Viola Davis On Beauty Standards Changing In Hollywood: 'We Are Beyond Male Desirability'
Actress Viola Davis is shedding light on beauty standards and how it has transformed throughout the years.
The 57-year-old has touched on this topic numerous times throughout her career, which spans over three decades. In the past, Davis revealed that she felt inadequate because of her physical appearance due to constantly being told she wasn't beautiful or enough.
Since then, the EGOT winner has overcome those insecurities and used her platform to share a positive message to those who need them. In a recent interview withPEOPLE magazine while attending the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, Davis shared that the shift is because many now know that beauty is "beyond male desirability."
Viola On Beauty Standards
During the discussion, the How To Get Away with Murder star also mentioned that another factor contributing to the transformation is that people associate beauty with mental health, which she claimed inspired her partnership with makeup brand L'Oreal.
"I think beauty standards have changed. I think that what's shifted is that whole idea of mental health being associated with beauty [and] of understanding who we are beyond male desirability. It's really a huge part of why I decided to become a part of L'Oreal, that whole statement of 'I'm worth it,'" she said.
Further in the interview, Davis recounted her past experiences of being told she wasn't beautiful and mentioned how it destroyed her because, growing up, she knew that beauty was tied to worthiness.
"What destroyed me was people constantly telling me that I was not beautiful. [You might think] why would you be upset with that? Because beauty is attached with worth and value. And I refuse to believe that I'm not worth it just based on a sort of idea and perception of what people think classical beauty is," she stated.
The Woman King star added that since the shift in beauty standards, women are now being "encouraged to speak their truth a little bit more" in certain situations such as one's goals, sexual assault, mental illness, etc. With that, Davis explained that people are now seeing the beauty within others and applauding them for it.
"Now women are encouraged to speak their truth a little bit more. We see that with sexual assault, with mental illness, with being burnt-out mamas, with following our dreams and our hopes that we have for our lives," she said.
"Back in the day, we hid our pain behind perfectly applied lipstick and wax floors. Now we don't do that anymore. We're saying this is who we are, beyond the makeup and the hair. I see that. I see that with my daughter's generation."
Viola On The Message She Shares With Her Daughter
As the conversation shifted to the advice Davis gives her teenage daughter Genesis Tennon --whom she with her husband, Julius Tennon-- when it comes to beauty, the star disclosed that she motivates Tennon to become the "love" of her own life.
Davis said she shared these sentiments because she wants Tennon to advocate for herself in various situations when others disappoint her and cross her boundaries.
"I told my daughter this morning that she has to have a love affair with herself. That she is indeed the love of her life. I said, 'I love you, but it's not me, it's not some boy. At the end of the day, you can't disappoint yourself. You have to advocate for yourself," she stated. "You have to show up for her.' And it's not just spa treatments and a glass of wine. It's in showing up when someone hurts you. Creating boundaries and when someone crosses it."
Davis wrapped up her remarks by saying she spread positive messages like this to Tennon and the world because she was not "taught" that loving oneself meant being one's supporter.
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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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Frustrated With Your Job Search? Here's What One Expert Says You Should Start Doing
Recent LinkedIn findings have confirmed a few telling things about Black job seekers that many of us can probably relate to. Things in the realm of work and career advancement efforts have been shifting for Black professionals, with a majority (90%) considering a job move this year for more money (30%) or a better work-life balance (23%).
In these times of economic uncertainty, Black and Latino professionals are the most likely to consider a job move in 2024, but more than half of Black and Latino professionals “believe that looking for a job is frustrating.”
Despite the challenges, 62% of Black professionals, specifically, are changing their job search strategy to keep up with the changes in the new world of work, and they’re also the “most inclined” to want to find a job that aligns with their values and meets their criteria, the report further indicates.
I caught up with Tyrona Heath (@tyronaheath), director at LinkedIn’s B2B Institute, about strategies to shift your job search approach, what red flags to look out for when it comes to scammy postings, and how LinkedIn’s tools can be helpful in networking and landing your dream gig.
