles that come with the consumer's difficulty to separate the artist from their previously affiliated projects. Her single "The Same" is an instant vibe and its accompanying visual definitely show Ryan's Aaliyah influences.
4. She’s a highly sought-after love interest...on-screen, of course.
Sis can emote, sis has range, and sis looks goodt, TF? Of course, she'd lend her visual to music videos from time to time, right? Recently, Ryan starred in Justin Bieber's the Colin Tilley-directed "Holy" as well as in Big Sean's music video for his single "Single Again" alongside real-life beau Keith Powers. Us fans love to see it!
5. Speaking of love, Ryan and her boyfriend Keith Powers are black love goals.
The two high-key low-key lovers are public at times and private when it counts, and it's a formula that seemingly works for the couple of three years. Although, the start of their love story wasn't love at first sight, Ryan expressed in a cover story with We the Urban that she had always been sweet on Keith since they first met, she just knew how to play it cool.
"I had shamefully liked Keith since we met though. We were just friends for a minute. So when we let things naturally happen, if you let it, love falls in naturally too."
In the same interview, Keith echoed similar sentiments, adding that it didn't take him long to know Ryan was the one for him:
"Loving someone is a very natural feeling that just happens. You can't just wake up and SAY I love this person, you FEEL it. You realize like wow, this person is a piece of me and regardless you don't ever want that person out of your life."
Goals people, goals.
Are you a member of our insiders squad? Join us in the xoTribe Members Community today!
Featured image by Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
New Jersey native creating a life that she loves while living in gratitude. She loves using beauty, and fashion to create a balanced lifestyle while prioritizing wellness. A devoted fur mom, and a full-time lover of laughter. She is out for revenge against the darkness by being light, taking her own advice, traveling the world, and letting you know that you are so lit! Connect with her via IG @iamzaniah and please visit Zaniahsworld.com
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.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Another season of Love Is Blind has come to a close, and almost two months later we’re still unpacking the drama that is Clay and AD. The finale, reunion, and post-interviews with Clay and AD after season six of Love Is Blind left millions of people wondering - why couldn’t AD see the signs? Clay told her he had a fear of marriage, his parents experienced infidelity, and he seemed to have many doubts about saying, "I do."
After changing his mind at the altar and hearing AD question why she feels like she’s never enough, I was finished watching. I didn’t need to hear anything else because, at that moment, I realized this wasn’t about Clay; this was about AD feeling inadequate before she ever met Clay.
If I’m honest, I don’t watch much dating television. TikTok keeps me updated with the clips that I need to see in order to be kept in the loop, but it’s difficult for me to watch an entire season of dating TV because seeing Black women settle for less and questioning their beauty is a trigger for me. In many ways, there were points in my life where I was AD, settling and ignoring red flags because I wanted to be loved.
Now, on the other side, it doesn’t feel good to see Black women lower their standards on national television. There have been many hot takes on this couple and who was in the wrong. Did Clay play in AD’s face or did she not listen to the truth of what he told her from day one? Was his reason for joining the show to promote his business and not to find the one?
We’ll never know the truth, but what we can do is learn tactics to better our self-worth. Founder and CEO of The Self Love Organization Denise Francis shared her expertise with xoNecole on what tangible steps to take to improve feelings of worthiness. “Self-love blooms in a garden where self-worth is planted, nourished, and whole. However, when your self-worth is challenged, displaced, or broken, it could be difficult to rebuild," Denise explains.
How To Rebuild Self-Worth
During her self-love coaching sessions, Denise likes to walk her clients through the cornerstones of rebuilding self-worth: grace and self-compassion. To her, self-worth is never lost, it's only displaced, so practicing self-compassion and giving yourself grace is a must. "We tend to place our self-worth in entities and people of ourselves such as relationship status, physical appearance, material possessions, social media followings, what others think of us, and more. Self-worth is not something to be measured by anyone or anything outside of ourselves because we all innately hold value and worth.
"Self-worth is not something to be measured by anyone or anything outside of ourselves because we all innately hold value and worth."
"When we place our value into people or things, we tend to feel that we are not enough, worth it, special, or important when relationship status, job titles, friendships, and physical appearances are lost or changed. We then tend to feel lost within ourselves because we’ve placed our value outside of ourselves. Using grace and compassion, you can rebuild your self-worth by returning home to who you are at your core," she concludes.
How To Return Home To Yourself
Denise advises taking a step back and using self-reflection through journaling by answering the following journaling prompts:
First, ask yourself, "What do you tend to attach your self-worth to and why?"
Is it your relationships, your job title, your finances, your appearance, etc.? Why do you think you place so much emphasis on external status? How does it make you feel when you are defining yourself through these entities and/or people outside of yourself?
Then, ask yourself, "Without these things, who am I?"
Once you have your answers, show yourself kindness, remove the shame, and, as Denise says, "Redefine yourself by detaching your value from the things and people you have no control over and no longer serve you. Challenge yourself to define yourself outside of titles and societal values."
"By returning home to your core, you find value in who you are as a person. You begin to find value in the way you love instead of your relationship status, your compassion instead of your popularity, your drive instead of your income/job title, and your heart instead of your physical appearance," she adds.
"By returning home to your core, you find value in who you are as a person."
"Be intentional with healing your self-worth by leaning into the people and things that nourish your core values. Surround yourself with the people who love and cherish you, they will always remind you just how valuable you truly are."
It all goes back to self-compassion and grace. As Denise explains, leading with those two things as you heal and rebuild your self-worth allows you to reduce negative self-talk that might come up for you. "This weakens thoughts like, 'I am not enough... why am I never enough?'" she shares, "And 'I don't deserve this while strengthening thoughts like 'I deserve better,' 'I am enough,' and 'I am worth it.'"
Denise continues, "Once you return home and remember the irreplaceable person you are, you can rebuild your self-worth by placing it back where it belongs. It belongs to you."
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by LaylaBird/Getty Images
