8 Times Tracee Ellis Ross Did Some Fly Sh*t
There are countless reasons to adore Tracee Ellis Ross — starting with her style and wit, all the way down to how she advocates for us. Her spirited personality and her authenticity make her magnetic. So here are (some of) the top reasons we’re lifelong stans. Here goes:
1. Tracee Ellis Ross x Pyer Moss Campaign
There’s no doubt that Tracee has secured a spot as one of our fashion icons, but it’s her quirky, lighthearted approach to fashion that we’ve grown to love so much. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, as shown in the 3rd installment of Pyer Moss’s short film. Oh, and this woman knows how to wear a suit.
2. Her Stance on Marriage
We admire a woman who lives on her own terms and Tracee is doing precisely that. She redefines what means to be a 48-year-old woman in Hollywood, and she's making it look damn good. While Tracee is open to marriage, she makes it clear that having a partner doesn’t validate her, nor does the absence of one hold her back from achieving her dreams. Her energy and lust for life is just magnetic, challenging the narrative that life slows down in your 40’s — especially since this decade has been the most successful for our lovely muse. “The thing that’s crazy is I feel like at 40 — from 44 to 46 — it’s been magical and all these seeds that I planted for so many years growing up are, like, all coming above ground at the same time in this really wonderful age. It’s exciting!” We love that for you, Sis.
3. Tracee Hosts Black Girls Rock
A vocal fan of pop culture and undeniably a “Black Woman who Rocks,” Tracee was an obvious choice to host the 2018 Black Girls Rock awards show — but I think we were all pleasantly surprised to see her imitating some of our favorite pop stars on the awards show. Not only is she a most entertaining emcee, but the woman has MOVES! Clearly those pilates classes are helping with her hip mobility.
4. JOAN. CLAYTON.
Before she was the beloved Rainbow Johnson on Blackish, she was the lovable, slightly neurotic, and perpetually single Joan Clayton on the cult favorite Girlfriends. Joan and crew were dubbed the urban SATC in the early 2000’s due to the similarities to Carrie and crew, but Girlfriends wasn’t just the Black version of a show that already existed — the inimitable Mara Brock Akil made sure that it explored topics that were relevant to the Black modern woman, such as colorism, the AIDS virus and climbing the corporate ladder. It dissected interpersonal relationships and celebrated Black female friendship in a way that we hadn’t seen before.
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5. The Art of The Shower
When Tracee Ellis Ross debuted her new haircare brand, Pattern Beauty, we weren't necessarily surprised; as that head of hair has been inspo for many natural haired women over the last few years. But we were especially grateful for Tracee allowing us into the shower with her — to share her co-washing regimen, of course! We love it when one of our favs gets intimate with us.
6. Tracee’s Big Screen Debut
Did you know Tracee could sing?? Neither did we! I guess being the daughter of the legendary Diana Ross comes with some pretty big stilettos to fill, so it makes sense that she’s kept it from us for so long. We’re glad that Tracee tackled her greatest fear of singing on screen and fulfill her childhood dream, showing us that she’s also a triple threat in this feel-good film. Is there anything that this woman cannot do?!
7. “A Woman’s Fury Holds Lifetimes of Wisdom”
In Tracee’s poignant Ted Talk, she discusses assault and sexual harassment as a global issue. She reminds us that any violation; even the less egregious ones, are still cause for our rage and it speaks to a greater truth: that men have been helping themselves to women’s bodies for centuries. We have every right to not only be furious, but to be vocal about it. Ross encourages women to hold space for their anger and refrain from repressing it. She also calls on men to be allies, to be self-reflective and accountable.
8. T-Murda, Tracee's Alter Ego
T-Murda is one of Tracee’s alter egos and we can’t get enough of her quippy freestyles. In her T-Murda skits we’re reminded once again of her sense of humor and how much of an influence pop culture plays on Tracee. The woman has many talents, a plethora of accomplishments, awards on awards, BUT one of things that make Tracee as dynamic as she is, well, it’s her ability to laugh at herself. It’s her exuberance and her joie de vivre. Maybe T-Murda will make an appearance on the next episode of Black-ish but until then, you can enjoy her rap persona on her (very entertaining, by the way) IG page.
