Actress Zoë Kravitz is opening up about the entertainment industry's beauty standards and its impact on her life.
Since Kravitz --the daughter of singer Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet-- made her acting debut nearly two decades ago in 2007's No Reservations, she has been a force to reckon with.
Over the years, the 34-year-old has selectively chosen roles that best showcase the range of her abilities and has remained authentic to herself by speaking up about issues she feels are essential such as Hollywood's pushback toward Black hairstyles.
Earlier this year, in an interview with Elle magazine, Kravitz shared details about the struggles she faced within the entertainment industry because she wanted to wear a protective style, mainly micro braids, and how Hollywood has changed its tune following the murder of George Floyd and the rise of Black Lives Matter movement.
Zoë On Wearing Braids In Hollywood
In the discussion, Kravitz disclosed that before Floyd died in 2020, she was often "fighting" about how she would wear her hair on the set of numerous projects, including photo shoots.
The High Fidelity star recalled when she went to various photo shoots with her braids, a stylist asked her to remove them so that her hair could be done differently. Kravitz added that her direct response to the request would always be "pretend this is the way it grows out of my head."
Kravitz shared that the reason behind her statement is because of how long it takes to get her hair done, and over time, she noticed that her white counterparts weren’t receiving the same treatment when they would change their looks by dying their hair.
"[Pre-George Floyd], I was constantly just fighting [about my hair] and being asked to change it. I would do a shoot, and this still happens to be honest, where they'll say, 'Can you take your braids out? Because we want to do something else.' And I always reply, 'Pretend this is the way it grows out of my head," she said.
"You don't ask people that have long blonde hair to change their hair every time they do a shoot.' It's interesting that I'm often asked to pop them braids out. Do you know how long this takes? And it's also the way I wear my hair."
When the topic shifted to how long it usually takes for Kravitz to get her micro braids installed, The Batman star claimed that it can take about "12 to 15 hours." During those moments when Kravitz is getting her hair done by two braiders at a time, she uses it as an excuse to relax by smoking weed and watching films.
Zoë On Hollywood Becoming More Conscious
Further in the interview, Kravitz explained how Hollywood and the entertainment industry have changed in recent years and the work that still needs to be done.
Kravitz revealed that Black people in the entertainment industry are now being offered roles that "go beyond stories about being Black." The Big Little Lies star added that Hollywood still needs to grow in some aspects by making room for more Black female directors, particularly when it comes to telling the story of other Black people.
"I think there's more of a consciousness around making sure that Black women, Black people, get to be a part of stories that go beyond stories about being Black, and then also finding ways to bring that truth into a story. For a long time, it was about being—if it was a Black woman, with a white man, it was about that, you know what I mean? It couldn't just be a love story between two people," she said.
“I think that's really exciting. And ways I would like [the industry] to continue to grow—I want more Black directors. I want more Black female directors. In terms of telling our story, I would be excited to work with more Black female directors. So let's make more room for that."
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Feature image by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.
Daphne and her fiancé Peter are madly in love. They've let us link this text to particle back to his childhood hometown, where Peter constantly tells the story of how they met. All is well...until
Peter realizes he's actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra. Now Daphne is stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan, and even though she has no friends or family, she does have her dream job together forever until time as a children’s librarian, so at least that's one point in her favor.
Welcome to a beautiful day forever.
Daphne and her fiancé Peter are madly in love. They've moved back to his childhood hometown, where Peter constantly tells the story of how they met. All is well...until
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Daphne and her fiancé Peter are madly in love. They've moved back to his childhood hometown, where Peter constantly tells the story of how they met. All is well...
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Daphne and her fiancé Peter are madly in love. They've moved back to his childhood hometown, where Peter constantly tells the story of how they met. All is well...
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The love compatibility between a Gemini woman and a Leo man is like fireworks going off. You are either in complete awe of the magic that is standing in front of you or asking yourself what all the commotion is. A Gemini and Leo relationship is the couple that stands out in a room, and they are a social bunch. They love to do things together to experience life to the fullest, and they are often grabbing the attention of others.
This is the type of couple to make new friends wherever they go and truly enjoy being in each other’s company. Life will never be dull in this relationship, and if they can get over ego clashes and the need to control, there will be more things keeping this relationship together rather than apart.
What attracts a Gemini woman and a Leo man to each other?
The Gemini woman is attracted to the Leo man's confident demeanor, and Leo is attracted to Gemini's charm. These two are the social butterflies in any setting, so they are often in the same places for a meeting to occur. They have a lot of similarities and interests, a similar sense of humor, and joy for life. The Gemini woman loves to be intrigued and will have no problem getting to know the Leo man. Leo loves to be noticed and well-received and will feel a sense of endearment when it comes to Gemini's keen eye and curiosity toward them.
