Yara Shahidi attended her graduation ceremony at Harvard University this week after completing a four-year undergraduate program in the Social Studies & African American department. The event is always a dressy affair, and the actress opted for a custom Dior skirt suit to receive her degree.
Underneath the traditional black robe and cap she chose to wear an ensemble that fully represented her, according to an interview with Vogue. “Instead of leaning into what I thought other people would wear because of tradition or legacy, I wanted to honor what I like, and what I feel represents who I am,” Shahidi told the publication. “The idea is inspired by a classic Dior silhouette, and a classic Yara silhouette.”
The look was the brain child of celebrity stylist Jason Bolden — also known to dress Vanessa Hudgens and Michal B Jordan — and paid homage to the Harvard school colors with crimson red suiting. The look was paired with a crisp white button-up shirt and black strappy peep-toe heels.
According to the report, Shahidi graduated after submitting a 136-page thesis titled “I Am a Man: The Emancipation of Humanness from Western Hegemony Through the Lens of Sylvia Wynter.” She embarked on the ambition degree to concentrate on “Black political thought under a neocolonial landscape.”
The 22-year-old completed her degree — which began in 2017 — while balancing her full-time acting career as she starred in Grown-ish and Black-ish. The People’s Choice Award-nominated actress was also named as a Dior ambassador in 2020.
Shahidi is not the only celebrity to graduate from college this year. Taylor Swift graduated from New York University last week and received an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa). The singer was also tasked with delivering the commencement speech where shared a little bit of life advice.
“Decide what is yours to hold and let the rest go. Oftentimes the good things in your life are lighter anyway, so there’s more room for them. One toxic relationship can outweigh so many wonderful, simple joys. You get to pick what your life has time and room for. Be discerning.”
Watch the full speech, here.
