I love Danai Gurrira for so many reasons, there’s no way I could focus on just one. After being honored at last night’s Black Girls Rock Awards on BET, I decided to delve into her accolades just so you guys can see why she’s our Beauty Crush!
With beautiful, rich chocolate skin and a full embracement of her natural hair, it’s evident how Danai is PHYSICALLY beautiful (I mean, look at her). However, we love to feature people who are also doing things for OTHERS; undeniably, Gurira is changing her environment one narrative and opportunity at a time.
Aside from being a representation of the various tones of melanin that can be portrayed in film and media (she’s known for her character on The Walking Dead and had an action doll made in her honor), Danai has also created active spaces for African-American actresses to thrive by being a playwright that focuses on producing roles for women of color.
Her recent project, Eclipse, also features Lupita Nyong’o and tackles the politics and social concepts of norms in the Black and African community. A powerhouse in her own right, Danai Gurira shows young women of all ages to never silence your voice but to explore and present the authentic representation of yourself, your culture and community!
In previous interviews, she’s summed up her mission statement with simply, “I want to see other people fly. Let’s find five amazing actresses and give them an opportunity to do their thing, which unfortunately doesn’t happen very often for women of African descent. A big part of my creative mandate is to create those opportunities.” Beautifully said.
These are but a few reasons why Danai Gurira is our Beauty Crush Wednesday! So tell us, is she yours?
