Happy birthday Diana! Ross! The iconic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” singer turns 73 today, and I have to say, she’s inspired countless girls like me to be themselves.
From amazing hits to strutting the stage like she owned it, seeing a beautiful, fearless black woman live out her dream always inspired me to be bold and brass in mine. First of all…let me tell about about these outfits. I STILL attempt to recreate some of Diana’s amazing looks. She showed us to just be bold in what you do, teaching me that it’s okay. And trust me, I’m not the only one.
Her style? Fly. Her vocals? Immaculate. The “Queen of Motown” showed all of us beautiful brown-skinned girls that we were beautiful just as we were and are. One of the major things I’ve been working on for 2017 is forcing myself to stop “shrinking” for others. Shrinking comes when you try to hide amazing parts of yourself from others. It could be out of fear, acceptance, not wanting to appear like you’re ‘bragging’. In reality, we’re not meant to hide behind a bushel! Shine that light, girl!
Way before I think it was even “popular” to be a black girl, Diana Ross made it look easy. I love that she wasn’t a “conventional” beauty, not just in skin tone, but also sported bold makeup looks, sultry outfits, and big hair that could touch the sky. See, what she was showing each of us, and especially young women like me (news flash: I wasn’t born when Diana was in her peak days, so don’t come for me) was that who you are is beautiful. You don’t have to shrink your personality, your gifts, your being…just be yourself.
As we all go through this life journey, we’re tasked with encouraging others while walking in our light. I thank beautiful women like Diana Ross for doing that so elegantly, birthing a child like Tracee Ellis Ross who does it elegantly, and inspiring all of us to be our own misfit. Unapologetic. Badass. And inspirational.
The Detroit-native rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group The Supremes in the 60s, where such hits as “Where Did Our Love Go”, “You Can’t Hurry Love”, “Stop! In the Name of Love”, and “Someday We’ll Be Together” became staple hits of a Motown generation. After scoring 12 #1 hits with the group, Ross went solo in 1969. She not only had a successful career as a solo singer, but inspired countless people through her music, style, beauty, and activism work.
The “Queen of Motown” will forever have a legacy that continues to inspire generation after generation with her fearlessness, style, and contribution to art, entertainment, and civil rights.
