We love Uzo Aduba!
Identified for her dynamic and emotionally resonant performances, she first gained widespread approval for her position as Suzanne “Loopy Eyes” Warren within the Netflix sequence Orange Is the New Black. Her portrayal earned her a number of Emmy Awards, showcasing her skill to navigate complicated characters with depth and vulnerability.
Past her notable appearing profession, Aduba has grow to be a vocal advocate for variety and authenticity within the magnificence business. She emphasizes the significance of illustration and the celebration of individuality. Her views on magnificence problem standard requirements, selling a extra inclusive imaginative and prescient the place magnificence encompasses a spectrum of experiences and identities.
Uzo Aduba’s profession and advocacy work seamlessly collectively. She blends her creative abilities together with her dedication to social points, making her a outstanding and galvanizing determine in each leisure and the broader cultural discussions round magnificence and id.
This yr Aduba has grow to be an envoy with Colgate’s “My Smile is My Superpower” marketing campaign, encouraging Gen-Z to look inward and love what they see within the mirror. There is no such factor as a “excellent smile” as we all the time see room for enchancment inside ourselves, so it is best to embrace each flaw you have been born with and love them.
EBONY caught up with Uzo whereas on the set of Shonda Rhimes’ new present, The Residence. There, the actress shared when she found her smile was her superpower, what values about magnificence she’s instilling in her daughter and what being completely imperfect means to her.
EBONY: How did you are feeling when Colgate approached you about being an envoy for the “My Smile is My Superpower” marketing campaign? What message do you need to ship to Gen Z?
Uzo Aduba: Oh my gosh, it felt wonderful. It felt so thrilling to be part of this. My smile is good to arrange, marketing campaign, and be part of uplifting, thrilling, and inspiring younger generations to understand that their excellent smile is the one they’ve proper now. Sure, you realize, that they need not do something to alter themselves, however the spirit of the marketing campaign to actually embrace who they’re fully. And so I really like that. And as somebody who, you realize, I’ve a spot, clearly, and I’ve a daughter lately, I would like that to be, you realize, a sentiment that’s inspired. However I am very excited.
When did you uncover your smile was your superpower?
I found that my smile was my superpower throughout my senior yr of highschool once I was getting my senior portrait taken for that particular yearbook. Apparently, I wasn’t smiling within the image used within the yearbook. Throughout the shoot, I keep in mind the photographer requested me why I stored my mouth closed, and I instructed him that I did not like my smile. He responded, saying he thought I had a good looking smile. That did not change my perspective instantly, however from that faculty yr on, I all the time began smiling. Now, I like to smile and showcase my smile. After so a few years of not smiling, I really feel like I am making up for misplaced time.
What message do you need to ship to Gen-Z?
I hope it can ship them the message that they’re sufficient simply as they’re, that they may have a good time the issues that make them distinctive and exquisite people, and that these components of themselves ought to be uplifted and never toned down. They need to be celebrated totally.
What values about magnificence will you instill in your daughter?
I might encourage her to have a good time all of herself, going again to the hole once more. In my tradition and heritage, from Nigeria, having a spot is taken into account an indication of magnificence and intelligence all through Africa. So I might say to her to not negate who she is of course. Perhaps in some locations proper now, individuals are telling her to shut her hole or change one thing about herself, however as a substitute to have a good time who she is. That particular, distinctive characteristic and her attribute features will make her stand out and really feel probably the most lovely on this world. Individuality, together with who she is on the within, is what makes her lovely.
What are three issues that make you smile?
My household, my associates, my future.
What does being completely imperfect imply to you?
Being completely imperfect to me means the expression of accepting the issues I can not change and figuring out the distinction. That expression, nonetheless, it goes, I might say, is about recognizing items of myself which can be completely different and lifting them up as a substitute of, like I stated earlier than, stamping them down. I believe the factor about being completely imperfect is including pleasure and celebrating all of myself, not simply components of myself.
