Tracee Ellis Ross On Turning 47 & Finding The Courage To Go Makeup-Free
We've all been taught that beauty is only skin deep, but according to the latest YouTube tutorial I watched, beauty also requires hundreds of dollars worth of brushes, palettes, and other miscellaneous makeup products that simply do not fit into my weekly budget. For women, like me, who have grown tired of beating our faces (and our bank accounts) into submission but still seek to keep our glow-on-go, never fear, because the Girlfriend in our head just slid through with a must-have beauty tip you didn't know you needed. According to Tracee Ellis Ross, the key to putting on your best face for the day is not putting anything on your face at all. At this year's PaleyFest, the actress explained:
"There are so many other things to focus my time and attention on. And I think we all do the best with what we've been given."
Although the Black-ish actress is the queen of style, hair, and beauty hacks alike, at 46, she's grown to appreciate the beauty of being totally barefaced. To Tracee, not only is going make-up free more convenient, but it's one helluva self-confidence booster. She continued:
"I would call it confidence. I think what it is is that I am comfortable with myself. And the truth is that I prefer my face the way it actually looks, then some weird sort of brushed version of it."
"I mean, don't get me wrong, I love makeup and I love playing things and all of that. But I'm really conscious of not getting trapped in not liking what I actually got, you know?"
A little over one week from now, this sexy Scorpio will celebrate her 47th birthday and couldn't be more proud of the woman she's become. While Tracee says that it took more than four decades of primping, prodding, and once even ironing her hair to become something that she wasn't, she's finally grown to embrace and fall in love with the woman that she is. She told the co-anchor of Good Morning Philadelphia:
"I love a birthday. I feel good in my skin. I'm 46, I'm going to be 47 on Oct. 29 … It took me a long time to figure out who I was. Once I figured it out, I knew who I was but I didn't have the courage to be that person. Now I'm like, this is me. Take it or leave it. I may not be your cup of tea. But this is me."
Life won't always turn out the way you planned it, but that's good news for you, sis, because that means it can turn out to be more than you ever imagined.
Tracee said that although years ago, she would have pictured her life looking much differently, possibly with a husband and children, she's become the woman of her dreams by living outside of her comfort zone and she doesn't plan on changing that mentality anytime soon:
"So much of the good stuff of life comes out of the comfort zone. But I personally have learned, from experience, there is no point in pushing myself so far outside of the comfort zone so that it creates another wound."
Featured image by Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
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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