The Leo man can grab the attention of just about anyone, but can anyone grab the attention of the Leo man? The Gemini woman can. The Gemini woman is not just stunning, but she is also a little unusual, with a high intellect and enough layers to make a Leo man want to know more. Some may warn Leo about the Gemini woman and how he is about to be on a big adventure by diving into this relationship, but Leo doesn't care and has never feared anything, anyway.
What is the relationship like between a Gemini woman and a Leo man?
This is a relationship that can make it long-term if they are both willing to commit and put the work in. Gemini and Leo have instant chemistry, flirtatious energy, and there is a natural spark here. They are the type to not shy away from PDA and are not afraid to express how they are feeling about the relationship. They are open, outgoing, and will love to have fun together and experience life together.
However, both of these signs are high-energy, and at times, energies can clash. Gemini is often in their mind, and Leo is often in their heart (or their pride). Leo will want a type of devotion that Gemini may not be willing to give. It’s hard to grab the attention of the Gemini woman for long because they are always finding new interests and putting their attention elsewhere. After a while, this can feel like the absolute worse for the Leo man, who needs to feel their light is received and appreciated. If Leo is willing to communicate how they are feeling and not expect Gemini to be a mind-reader, and if Gemini is willing to commit to the relationship, this can be a beautiful partnership.
What is the sex like between a Gemini woman and a Leo man?
The sexual chemistry between a Gemini woman and a Leo man is off the charts. These two are adventurous when it comes to this area of life, and they often incline toward doing the deed in more unusual or unique places other than the bed as well. They encourage spontaneity and adventure in each other and have a lot of fun in this relationship. This is not the type of couple to judge each other romantically, and there are no rules or restrictions in the bedroom for them. They both deeply desire passion and excitement and go about their life looking to feel something. Together, they create a safe atmosphere to be vulnerable, to be fun, and most importantly, to be free.
What makes a relationship between a Gemini woman and a Leo man work?
What makes a relationship work between a Gemini woman and a Leo man is their love for life. They both tend to have a more optimistic view of the world and coming together, they can share that vision and enjoy a fun life together. This isn't the type of couple to get bored with each other easily. They also value their independence enough to where they have the necessary breathing room they both need in a relationship to be happy.
Gemini is on a constant quest for inspiration, and Leo inspires Gemini. Personality-wise, this is a great fit in Astrology. Some zodiac signs coming together can bring out the worst in each other, but when it comes to Gemini and Leo, they tend to bring out the more exciting and happy sides of each other. Leo's loyalty makes Gemini feel safe enough to be herself, whereas some of her other partners may have made her feel like she was too weird or quirky for them. Gemini's sense of adventure and curiosity for the world keeps Leo's heart beating, and this is the type of passion Leo looks for in all their relationships.
What may cause a Gemini woman and a Leo man to break up?
Challenges may arise in this relationship when it comes to ego clashes, commitment, and respect. The Leo man needs his ego fed more than the Gemini woman feels comfortable giving, and the Leo man will often crave more devotion in the relationship. The Gemini woman may start to feel controlled by Leo's bold and dominant energy and like they are going against some of their personal values and interests, which is an absolute deal-breaker for Gemini. The Gemini woman doesn't have a problem committing, but she will not be forced into it. This is the type of couple to rebel against each other if things go south, and they can create more separation than connection if it goes too far.
The Leo man will have to let Gemini be herself while trusting that she will respect the relationship while doing so. Gemini is a mutable sign that will often want to switch things up and doesn't mind change. Leo, being a fixed sign, doesn't do as well when it comes to change, and his stubbornness may get in the way of growth in the relationship. The Gemini woman may shake things up in the relationship just for the fun of it, and the Leo man will find this energy distasteful after a while. This won't be a traditional relationship with traditional gender roles, and they must be willing to learn and grow with each other rather than challenge each other's need to make things work here.
Summary
All in all, this is the type of relationship that others look at in public and wish they had something like it. There is something exciting about this connection, and the fun they have together is contagious- you can literally see the spark between these two. Being that both of these signs have a child-like demeanor, this relationship heals their inner child and awakens a part of them they’ve felt like they had to hide in previous relationships.
Geminis, in general, are not always the easiest partner to have or to get to settle down, but if anyone is going to be able to do that, it’s going to be a Leo. If they meet at the right time in their lives and have mutual respect for each other and the relationship, this has all of the potential to work out for both of them.
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The Great Report
2020 Global Report Sheet