Tracee Ellis Ross Says Her Career Blossomed After She Turned 40
Women and wine have two very important things in common. The older we age, the more refined, distinguished, and potent we become. While each birthday may feel like another step toward the nursing home to some, Tracee Ellis Ross says that at nearly 50 years old, she's in her prime.
The Black-ish actress has sashayed through decades of entertainment history without aging a bit, and according to Tracee, the secret to her fountain of youth is joy. While many women are contemplating retirement and cashing out their 401k, Tracee says that she's unapologetically living her best life at full-speed and defying the limits of father time at every turn.
Not only are we confronted by the ticking of our biological clocks, we're also met with the expectations of our loved ones of where we should be in our careers, relationships, and financial situations. Do yourself a favor and listen to Tracee Eliss Ross when she says that age ain't nothing but a number. F*ck Father Time.
In an intimate conversation with Sarah Paulson for Variety, Tracee Ellis Ross got real about life at 46 and had a word about the beauty that comes with maturity.
"I do feel like so many doors are open to me now. And it started for me in my 40s."
She explained that as an up-and-coming director at the height of her career, she is still sometimes confronted with the inevitable signs of getting older. She continued:
"For me, it's the physical confrontation of my face changing. Society makes me think it's supposed to look young, pretty and wrinkle-free. This is my history right here. This is my story."
While society may preach the false ideology that beauty is monolithic, Tracee grew up with the support of a mother who proved the opposite. The Motown princess shared that her mother, Diana Ross, is living proof that you can still be sexy at 72. She told Sarah:
"I'm really grateful I have a mom [Diana Ross] who's 75 and her face looks like a woman who swallowed the sun. She's gorgeous, sexy and full of agency. So that's what I long to walk toward."
You may have been a hot lil' something at 19, but you're going to be iconic at 37. Tracee reminds us that truth about age is, you're the only person that can really define what it means. Last year, in an interview with InStyle Tracee shared that she felt sexier in her skin at 45 than she had been her entire life:
"The gift of age is that you actually get to have the boldness and the courage to be that woman. Some of the things I've discovered is that I actually like myself! And I like getting older. At 45, I feel the sexiest and the most beautiful I've ever felt. I didn't say I look my most beautiful, I said I feel my most beautiful, and that's what's important to me."
Take it from Tracee, sis'. You'll be sexier at 72 than you were at 17, so embrace your maturity and the fruits of your labor like the tall glass of wine that you are.
Read Tracee's full interview with Sarah here.
Featured image by John Shearer/Getty Images
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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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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage