Très jolie!
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Paris Jackson Wore a Michelle Obama T-Shirt and Ripped Jeans on the Red Carpet
The Obamas have been out of office (and on and off vacation) for almost four months now, but that doesn't mean we're done reminiscing about the 44th First Family. That's what Paris Jackson reminded us, at least, when she showed up at the MTV Movie and TV Awards wearing some Michelle Obama merch.
The 20-year-old attended Sunday night's red carpet in a decidedly more dressed-down get-up than the Calvin Klein by Raf Simons LBD she wore to Monday's Met Gala. Instead, she kicked back in a typical weekend uniform of distressed denim, Chucks, and a T-shirt. The latter happened to feature an illustrated portrait of the former First Lady. "Michelle my belle," the text above it read.
The shirt was designed by California-based studio The Spiders From Arts. You may have spotted the brand's work before on stage: Both Bebe Rexha and Rachel Platten have worn its David Bowie mugshot-emblazoned top during performances at Coachella and in New York, respectively. And though the label hasn't properly launched yet, actress Liliana Nova, who's one of the partners behind The Spider from Arts, recently posted shots from a video shoot, promising that more details would be available soon.
We may have to wait to cop Jackson's exact MObama merch, but, luckily, we have plenty of other unlicensed, Obama-themed clothing in our wardrobe to tide us over.
The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants Stars Have Once Again Assembled
Nothing warms our hearts more than seeing the stars of our favorite movie or TV show reuniting simply because they really, truly like each other, and not just because some Hollywood exec crunched some numbers and decided a reboot would get huge ratings.
Once again, it's the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants crew who are indulging our nostalgia. The stars of the 2005 teen hit and its 2008 sequel — Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, and Alexis Bledel — have frequently reunited over the years, including at the Women's March in January. Last night saw the real-life pals assembling once again in support of Tamblyn's directorial debut, Paint It Black.
Bledel — who is currently killing it on The Handmaid's Tale — joined Lively and Tamblyn on the red carpet for the Paint It Black premiere in New York City. Impressively, Ferrera managed to rush back from the NBC upfronts — she stars on the sitcom Superstore — just in time to catch her pals at the premiere's after-party at the Dream Hotel Midtown. No word on the whereabouts of those damn pants.
The actresses spoke to People about their secret to continuing their friendship off-screen — and, potentially, on-screen, as rumors of a third film are rampant.
“It’s so funny because some of us having nothing in common,” Tamblyn, who documented the premiere on Refinery29's Instagram Stories, told the magazine. “Even just Blake and I, her understanding of fashion is beyond me and I’m constantly texting her pictures like, ‘Should I wear this?’
“Even tonight, she explained to me how to steam this shirt over text,” she continued. “This shirt was all wrinkled and I was like, ‘I’m screwed! I don’t know what I’m going to do with this shirt.’ And she was like, ‘Put it in the bathroom for 20 minutes and turn the shower on. Are you good with your jewelry? What shoes are you going to wear?’”
Sarah Jessica Parker Reveals She Still Has Carrie Bradshaw's Most Prized Possession
Sarah Jessica Parker went through a million style evolutions as Carrie on Sex and the City, but one item that remained a constant was her simple gold "Carrie" nameplate necklace, which reminds her of her days in New York with Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte. That fact made it all the more devastating when Carrie thought she lost the beloved necklace in Paris during the series finale—and now, SJP reveals that the same thing almost happened to her in real life—minus the Russian artist boyfriend and the vintage Dior purse.
Parker revealed at New York magazine's Vulture Festival that, though she was able to keep "95 percent" of the clothes from the six seasons of the show, it's the necklace that's her most prized possession. "I have the 'Carrie' necklace still," she said, as reported by the Cut. "I love it, and it's tucked away somewhere safe."
That's because she, too, almost misplaced it once. Parker told the crowd that she went to locate the necklace to film one of the SATC movies and couldn't find it, and had a similar freak-out to Carrie's. "I wish I could play that scene again, because now that I've lived through it, I'd do a much better job," she said.
Luckily, the real-life scenario also has a happy ending, as the nameplate necklace was eventually found (though SJP didn't reveal where). As for the rest of the items she has from the SATC set, it's a hands-off policy. "I don't touch it or wear it, but all of that is really meaningful," she said. How she has the strength to not wear any of those iconic pieces, though, is a totally different story.
Ivanka Trump Bought Kellyanne Conway a Classy ‘MAGA’ Bracelet
Ivanka Trump’s manners are so on point that she prematurely says “thank you.” On Friday, Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump’s campaign manager, shared a photo on Twitter of a gold bracelet with #MAGA charms — the acronym for the Republican presidential candidate’s slogan “Make America Great Again” — that Ivanka gave her.
“Perfect gift from a very special woman, @IvankaTrump, as we head into the final stretch,” Conway, who was hired by the Trump campaign in July, tweeted. “Keep it classy.”
According to Marion Fasel from the Adventurine, the bracelet seems to be from Stone & Strand, an e-commerce shop, and designed by Kelly Bello. The 14-karat-gold and white-diamond piece, known as “Team Trump — #MakeAmericaGreatAgain,” retails for $375. As the description reads on Stone & Strand: “He loves gold, and so do we. His prefers TRUMP in gold on the front of a building or a rich gold suntan, but we prefer it in 14K. This bracelet might not actually Make America Great Again, but why not see?”
Ivanka actually has a matching bracelet. According to her Snapchat, Stone & Strand sent her a “#MAGA” bracelet a few weeks ago with a note that read, “Hey Ivanka, #RockTheVote and let’s #MakeAmericaGreatAgain!”
Bello also makes a similar “Team Hillary — #I’mWithHer” bracelet, which the site says is “for those with her, for those who have been manterrupted, for those who love a tailored pantsuit.” They’ll also “be sure to send your order receipt from our personal email server.”
Dakota Johnson Rings In Messy Hair Season Like a True Gucci Girl
Acting as a proverbial palate cleanser on the heels of the Cannes Film Festival, which dazzled with an endless lineup of high-glamour hair and makeup, along came Dakota Johnson to bring some quirky undone cool to the Gucci Resort front row in Florence.
The actress took her seat with little more than a clean cat-eye embellishing her fresh, decidedly uncontoured skin. Freeing as it may be to lean into a sweltering day without a ten-step makeup routine—and a plunging backless dress—there’s nothing quite like embracing the elements with the city girl’s answer to beachy waves.
Bound into the kind of slapdash half-up topknot that looked like she had absentmindedly put an elastic on her wrist to good use en route to the event, Johnson’s look had one foot in bella donna extravagance—and the other in the gloriously disheveled, running-ten-minutes-behind spontaneity of summer.
This Plus-Sized Lifeguard Is an Inspiring Bad-Ass
Courtney Harrough is a lifeguard in Orlando, Florida, who also happens to be fat*. The 24-year-old talked to Refinery29 about her experience of being physically bigger than the lifeguards in the Bay Watch movie, and why she's just as capable at saving a life as someone who's a size 6.
In high school, Courtney was a competitive swimmer and water polo player, but even so, she received some backlash from other wannabe lifeguards during her training for the job.
"A woman my height, but three times smaller than me said, 'I find it hard to believe you were an athletic swimmer,'" she said.
Courtney added that she's used to proving herself because of people's biased first impressions. "If you're a plus-size woman presenting to a company, not just for an athletic-based career, you face a stigma that if you're fat, you're lazy."
On her Instagram, she expanded on this idea.
"My weight and height may cause some to think that I'd only be a pleasantly perched beached whale upon a lifeguard stand - but that isn't the case," she wrote. "My body is strong, sturdy, and sexy! I don't have smooth legs, or cut shoulders accented by tiny boobs like most of the girls in my class but I have courage, and a spirit to try. That is all is takes in this world."
But there were unexpected setbacks, too.
Even though she excelled in the training program, and passed her tests with flying colors, there were no swimsuits in her size.
"They said, 'You don't look like a regular lifeguard, we're going to have to pull you from your job.' I said, 'I'm sorry, you're not going to pull me. If my weight was such an aesthetic issue, you would've seen it, because I've been half-naked in a swimsuit. If you knew you couldn't accommodate, you shouldn't have put me through this. And you're not going to fire me, because that's discrimination. We're going to figure out how to get it done.'"
BAM!
Courtney didn't let it hold her back, and put together a makeshift uniform. (Although, let's hope her employers start to offer larger sizes so other women can follow in her footsteps!)
"If it's a matter of my ability to perform my job, that's one thing. If it's aesthetics, you're fat-shaming and size-shaming. And you're being really rude, because fat people can do so much more than we think they can. Fat women have a right to lifeguard."
She also clarified exactly how difficult it is to be a lifeguard - and not just physically.
"A huge misconception is that lifeguards are dumb oafs who look really good. You need to be a human with patience and heart for other people," she said.
Uh, I'm so pumped up right now that I might *willingly* exercise this weekend. All bodies are amazing bodies, and we're all capable of more than we (or the people around us) realize. Thanks for the inspiration, Courtney!
Beyoncé Bares Her Pregnant Belly in a Bikini-Clad Instagram Post
Beyoncé's due date could come literally any day now, but that isn't stopping the gorgeous mommy-to-be from enjoying the unofficial start of summer with her family.
On Tuesday morning, the star took to Instagram to show us how she spent this year's Memorial Day weekend with the cutest snap of her and daughter, Blue Ivy. Obviously, Queen Bey and the stylish five-year-old dressed for the occassion: The singer's bikini-clad baby bump, which peeks through her sheer duster, can't be missed, while Blue wore a printed one-piece and custom Yosuzi straw hat that's giving us major beachside vibes.
Shortly before the heartwarming post, the 35-year-old celebrated late pop icons Michael Jackson and Prince in a slideshow series, clad in a ruffle LBD, an embellished blazer, and metallic Chloé mules. "Flashback to an MJ+Prince party, crystals and ruffles, and a screw mix by Derek Dixie," she captioned her statement-making ensemble.
As you can imagine, Beyoncé is more than ready to welcome her twins! "Beyoncé's doing great, she's just ready to, you know, she's ready to see her babies," her mother, Tina Lawson revealed in an Entertainment Tonight interview. 'I would be happy with whatever God gives me. It's the biggest blessing. I'm so excited."
Chic LBDs According To Your Zodiac Sign
With so many stunning LBDs to choose from, sometimes one needs a little guidance in selecting the right silhouette. To help you find your match, we’ve hand-picked the swoon-worthy options that best align with your astrological sign—all straight from our editor in chief Rachel Zoe’s glamorous collection of evening dresses and gowns. Consider this your fashion horoscope for the week.
Teen Faced her 'Biggest Fear' and Wore a Swimsuit to the Beach
Summertime is around the corner and most of us can’t wait to hit the beach or lay by the pool to work on our tan. But what means enjoyment and simple fun-in-the-sun for many meant distress for British teenager Paris Harvey, who recently tweeted a photo of herself at the beach that went viral.
“I get bullied a lot because of the way I look,” Paris, 13, tells Yahoo Style. “I hadn’t been to the beach in ages because of the anxiety I feel when I go.”
This time she wanted her beach experience to be different. Paris faced head-on her “biggest fear”: She wore a bathing suit to the beach.
It was a hot day in Gillingham, a town outside of London where she resides with her family. Paris built up the courage to put on the bathing suit her mom got her at Asos and take a train to nearby Margate beach with a friend.
“When we got there, I initially had shorts over the bathing suit,” Paris explains. “I love swimming. As we went in and out of the water I decided to take the shorts off.”
I addition to feeling insecure about her weight, Paris gets teased for having hip dysplasia. She was born with the condition, meaning her left hip is dislocated, and it affects the way she walks. Paris has already had over eight reconstructive surgeries, and her hip is held together by metal pins and plates.
“I walk with a limp, it’s hard for me to do things normal people do, but I always find ways to do them,” she says. “I like to tell people about it. The best thing I can do is raise awareness of this issue.”
Since she faced her biggest fear of wearing her swimsuit in public, Paris’s Twitter post has gone viral, accruing more than 331,000 likes and 45,000 shares.
