Tracee Ellis Ross Talks The Essence Of Black Beauty & Stepping Into Her Power
It's hard to believe that Queen and icon Tracee Ellis Ross didn't realize the expansiveness of her reach until much later in life, but that's absolutely the case. Interviewed by Kerry Washington and styled by Shiona Turini, Tracee Ellis Ross took to the digital cover of ELLE.com's inaugural "State of Black Beauty" issue to discuss founding a beauty brand, the power of black hair, and stepping into your own power.
An interview filled with black excellence, Ross starts the conversation by opening up about the intimate connection she and other black women have with her hair journey. The Emmy-nominated actress is celebrating a year with Pattern Beauty line, created out of a personal need for the products.
"All of the things that I was taught from the media were like, I was supposed to have easy, breezy beautiful hair. Bouncin' and behavin'. My hair didn't blow in the wind! All of these things didn't match up."
It wasn't until after her run as Joan on Girlfriends that Tracee took this seriously and wrote her first haircare brand pitch. Even though it failed, it taught her an important lesson about creating something with a purpose.
"If there's no frame to hold the facts, it's very difficult to hold the facts. There was no real frame for the beauty that existed. It took about ten years to create Pattern. The mission is two-fold, to create effective products for the curly, coily, and tight textured community. The second part of the mission is to be an active space to celebrate Blackness and the power of Black beauty."
She didn't just apply that logic to the beauty world, though. As a black woman in Hollywood, Tracee had to build the courage to advocate for herself and others like her. With the help of peers like Kerry Washington, Tracee made a career out of speaking up for women.
"...every courageous act that a marginalized person takes opens up a space for somebody else."
Tracee credits her sisterhood of black actresses for helping her build that strong foundation. And now, in a world where people question the quality of black lives, Tracee is up for the task.
"Black women and our hair have been at the center of social, cultural, political, and economic revolutions and movements through time."
No matter what she does, Tracee will continue to push the boundaries for marginalized communities.
No longer is she relying on the world to change, she's changing it herself.
To read the Elle.com interview in full, click here.
Featured image via Tracee Ellis Ross/Instagram
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Courtney is a contributing writer, based in Puerto Rico by way of Tennessee. Interested in the intersection of fashion and culture, she has an affinity for fashion, empowerment, and really good tacos. Keep up with her on Instagram (@hautecourtxo).
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
