marsai martin
What exactly did Blue Ivy say back when people were speculating about the way she was rocking her natural hair? Nothing because she could not talk, she was a baby. And while it is disturbing that so many people had and continue to have something to say about how little black girls wear their hair the way it naturally grows, it is the harsh reality that they face. These little girls turn into young women who deal with that obstacle during different walks of life, from relationships to the workforce.
The thing about Blue is the first sentence I ever heard her speak was, "Never seen a ceiling in my whole life." And right then and there, I knew Ms. Carter was gonna be a force to be reckoned with. She is being taught that she holds the power to change harsh realities.
https://t.co/MSZxGSkZJnpic.twitter.com/wQ8gWl30Oy
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) November 9, 2020
One of her newest endeavors is taking up the opportunity to narrate the audiobook Hair Love by Oscar-winning director Matthew A. Cherry. Hair Love originally debuted as a short film that told the story of a father learning to do his daughter's hair in its natural state, and acted as an ode to black fathers and daughters and the love of natural hair. After its success, Cherry adapted it into a physical children's book, then enlisted the help of Vashti Harrison with illustrations.
Whether Blue realized it or not, she helped her own mother to embrace natural hair again, giving birth to the 'edges kinky' version of Beyonce that we've come to know and love.
Beyonce/Instagram
At only eight years old, the carefree, intelligent, socially conscious young lady already has many accomplishments under her belt, including being the youngest recipient of a BET Award and throwing Black women the bag. What is so endearing to see is that her mogul parents are teaching her how to use her voice at an early age to impact others without necessarily telling her what to say. Though she lives a very luxurious life, the most valuable thing that her parents are giving her is absolutely free, yet one of the hardest things for parents to do: the freedom to be herself.
Blue, you're doing amazing sweetie!
For more celeb kids who are proving to be moguls in the making by making names for themselves in their own right, keep scrolling.
Willow And Jaden Smith Walk To The Beats Of Their Own Drums
Tinseltown / Shutterstock.comIn addition to being kids of black Hollywood power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow and Jaden have paved impressive careers for themselves by marching to the beat of their own drum. While Willow was primed to become a popstar phenom as a child with the success of her hit "Whip My Hair", she took a step back and decided to make music that moves her. Now the solo artist divides her time between making music, co-hosting the Emmy-nominated talk show Red Table Talk, and modeling when the cameras turn on.
Her older brother Jaden had a similar path. After his breakout role starring as his father's son in Pursuit of Happyness, Jaden briefly delved into acting before deciding to focus on music. Jaden struck gold with his 2017 debut album Syre, which spun hits like "Icon". In addition to his music, Jaden also gives back through his company, Just Water, which has a mission to create a cheap water filtration system that will allow for accessibility in poorer nations and areas of the world.
Ming Lee And Aoki Lee Simmons Make Navigating Through Life Look Damn Good
Ming Lee SimmonsOvidiu Hrubaru / Shutterstock.comMing Lee and Aoki Lee Simmons have long since grown from the two tots that used to walk the runways with their mom, mogul Kimora Lee Simmons, during fashion shows. These days, the sisters still move as a unit, working as integral parts of the relaunch of the Baby Phat brand, including their work with Baby Phat Beauty.
Aside from that, Ming Lee is taking Baby Phat from the 99' to the 2020s with her natural modeling abilities in front of the camera. While Aoki Lee juggles working behind the scenes with taking her baby phat to Harvard's Class of 2023.
The Combs Kids Shut Down The Industry In Their Own Way
With a father like P. Diddy, there's no doubt all the Combs kids could do is win. The young men of the next generation have all followed their millionaire father's footsteps by putting the work in through music. While his eldest son Justin lived his best football dreams, his sons Quincy and Christian have both made waves in the music industry. Quincy has also added some acting roles underneath his belt, including a starring role in the hit show Star.
Twins Jessie and D'Lila are using their natural modeling skills gifted from the late and beautiful Kim Porter to collaborate with brands like Missguided along with their sister Chance. All of the Combs kids have stock in taking their fashion influence to the next level. How could they not? Look at their pops.
Marsai Martin Makes Show Business Work For Her
Perhaps one of the most impressive young moguls in the making, the ever-talented Marsai Martin is in a league all her own. Her road to success involves paving a legacy in Hollywood on her own. As the youngest Black executive producer in history with her hit film Little, the Black-ish star continues to act, model, host, all while pushing the black hair movement.
Featured image by Beyonce/Instagram @beyonce
Have you ever sat down and really reflected on love, the definition of it, the action behind it, and the feeling you get when you're immersed in it? Love is powerful. It can make you do things you never imagined. But, what happens when love hurts you to your core? Do you build up a hard exterior as a way to ward men or women off, or shake it off and try again?
Unfortunately, most of us have a difficult time with the thought of starting over again, so we build a wall so hard, the mere idea of romance seems insane.
This scenario is a reality for Jordan Sanders, Regina Hall's character in the new film Little.