“I only see thin people posting beach selfies in a bikini. I think it’s nice to see something different,” she says. “I feel there’s a stigma against people who want to feel comfortable who are bigger. I thought if I covered myself up then people wouldn’t bully me.”
Once Paris began enjoying her day at the beach with her friend, she noticed something else.
“People at the beach were minding their own business,” she says. “I should’ve done it a long time ago.”
Her act of bravery received praise from many — 5,500 comments and counting — and has inspired other people to follow in her footsteps.
Paris met Hernandez and the rest of Fifth Harmony last year in October for her birthday.
“Like me, Ally struggled with self-image issues growing up. She has been incredibly supporting to her fans letting us know that it’s okay to love the body you are born into,” says Paris. “She [direct messaged] me, I was so happy!”
On what advice she would give people struggling to accept the way they look, Paris says, “It’s important to embrace who you are and be free to love yourself. People growing up latch onto certain superficial things but you should look within yourself and let that define you.”
Angelina Jolie, One of Hollywood's Highest Paid Stars, Wore an Affordable Everlane Outfit
Angelina Jolie, one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, is surprisingly relatable — sartorially at least. On Friday, the United Nations ambassador brought her six children to Disneyland in California wearing a cool yet affordable look.
To celebrate Shiloh’s 11th birthday, Jolie kept her ensemble relaxed and minimalistic wearing a gray T-shirt, bomber jacket, skinny jeans, and boots. She also shirked a traditional “mom bag” for a stylish gray and black color-blocked backpack.
Direct-to-consumer brand Everlane is behind Jolie’s bomber jacket ($125) and backpack, which retails for $70. They are both currently in stock and available on Everlane.com now.
Jolie’s support for Everlane is not a shock, considering the brand is known for their radical transparency in pricing and factories, as well as their charity work with the ACLU.
This also wasn’t the first time Jolie was spotted in Everlane gear. Back in March, Jolie carried Everlane’s Petra Market Tote while at LAX traveling with her kids. The tote quickly sold out.
If you’re looking for the perfect transitional jacket for cool summer nights or a versatile commuter bag, look no further than Everlane. Hurry, we don’t see these items lasting long!
Are LuLaRoe’s New ‘Americana’ Leggings Anti-American?
LuLaRoe customers and consultants are still upset that their favorite leggings “rip like wet toilet paper,” but now a new controversy has some riled up.
Ahead of Memorial Day, the apparel brand known for its multilevel marketing sales strategy released an “Americana Collection,” featuring T-shirts, dresses, and, of course, leggings in patriotic prints. In addition to United States flags, anchors, fireworks, and Popsicles were included as well.
The collection has divided LuLaRoe followers, some of whom say they love the new clothes, while others claim they’re among the ugliest they’ve seen from the company, which has made a name for itself, in part, because of its wild prints.
One such print that has some people particularly peeved is on a pair of leggings with a lone star and five stripes, a pattern that’s meant to be a take on the American flag. But some in LuLaRoe customer and consultant Facebook groups claim the print is un-American, going so far as to say it looks like the Liberian flag — which is also red, white, and blue, yet has one star and 11 stripes.
Some also pointed out the fact that the flag print was laid out upside-down. According to the United States legal flag code, “The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”
Christina Hinks, who runs the blog MommyGyver and frequently writes about LuLaRoe — often to highlight criticisms of the company — defended LuLaRoe’s Americana print on her blog, pointing out that there are lots of depictions of the American flag on clothing and that the style of the American flag itself has shifted over time.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say a company woefully printed the Liberian flag on its Americana leggings if that wasn’t the case,” Hinks, a former LuLaRoe consultant, tells Yahoo Style. “The print has received criticism, but Americana in its definition is, ‘pertaining to America.’ If you have an Americana collection, it’s safe to assume it’s the good ol’ red, white, and blue. It’s when the flag is been inverted into neon colors, or if “Americana” goes pastel, that’s not Americana. The flag is red, white, and blue, not peach, lime, green, or teal.”
In a statement to Yahoo Style, LulaRoe says it’s “proud of the LuLaRoe Americana Collection and these designs, which are intended to celebrate the American spirit.”