Job Search Tip 1: Don't be shy about marketing yourself and creating a story around whatever it is you offer to the world.
Heath shares that, when approaching your job search, the key is to stand out and be remembered. Candidates have to tap into highlighting what they can uniquely bring to the career opportunity they're pursuing. "Your brand is out front speaking for you when you’re not in the room. An active online presence, especially on LinkedIn, is crucial, as it helps create a natural identity that pulls people in and fosters lasting relationships."
"Use LinkedIn to message connections, have informational interviews, set up alerts, and follow people and companies to stay in the loop," she added. "Just like marketers deliver brand messages, tailor your updates and content to showcase what you know and contribute to the ecosystem. Employers are looking for people with skills to solve problems and identify the next opportunities.
She also noted that 70% of Black professionals "emphasize skills over degrees when job hunting, highlighting the importance of practical abilities increasingly outweighing traditional qualifications."
"Embrace your skills, and don't be afraid to go for those opportunities that might seem a bit out of reach. I always urge people to be really strategic in their search, using filters to narrow down the best roles, but also to make sure candidates aren’t undervaluing their professional experience.
Job Search Tip 2: Take the next step and invest in premium or membership upgrades on job-seeking sites.
"If you are still stuck on what to say to your new connection, LinkedIn’s AI Networking Tool for its premium members helps them craft a personalized message when reaching out to your connection for the first time," Heath said. "After you’ve used some of these tools to make an initial connection, it’s important to continue to tend to your LinkedIn garden. It's not just about planting seeds; it's about nurturing and cultivating relationships over time. Effective networking involves refining your connections and focusing on those that truly matter. By consistently investing in your network, you allow it to flourish and yield fruitful results over time."
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Job Search Tip 3: Research prospective employers thoroughly to avoid getting scammed or wasting time applying for a fake job.
"Sadly, more and more job scams appear every day. They are feeding on the increasing innocence of job seekers as the job market continues to fluctuate," Heath said. "To help avoid being a victim to job ghosting, email phishing, and fake remote work opportunities, it is important to research the companies thoroughly and conduct thorough research. With the help of LinkedIn Pages, you can find out the credibility and information about the company, its values, and its commitments.
LinkedIn also has integrated verification directly into job posts, she added, which helps to ensure job seekers are able to get verified information about a company and job poster. "Most importantly, don’t ignore your gut feelings. If you’re getting asked for personal information like your social security number, bank information, or being asked to pay for things yourself, it’s probably a scam," she said. "Receiving an offer after just one interview is also a red flag. Legitimate companies have thorough processes, so if it feels too good to be true, it probably is."
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Job Search Tip 4: Still hitting walls? Keep networking with authentic motives, take the focus off the pressure of the process, and find ways to expand your support system.
"I have deep compassion for those who constantly do everything they can do in their power and come up short. You start to feel helpless, and you find yourself stuck in a rut. What you’re feeling is real. We are seeing a tightened job market compared to the past few years," Heath said. "Before, we saw two jobs for every applicant; now it’s the complete opposite. One of the best things to do is expand your circles, relationships, and communities. Not only does this make for a great support system, but it also allows for the potential for opportunities you may not have uncovered otherwise. Your next job could be brought to you by your connection’s connection’s connection."
You can use platforms like LinkedIn to see who's connected to whom and become industry friends of friends (so to speak) with the network of someone you're already connected to.
Job Search Tip 5: Lean into the right timing for responding to applications, and be flexible. Achieving a big goal can start with consistently achieving a few smaller ones.
"While it’s easy to get hung up on finding the 'perfect' dream job, it’s important to remember that most jobs are vehicles and not destinations," Heath said. "Instead of focusing on this, try to think about what skills you’ll gain from each opportunity and how you can apply those skills and experience to your next opportunity."
She also encourages candidates to be quick on the draw when it comes to responding to job openings. "Applying within the first 10 minutes of receiving a relevant job notification can increase your chances of hearing back by up to four times, so don’t underestimate the importance of being the first to apply."
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