Source: Ramona Rosales / Ramona Rosales
Black women are winning, and Essence has the proof. For the Magazine’s December Issue, they speak to 3 dynamic women who go the extra mile to advocate for themselves, in an industry that doesn’t always prioritize their needs.
Source: Chrisean Rose / Chrisean Rose
Source: Itaysha Jordan / Itaysha Jordan
“It was important for me to say no to UNC, for my dignity, my self-respect,” she says in her cover story, “When ‘NO’ Opens Doors.” “And then, outside of me, I needed to do it for Black people and marginalized people, for their dignity and respect, too.”
Source: Ramona Rosales / Ramona Rosales
Lizzo’s self-confidence has earned her the role as America’s Black body positive advocate. Whether she intended on this position or not, she had to develop very thick skin to deal with a high-level of scrutiny. In her cover story “Simply Being,” Lizzo talks about how draining it is to constantly be the focus of the body positive movement.
“It’s exhausting,” Lizzo admits. “And that’s the point. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. We should be neutral about bodies.”
On another note, this issue is proof of the magic that can happen when Black celebrities choose Black publications to tell their story. Can we take a moment to gawk over these images? From hair, makeup and styling to the the compelling story that implores Black women to remember their worth, this issue proves that Black media is committed to uplifting their people.
Source: Chrisean Rose / Chrisean Rose
Source: Ramona Rosales / Ramona Rosales
Source: Itaysha Jordan / Itaysha Jordan
Read more at ESSENCE.com or pick up the November/December issue on newsstands during the holidays.
DON’T MISS…
ESSENCE Magazine Highlights Lizzo, Simone Biles, And Nikole Hannah-Jones For Their “Year Of Radical Self-Care” Issue was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