LuLaRoe, which generated $1.8 billion in wholesale sales from April 2016 to April 2017, according to the company, releases new collections periodically throughout the year. Most recently, LuLaRoe partnered with Disney to release a collection of items printed with Mickey and Minnie Mouse-inspired designs.
Bella Hadid, Serena Williams & Chiara Ferragni Embraced Summer Style at the Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix winner yielded some vibrant moments from celebrity fans who watched Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany win the car racing competition today in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Among the famous faces in the crowd were supermodels Bella Hadid and Winnie Harlow.
Hadid had on a bold red satin top and matching trousers teamed with nude sandals, and her friend Harlow, who channeled bohemian style with a flowy flower print dress and whimsical booties.
Some of the stars who stepped out in sandals like Hadid included Adrianna Lima, who wore a pair in silver with her white suit; Barbara Palvin teamed her black sandals with a slinky black dress.
Meanwhile Princess Charlene Wittstock wore nude sandals with a red dress when she presented the champion with his trophy. Vettel celebrated his victory wearing Puma sneakers.
Nike ambassador Serena Williams showed off her growing baby bump in a fitted multi-color mini dress that she complemented with pair of black flats that had bow detail. Designer Chiara Ferragni teamed an off-the-shoulder white top and denim shorts with white sneakers, and actor Chris Hemsworth rocked black high-tops.
Lindsey Vonn, James Marsden and other celebrity guests made appearances at the competition.
Rare Photos of '70s Black Beauty Pageants Celebrate Women Defying Beauty Standards
When Raphael Albert was photographing West London in the '60s and '70s, racist, anti-immigrant tensions ran high. Albert, from the Caribbean island of Granada himself, gravitated toward the West Indian community thriving at the time amidst discrimination, and used his lens to capture celebrations of black communities.
One assignment he had as a freelance photographer was to cover a local Miss Jamaica pageant for the West Indian World. That sparked three decades of photographing London's black beauty pageants and eventually led to him organizing them himself. Now, his work is being displayed in an Autograph ABP exhibit called "Miss Black and Beautiful," launching today.
Every photograph embodies the contemporary "Black Is Beautiful" movement of the time. Women are documented wearing typical beauty pageant smiles, bikinis, and adornments, but also proudly wear afros at a time when Eurocentric beauty ideals reigned.
According to Renée Mussai, curator of the exhibit and head of archive at Autograph ABP, pageants were organized in the Caribbean since the 1930s but in the U.K., there were no contests for black women. Meanwhile in the U.S., there was a "rule number seven" that prevented black women from entering pageants–the first time a black woman competed in Miss America was 1970. Today, even, there have been less than five black Miss Universe winners in over 50 years.
"Not only did the pageants offer the opportunity to create a distinct space for Afro-Caribbean self-articulation-a wager against invisibility, if you will-they also responded to contemporaneous mainstream fashion and lifestyle platforms where black women were largely absent, or at best, marginal," Mussai, who has been working on Albert's archive since 2011, told Artsy.
London-born beauty Philomena Kwao is a force to be reckoned with. She isn’t bothered by the modeling industry that is so focused on all things surface, but it does irritate her that not all surfaces are accepted if they’re darker or don’t fit into a size 2.
That’s why being a part of Alexi Lubomirski’s Diverse Beauty campaign alongside the likes of Lupita Nyong’o, Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland, and Herieth Paul was a major milestone in her career. With Kwao posing in a regal black-and-white photo, clad in a strapless black bra, underwear, and long silver pearls, the shot is a testament to the way she lives her life — with complete confidence and love for who she is.
We spoke to the model at the exhibition opening of Lubomirski’s Diverse Beauty project about how Lupita Nyong’o essentially kick-started her career and the liberation of being your most authentic self.
Yahoo Beauty: In talking with Alexi Lubomirski, the power of this exhibition, the photos, and the women in them is palpable. What does diverse beauty mean to you as both an idea and as being part of this project?
Kwao: For me, diverse beauty is an affirmation of every single person in his or her own skin. Curvy, short, dark-skinned, fair, black, white — whoever you are. But that we’re all beautiful in our own, unique right. It’s a great way to allow people to express themselves and remind them that you don’t have to look a certain way to be considered beautiful. This was quite liberating for me.
