who are the black It girls?
As we established last blog, 2023 has been the year of the girl. With this, we have seen a resurrection of the “IT Girl.” But what exactly is an It Girl? The Oxford Dictionary defines it “as women who’ve achieved a high level of popularity without flaunting their sexuality.” The coveted title was first coined by British writer, Elinor Glyn, in reference to the Old Hollywood film star, Clara Bow. The It girl has a certain aura surrounding them. She is seen at events. You covet her style, her friends. You might often think to yourself “hmm… what exactly is her job.” She just has IT (usually her job is in the realm of fashion or film, but you get the point).
When publications post a listicles featuring their favorite modern day It Girl you’ll see the same names: Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Emma Chamberlain, and so on and so forth. Do you sense a common theme? Because a central requirement of the It Girl is a woman who society upholds as conventionally attractive, that attractiveness typically aligns with eurocentric beauty standards. You’ll see articles include Grace Jones, Iman, and Zendaya when they need to include a black woman, but there are so many that fly under the radar. So here is my list of Black women who I think deserve the It Girl title.
Anok Yai
What better way to kick off this list than with an It girl who capitalized off a viral moment. Anok Yai is most known for being the second black model to open a Prada after Naomi Campbell in 1997. In a piece with The Washington Post, Yai said she always envisioned herself as a supermodel, but was deterred by the eurocentric beauty standards that were propelled by the industry. That changed in 2017 after a photographer captured her striking appearance at Howard University’s homecoming. This image catapulted Yai’s modeling career. In 2018, she became the second black model to open a Prada show, after Naomi Campbell in 1997. She has gone on to appear in several Prada campaigns and featured in editorials such as Dazed, W Magazine, and Vogue.
Ayo Edibiri
My. Favorite. Actor. At. The. Moment. If you haven’t watched The Bear yet, what are you doing?? Ayo Edibiri began her career writing for comedies such as What We Do in the Shadows, Dickinson, and Big Mouth. Edibiri got her first taste of stardom when she replaced Jenny Slate as the voice of the black character, “Missy,” during the racial reckoning of 2020. Her true breakout performance came in 2022 when she was cast as “Sydney Adamu” in the hit Hulu show The Bear (GO WATCH IT!! SHAMELESS PLUG!!). Her career has continued to skyrocket with movies such as Bottoms and Summer Camp. She has proven that black girls can also be quirky and awkward. We love this kind of representation.
Coco Gauff
Who says It girls have to only be actresses and models (besides the actual definition of an It girl)? Who cares? Coco Gauff is on her way to It girl status with the year she has had. At only 19, Gauff has six WTA Tour singles titles, with her most recent one being a Major at the 2023 US Open. Side note: I cried when she won. In addition to her many achievements in the tennis world she has ventured to the fashion world. She signed her first multi-year sponsorship with New Balance in 2018, even creating a signature unisex sneaker, the COCO CG1. Coco has more than enough resources to capitalize off to solidify for It girl status, but for now it’s just a joy watching her on the court. PS: eff off with the Serena comparisons.
Emmanuelle Koffi
In the age of social media, some may argue that the real It girls of 2023 are influencers. Emmanuelle Koffi had not been on my radar until my sister showed me her profile (shoutout to Brenna!). The Parisian digital creator uses Instagram to express her unique interpretations of fashion. Her effortlessly cool sense of style has made her a go to source of fashion inspiration. She has definitely appeared on my style Pinterest board a few times. In this era of praising “clean” beauty and soft girl aesthetics, we often don’t see women of color, especially dark skinned black women, included. Koffi breaks this narrative without having to downplay her blackness.
Laura Harrier
Another entry brought to me from a family member (shoutout to my mom!). Now I already said Zendaya will not be included in this list, but another Tom Holland’s Spiderman cast member has. Laura Harrier is probably most known for playing Peter Parker’s forgettable first love interest in Spiderman: Homecoming. This is no shade to Harrier, but no one can deny Tom Holland and Zendaya’s chemistry (I for one have been a Tomdaya shipper since the first press tour in 2017). Liz Allan aside, Harrier has made a name for herself. She has multiple reasons to be considered an It girl: she’s a model, an actress, and even dated a prominent basketball player. But it’s her civil rights activism that separates her from others. Harrier is unapologetically outspoken on issues such as intersectional feminism, representation for people of color, and gun control. She often uses her platform to call out these injustices.
