Words by Federica Volpe in Los Angeles, Photography by Yu Tsai, Styling by Oretta Corbelli
Yara Shahidi turned 24 on February 10. She is a model and leading actress on series such as Black-ish and the spin-off Grown-ish, as well as a producer, style icon and tireless activist for many social causes. These remarkable achievements led Maria Giulia Prezioso Maramotti to present Shahidi with the Face of the Future Award at the fiftieth Women in Film Gala, held in Los Angeles. The young woman’s commitment to social justice has been evident from the time she decided to enroll at Harvard University in 2018 (she graduated in 2022). She makes herself heard both in her work and in her choice of causes to fight for.
“I think many artists – especially those of us who experience the condition of being women, people of color, immigrants, people who are gender non-conforming – we know that whatever form our art takes, our participation in this field depends partly on our acceptance of the responsibility to show our true selves. I’ve always worked, and I think my entire career is the result of love, but also being loved.,” she tells us.
She started acting at a very young age, then decided to start studying again. “I studied and worked at the same time, and as hard as it was, I was glad to do it and everyone on set was accepting. It’s challenging to study and work. And young people often get discouraged by this exhausting crossroads,” she says. “There’s such pressure that it seems impossible to pursue both goals at the same time. I’m grateful to those who helped me figure out how to make both choices work. I want to tell everyone that no dream is too big.”
While discussing your background, at a certain point you said something that caught my attention: “I was having a hard time understanding where exactly my work was taking me.” What did you mean by that?
“I needed school to add something new to my life. Working on the same show for so long creates an all-consuming routine, so that sometimes I stopped thinking about my mission as an artist, about what gets me excited. It felt like I was taking this experience for granted and not being very curious about the future. College helped me discover a potential that I could use in shows that address social issues. I think school made me appreciate my career even more.”
On social issues, you have always made your voice heard. Have you ever been afraid of putting yourself out there?
“If I think of a woman like the actress Jane Fonda, who risked her career to fight for major causes, I think I have had the benefit of generations of women who came before me and for whom the stakes were high. By the time I came along, there was more of a culture of taking risks. Today, the risks aren’t the same, but people continue to push against boundaries, to take their art and ideas forward, and this creates a sense of community. My first tattoo was the number 63 for the March on Washington in 1963. It always reminds me of the people who risked their lives for a world that I benefit from today.”
“I think school made me appreciate my career even more.”
You are thew new Max Mara Face of the Future. What does that mean to you?
“It’s very moving. I love the brand and what it represents. I entered the entertainment industry at a time when it was anything but perfect, but I still was lucky enough to work on sets where I saw women directors, screenwriters and executives. That would not have been possible without an association such as Women in Film that fights for an equitable entertainment industry and helped my dream of becoming an artist come true.”
People have called you an activist, but it’s a word you don’t necessarily apply to yourself. Why not?
“I prefer ‘advocate.’ I like it, I think it perfectly captures what I do. My goal is to be in sync with the movements happening in our communities and to amplify those voices. I am not an organizer, I don’t create situations or protests, but I truly hope to keep having an impact, to make myself useful to important causes.”
Translated from the Italian by Cynthia Martens
Photographer: Yu Tsai, Stylist: Oretta Corbelli
Make Up: Kelta Moore, Hair: Sherriann Cole
All Clothing and Accessories Throughout: Max Mara, us.maxmara.com
All Jewelry Throughout: Cartier, cartier.com