Inclusivity is important all the time, but it’s really having a moment in fashion right now. As a curvy model from overseas, what are your thoughts on how the industry is faring?
I haven’t been modeling for very long, as I just got into the industry four years ago. When I first started, I actually had no idea what “plus-size” meant because it’s a burgeoning category in London. So when I moved here and heard that term, it was new for me. And then being a woman of a darker skin complexion as well added another layer to it all. It was hard at first, but I’ve noticed over the past two years that people have started to speak up and speak out. The curvy community has really given me a voice because people want to see someone who looks like they do. They want to know their beauty is valid. Women of all ethnicities, complexions, and sizes want to be able to wear makeup and nice clothes. No one wants to go out and feel like they’re substandard or that there’s only one mold that they don’t fit. Diverse Beauty is awesome because there’s so many different women included to speak to every woman’s needs and kind of beauty. I personally haven’t seen something like this before.
It definitely feels like a one-of-a-kind book and exhibition.
Absolutely! And for Alexi to choose such a variety of women makes me feel good. I have little sisters, and I want them to be able to open a magazine and see their beauty reflected. That’s really important because they need to feel comfortable being themselves. Every woman should aspire to be unique, but that’s so hard for women of color because we don’t see ourselves out there.
Zendaya's Met Gala Afro Gives Me Life
The 20-year-old multi-hyphenate star twirled on her haters at the 2017 Met Gala sporting a parrot-printed off-the-shoulder dress by Dolce & Gabbana and super teased-out Afro.
Whether it’s her real hair or a wig, Zendaya’s ‘fro is my natural hair goal. It’s full of texture, the layers are on point, and the reddish-brown color adds warmth to her radiant complexion. Her natural hairstyle also looks stunning with her bronze eye shadow and coral-red lipstick.
BRB, going to stretch out my kinky, coily hair into a fabulous Afro inspired by Zendaya.
Swimming With Natural Hair, Braids, and Dreadlocks Just Got So Much Easier
Every year when summer rolls around, I get knots in the pit of my stomach just thinking about how I’m going to swim without getting my natural hair wet.
Traditional swimming caps have never fully covered my big, curly Afro, and taking a dip in a pool or ocean while wearing box braids only makes my head feel extremely heavy and uncomfortable afterward. So I often forgo swimming altogether, and that’s just not fun.
Nomvuyo Treffers knew this struggle all too well. As the mother of two young daughters who enjoyed water sports, she often sat on the sidelines reading a book instead of joining in because she couldn’t find a swimming cap to fit over her long dreadlocks.
In an interview with South Africa’s W24 digital lifestyle magazine, Treffers revealed that she even took the extreme measure of cutting her locs “out of frustration” just so she could swim with her children. But it wasn’t long before she recognized that there was a greater need among fellow South Africans with hair like hers for larger swim caps that actually fit. Thus, Swimma Caps were born.
Made from silicone, Swimma Caps stretch wide enough to cover the hair of men, women, and children sporting natural ’dos, braids, and dreadlocks and still remain snug along the hairline to prevent water from creeping inside. The caps come in an array of colors, including red, yellow, blue, pink, white, and black.
Instagram and Twitter posts tagged “#swimmacaps” show wide-smiled tots and adults wearing these natural-hair-friendly caps while swimming, as well as before-and-after shots that prove they do work.
Aside from creating a product for people of color that allows them to swim without worrying about their natural hair, Treffers has undoubtedly helped many individuals to overcome fear, ignite self-confidence, and banish the myth that “black people don’t swim.”
As Treffers told True Africa, “There is no such thing as one size fits all. There is a dire need to feel represented.”
Priyanka Chopra on When She Decided to ‘Be OK With Me’
The Indian actress, 34, is poised and confident in person, the epitome of panache with a dose of humor. But as with most things in life, that self-assurance didn’t appear overnight.
“I was well into my 20s when I figured it out. It wasn’t in my teens. I had to reach that place myself,” she tells Yahoo Style. “I was at least 25 when I said, ‘I don’t want to give so much importance to what the world’s expectation of me is.’ My body looks a certain way. My hair is not perfect. But I decided I’d be OK with me.”
