NEED TO KNOW
Teyana Taylor opened up about feeling misread as a Black woman
“I don’t get a lot of grace,” the actress and musician tells Allure
Taylor took home the 2026 BET Icon Award in June
Teyana Taylor opened up about how she can often feel misread as a Black woman.
In an Allure cover story published on Thursday, Nov. 12, the actress and musician spoke about how she has found herself misperceived over the years because of her appearance.
“I got strong features. I look very androgynous, and I think people get intimidated just by looking at me,” Taylor, 35, told the publication.
She added, “I don’t get a lot of grace. They treat me like I’m tough when I’m really a princess. I am just a girl.”
Teyana Taylor for ‘Allure’ in November 2026
Credit: Philip-Daniel Ducasse
This reality is often placed on many Black women, who are met with stereotypes.
“We’re Superwoman all the time,” said Taylor. “When do we ever get to take our cape off?”
It’s something that she addressed during her 2026 Golden Globes speech when she spoke directly to Black women and girls, saying, “Our softness is not a liability.”
In the interview, Taylor said she’s like an egg, with the illusion of a harder exterior but a soft yolk inside.
“My muscle memory is love,” she said. “It does hurt when I see certain things on the internet [about myself] because I’m like, ‘Damn, I thought people would be happy.'”
Teyana Taylor for ‘Allure’ in November 2026
Credit: Philip-Daniel Ducasse
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In June, Taylor’s years of hard work paid off when she received the Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards, which was presented to her by Janet Jackson.
During her acceptance speech, the One Battle After Another star got emotional as she reflected on her career.
“Tonight they handed me a title, and that title is Icon of the Year,” said Taylor at the time. “For a little minute, I wondered if I was supposed to feel uncomfortable saying that title out loud, but no, I worked my ass off 20 years for this.”
She continued, “So I’m not accepting what I’ve earned with arrogance, I’m accepting what I’ve earned with gratitude.”
Read the original article on People
Source link