Malia and Sasha Obama
Former first daughters are often scrutinized during their time at the White House and well after they vacate. The fact that Malia and Sasha Obama have been able to live a quiet life after their father’s tenure as President adds to their lore of being It girls. They’re the anti-It girls. Malia's biggest scandal has been smoking cigarettes, an act that has become trendy again. *I do not condone smoking.* Malia’s smoking habit has only added to her timeless and cool style. She’s known for her iconic menswear, usually sporting tailored slacks and sweater vests. Sasha has also made an impression with her bohemian street style. No stranger to the Y2K resurgence, she is often seen in low rise maxi skirts and jeans with quirky graphic tees. Hats off to Michelle and Barack for letting their girls express themselves how they feel. Yeah, I’m on a first name basis with the Obamas.
Olivia Dean
While Olivia Rodrigo has been dominating the pop game the last couple of years, there’s another Olivia in the genre that is one to watch. My current favorite pop girl on the rise, Olivia Dean, was destined to be a musician. Hey, she was even middle-named after Lauryn Hill. Dean is a breath of fresh air to the dying pop music genre, a discussion we will have to save for another post. Although she has been releasing music since 2018, the release of her debut album this year has put her on the map. Her songs “Dive” and “Ladies Room” carry the cadence of a classic Amy Winehouse hit with a hint of newness to it. In addition to having a killer discography, Dean has a distinct social media presence, a factor that has become important to your success nowadays. Her hazy Instagram feed showcases her blend of feminine and masculine style both on and off stage.
Tabria Majors
If you call out Emrata, I’m an immediate fan of yours. Tennessee native Tabria Majors began her modeling career with Sports Illustrated in their 2018 Swimsuit Issue. Majors has been praised for using her platform to break the stereotype that you have to be rail-thin to be a model. Most recently Majors took to her instagram to call out Emrata’s recent M Magazine shoot. As seen in the photo above, Emrata was called out for the fatphobic, distasteful photograph. In the caption of Major’s clap back post she wrote: “This shows they can make bigger sizes, they can sell bigger sizes, but God forbid you model it on a bigger size.” While the industry has made strides in body positivity and inclusivity, this proves there is still a long ways to go. Representation matters and Tabria Majors is active in making this happen.
Taylor Russell
We must protect her at all costs. This summer, Taylor Russell made noise in the media for being Harry Styles' latest fling. But she cannot be reduced to the role of “rockstar girlfriend.” Russell began to make a name for herself in Indie films such as A24’s Waves and Lucca Guadagnino’s Bones and All, alongside everyone’s favorite It boy, Timothee Chalamet. The latter won her the award for Best Young Actor or Actress at the Venice Film Festival in 2022. While her acting chops are extraordinary, it’s her style that has implemented her It girl status. Her one of a kind looks during the festival circuit caught the eye of Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe, leading her to become a global ambassador for the brand. Off the carpet, Russell is known for her relaxed, sleek cool girl looks. So all you “Harries” out there, leave her alone, she’s one of the good ones.
*Editors Note: These two may no longer be together. This does not change her It girl status.
Yara Shahidi
I have serious beef with Yara Shahidi. She stole what could’ve been the inception of my acting career: “Olivia Danielson” in the film Imagine That, opposite Eddie Murphy. I’ve never been able to forgive her for this. Betrayal aside, Yara Shahidi is pretty freakin’ cool. She’s most known for her role as Zoey Johnson in the “-ish” Cinematic Universe, a character who can be a bit controversial. In the fashion world, Shahidi was named a Global Ambassador for Dior. While talented and stylish, Shahidi has made a name for herself outside of her acting credits. She was praised for attending Harvard University while still filming Grown-ish. It probably helped that former First Lady, Michelle Obama, wrote her recommendation letter; she founded the organization “Eighteen x 18,” a platform to encourage young adults to vote in all elections; and she has her own production company, 7th Sun Productions, with her mom. With that, I must give credit where credit is due.
Ziwe
Also known as the person who should take over for Trevor Noah at The Daily Show. Ziwe began her career working for Lorne Michaels’ production company, Above Average Productions, as a screenwriter. In 2017, she created the program Baited with Ziwe, where she discussed uncomfortable racial topics with her white friends. The success of the Youtube series led to her creating a Showtime variety series simply titled Ziwe. The show was tragically canceled after two seasons, but still lamented Ziwe in the industry. And if for some reason someone from Showtime is reading this post, this is for you: bring back Ziwe or send a strong recommendation letter to Comedy Central. Thanks.