She’s not shy about sharing that epiphany with her fans, many of whom have known her since she won the Miss World pageant in 2000, at age 18, and then parlayed that fame into a meteoric acting career as a Bollywood star.
“You can teach yourself confidence,” she says. “I was a gawky teenager. I was uncomfortable with my body and the way I looked. I taught myself what was the best version of me. How do I want the world to perceive me? That’s how I walk out every morning. I tell myself I will be the best version of me. You have to be comfortable with yourself. You have to take care of you. It’s really important to have self-love. You can rule the world with that.”
And onscreen, she attempts to do just that in Baywatch, opening Friday. Chopra plays drug cartel ringleader Victoria Leeds, a character so immersed in her own perceived glory that she makes Dr. Evil from Austin Powers look grounded. And she stays fully clothed throughout.
“I’m not a lifeguard,” says Chopra. “The idea of Victoria was that she should look unnatural in this world. I don’t wear a bathing suit. She wears couture and heels on the beach. Who wears a dress and heels in the sand?”
The character was originally written for a man, which fills Chopra with giddiness — in particular because an “Indian girl,” as she says, wound up playing the part. And she even has a few things in common with Victoria, a narcissist with an insatiable appetite for power.
“First and foremost, all feminists are not evil bitches, but Victoria is. Feminism has a bad name right now. People think it’s about dissing men. It’s not. It’s about women wanting to make their own choices and not being judged for them,” says Chopra. “My character is a massive feminist. She just takes it too far. I am also seriously ambitious and I love my job and I am a feminist. I just don’t kill people for a living.”
But Chopra is capable of breaking the Internet — just look up the blue bikini she wore on the beach in Miami earlier this month.
“I’m generally shy, but I really needed to go into the ocean. Miami’s paparazzi are good at getting pictures. I wasn’t prepared for that, honestly. I didn’t know there would be that many paparazzi. The ocean was calling me. It’s bikini season. It doesn’t matter,” she says with a shrug.
And, yes, Chopra knows how to throw down. “I have a weakness for the sun, the sand, the ocean. Bikinis and bellinis are my recipe for a good vacation. I’m a little boujie that way.”
She’s a showstopper on red carpets. But in real life, says Chopra, her style is all about comfort — even when she’s doing back-to-back interviews. While promoting Baywatch, she wore spring-inspired Roberto Cavalli, a stunning leather Ralph Lauren dress, and a shimmery Derek Lam mini to the movie’s New York screening. And if you had stems like hers, you too would wear a flowing, short Fendi dress while talking to Jimmy Fallon. She says if she’s not feeling the ensemble, it shows.
“I’m not as confident,” she explains. “I’m more of a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl, a little similar to Alex in Quantico. Or I like track pants. I don’t like wearing clothes just because — I think your clothes should say something. They should say what I’m feeling. I don’t want to feel costume-y.”
Chopra was already a global superstar when she was cast in ABC’s Quantico, which was just renewed for a third season. She became the first South Asian woman to headline a network TV series, playing an FBI recruit turned CIA case officer turned fugitive. And she’s come into her own in the fashion world, slaying on the Met Ball red carpet back in May in a sexy, spy-inspired Ralph Lauren number. She met comedian and writer Aziz Ansari at the after-party, and recalls a joke they shared. The first year that Ansari went to the Met Ball, he told Chopra, “there was one brown person there. This year there were seven brown people. It was so funny. Progress is being made!”
But in truth, it is — and Chopra is a major part of it. Just look at the Baywatch film, which is headlined by the Rock — who is as nice in person as everyone says, promises Chopra — and who is American, Canadian, and Samoan, and was raised in New Zealand.
She recalls watching the Baywatch film series with her mother, and the largely homogenous cast led her to believe that everyone in the United States was blond. The 2017 film, on the other hand, adjusted to changing times.
“It’s cool to see the representation of Baywatch as what entertainment should be. It looks like what the world looks like. There’s more awareness. The fight for diversity has to keep happening,” she says.
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