DRESSING IN THE INDUSTRY

Learning to dress for every version of the woman I am.

Someone once asked me:

“Why don’t you dress like the actors in the industry?”

I remember the question because, honestly, it made me think.

As an actor, I've spent a lot of time being aware of how I look.

And as a plus-size Black actress, I've also been very aware that casting doesn't always have the imagination to see me as the leading lady.

Sometimes it can feel like people already have an idea of what a “leading woman” looks like.

And when you don't fit that picture, you become very conscious of your image.

Maybe you dress safely.

Maybe you try not to be “too much”.

Maybe you start thinking about what will make you look more castable rather than what actually makes you feel like yourself.

I'm over that.

I'M REMASTERING MY LOOK

I'm learning colour coordination.

I'm learning what silhouettes I like.

I'm learning what makes me feel polished.

I'm learning how to put an outfit together properly.

And I'm having fun with it.

Because this new look isn't actually for casting directors.

It's for me.

I want to walk into an audition clean.

Not carrying my baggage in with me.

Not trying to prove that I'm worthy of being there.

Just the actress.

Present. Focused. Ready to play.

Then there is the boss — the producer version of me.

The woman walking into a meeting who knows what she's building.

Then there's the free spirit — the woman going out, travelling, laughing, dancing, exploring.

The beauty — the woman getting dressed for an awards ceremony and allowing herself to be glamorous.

And then there's the artistic rebel — the writer, composer, singer-songwriter who doesn't necessarily want to look polished at all.

She might want colour.

She might want something strange.

She might want to break the rules.

They're all me.

I DON'T WANT ONE LOOK ANYMORE

Maybe that's the biggest shift.

I'm not trying to create one version of myself that the industry can easily understand.

I'm interested in showing the versatility I know is already there.

I can be the leading lady.

The producer.

The artist.

The songwriter.

The girl going for dinner.

The woman at the awards.

The actor sitting in an audition room waiting for her name to be called.

I don't need to dress like “the actors in the industry”.

I want to dress like Urielle.

And if that means I'm still figuring it out — colour combinations, silhouettes, accessories, all of it — that's fine.

I'm learning.

I'm remastering.

And this time, I'm doing it for me.

Not to become more acceptable.

To become more visible to myself.