Like so many men and women, Jordan can't and won't entertain love because she is so guarded. The closest thing to love Jordan has experienced is regular sex from a man she could care less about. It isn't until Jordan is transformed into her 13-year-old self that she realizes her boy toy is more than a disposable penis. He cares for her so deeply, he's willing to knock down her walls and love her the way she deserves to be loved. It takes Jordan being transformed into a tween to realize what she was missing as an adult.
Can you imagine if we all had the opportunity to transform into the younger versions of ourselves and learn something about the love we so desperately needed or missed?
Celebs On Advice They'd Give Their Younger Self Regarding Love
During the Atlanta premiere of Little, we asked attendees if they could go back and give their younger selves advice on love, knowing what they know now, what would they say?
Regina Hall
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationParas Griffin/Getty Images for Universal
"Do not cry over one, there are a million of fish in the sea. Sometimes we have to realize our own worth at a younger age, so we realize we're a blessing. Someone who doesn't appreciate that is not worthy."
Jade Novah
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationParas Griffin/Getty Images for Universal
"Being territorial is not synonymous with love. I think ownership has become synonymous with love, and if I knew that wasn't the case at an early age I wouldn't have taken things so seriously. Love is not ownership. Love is not being territorial."
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationParas Griffin/Getty Images for Universal
"Don't take them so seriously! I met my husband when I was 21, and I'm thankful. We joke and I thank him all the time for saving me from having to be out here in the streets looking for a mate. I would say it's not personal. Sometimes it's about the other person's insecurities, and not about you."
If you could go back and give your younger self advice on love, knowing what you know now, what would you say? Leave your answer in the comments below.
Be sure to catch Little in theaters everywhere April 12th.
Featured image by Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
Related: Marsai Martin Is Proof That We're Never Too Old Or Too Young To Pursue Our Wildest Dreams
Thursday night (April 4), hundreds of movie lovers gathered at Regal in Atlantic Station for the blue carpet premiere of Little. Filmed in Atlanta, the film follows the life of an overbearing tech mogul Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall). Scorned by her catastrophic childhood, Jordan has a larger than life attitude. So much so, she treats everyone including her assistant, April (Issa Rae), like trash. Jordan's life gets turned upside down when a spell turns her back into the person she tries so hard to forget -- her 13-year-old self. Now, younger Jordan (Marsai Martin) must depend on the very person she treated poorly to help her navigate life as a tween.
To walk the evening's blue carpet were Marsai Martin, Issa Rae, Regina Hall, Will Packer, Little director Tina Gordon, Star's Luke James, Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, V-103 host Jade Novah, and many more.
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationGetty Images
On the carpet, xoNecole caught up with Marsai to find out what it was like working with such beautiful, talented black women:
"It was amazing! I worked with Gina on 'Black-ish,' so we go way back. It was more of a family reunion with her and most of the people on the crew. But, with Issa, I was actually nervous. I was nervous because she's actually a creator herself. So, I was like do you like the script? But, when I started working with her the chemistry was there, and she's so chill and easy to work with."
Marsai and Issa's chemistry on-screen is simply undeniable! Together, they resemble the female version of Shawn and Marlon Wayans.
INSIDE THE ATLANTA PREMIERE OF LITTLEwww.youtube.com
Brighter than Issa's smile was the glacier sitting gracefully on her ring finger. From the success of her hit HBO show, Insecure, to landing a lead role in the upcoming film The Photograph, it's safe to say Issa is having what I like to a call a "Cardi B year".
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationGetty Images
Issa wasn't the only lady basking in her black girl magic. While most children are concerned about recess and cartoons, Marsai had her eyes on something bigger. She noticed the lack of black characters in the 1988 film Big and thought why not do a modern version, but with a majority black cast. She pitched her idea to producer Will Packer and the rest was history. Will loved the idea so much he enlisted the help of an all-black female crew to bring Marsai's vision to the big screen.
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationGetty Images
To reintegrate the importance of a black woman's perspective in Hollywood Will told xoNecole:
"First of all, it hasn't been told enough. We don't have enough black female storytellers telling their story. So, for me to be able to empower somebody like a Tina Gordon…when you think about black female directors, there are very few, and especially very few in the comedy space. So, I'm just proud to be able to left one up."
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationGetty Images
Uplifting and funny, Little touches on themes of self-empowerment, personal evolution, bullying, and the importance of encouraging those around you. Director Tina Gordon explained to xoNecole why the theme of being authentic really resonated with her:
"People say it as something simple, but a lot of things can get in the way of you being your authentic self. So, the idea of people saying you can't do this or no one has ever done that before—in the case of Marsai. Little negative things that people say along the way sometimes changes who we really are. So, the movie just asks you to take a moment and think about if you've adjusted anything in yourself because of something someone said negatively about you and get back to being authentic."
Do your inner child a favor and be sure to catch Little in theaters everywhere April 12.
Check out some of our favorite celebs that showed up and showed out at the ATL screening by clicking through the gallery below.
Marsai Martin
Featured image by Getty Images
