{"id":89814,"date":"2024-04-17T16:14:28","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T16:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=89814"},"modified":"2024-04-17T16:14:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T16:14:28","slug":"you-may-say-im-a-dreamer-yara-shahidi-grazia-usa-spring-2024","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/you-may-say-im-a-dreamer-yara-shahidi-grazia-usa-spring-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"You May Say I’m a Dreamer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Yara
Model, actress and activist Yara Shahidi, who turned 24 on February 10. All clothing and accessories throughout are Max Mara, us.maxmara.com. All jewelry throughout are Cartier, cartier.com. Photography by Yu Tsai. Styling by Oretta Corbelli. Make Up by Kelta Moore. Hair by Sherriann Cole.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Words by Federica Volpe in Los Angeles, Photography by Yu Tsai, Styling by Oretta Corbelli<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Yara Shahidi turned 24 on February 10. She is a model and leading actress<\/a> 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think many artists \u2013 especially those of us who experience the condition of being women, people of color, immigrants, people who are gender non-conforming \u2013 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\u2019ve always worked, and I think my entire career is the result of love, but also being loved.,\u201d she tells us.<\/p>\n

\"Yara
Cotton canvas dress; sandals (all Max Mara). Panth\u00e8re de Cartier ring and bracelet (Cartier). Photography by Yu Tsai. Styling by Oretta Corbelli. Make Up by Kelta Moore. Hair by Sherriann Cole.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She started acting at a very young age, then decided to start studying again. \u201cI 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\u2019s challenging to study and work. And young people often get discouraged by this exhausting crossroads,\u201d she says. \u201cThere\u2019s such pressure that it seems impossible to pursue both goals at the same time. I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

While discussing your background, at a certain point you said something that caught my attention: \u201cI was having a hard time understanding where exactly my work was taking me.\u201d What did you mean by that?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Silk organza shirt and shorts, sandals (all Max Mara). Rose gold and diamond \u00c9crou de Cartier earrings and neckace (all Cartier). Photography by Yu Tsai. Styling by Oretta Corbelli. Make Up by Kelta Moore. Hair by Sherriann Cole.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On social issues, you have always made your voice heard. Have you ever been afraid of putting yourself out there?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf 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\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I think school made me appreciate my career even more.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You are thew new Max Mara Face of the Future. What does that mean to you?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dyed cotton dress with front pocket (Max Mara). Gold and diamond earrings and \u00c9crou bracelet (all Cartier). Photography by Yu Tsai. Styling by Oretta Corbelli. Make Up by Kelta Moore. Hair by Sherriann Cole.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

People have called you an activist, but it\u2019s a word you don\u2019t necessarily apply to yourself. Why not?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI prefer \u2018advocate.\u2019 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\u2019t create situations or protests, but I truly hope to keep having an impact, to make myself useful to important causes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Translated from the Italian by Cynthia Martens<\/em><\/p>\n

Photographer: Yu Tsai, <\/strong><\/em>Stylist: Oretta Corbelli<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Make Up: Kelta Moore, <\/strong><\/em>Hair: Sherriann Cole<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

All Clothing and Accessories Throughout: Max Mara, us.maxmara.com<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

All Jewelry Throughout: Cartier, cartier.com<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Read GRAZIA USA<\/em>\u2019s Spring Issue featuring cover star Kacey Musgraves<\/a>:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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