When Issa Rae added face of CoverGirl to her already stacked resume, it was a not only a massive win for the Insecure creator and star, but for black women everywhere—myself included. Earlier this week, I sat down with Rae to discuss representation, what joining CoverGirl means to her, her beauty icons, and, of course, that time she met Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Read on to learn about Rae's unique approach to beauty, and how Queen Bey "saved" her.
What’s it like joining the CoverGirl ranks with icons like Queen Latifah, Brandy, and Janelle Monae? How does it feel to reach CoverGirl status and what does it mean to you?
Seeing Queen Latifah be a CoverGirl was a moment for me of being seen. It felt like, there's this woman that I've identified with for so long, just from Living Single and watching her movies and I want to be like Queen Latifah when I grow up. She has tomboy tendencies so for that to be represented through a beauty brand was incredible. It didn’t make me think I could be a CoverGirl, but it made me start thinking, ‘Oh ok, I can start to wear makeup and I should start getting into making and that I could look like that too.’
And for Janelle, of course, I was in college or just out of college when she became a CoverGirl and I just thought like, duh, of course she should be. She's flawless and she's someone of my own skin tone so to have someone of similar skin tone felt like another I'm being seen moment.
Who are some other beauty icons you’ve looked up to?
I’d say Denise Huxtable. She was just a bad bitch before that was even an expression. She seemed very much like herself and marched to the beat of her own drum. I always wanted to be like that.
How has your beauty look and routine changed from Stanford, to your YouTube days, to the first season of Insecure and then the second season?
It’s not necessarily evolving but just embracing my look. I wasn't a huge makeup person, I didn't know much about it, so in being seen more and learning to build more confidence, I got into it. Because also pre-Awkward Black Girl, I was kind of finding myself and my career and didn't really have the confidence that I do now. Confidence comes from creating something and knowing what I’m supposed to be doing and feeling like I’m good at what I’m supposed to be doing.
I saw that you recently ran into Beyoncé and she told you were beautiful. What was that like?
I remember the moment. I do remember what I was wearing, of course. I was wearing a white top, it was very unremarkable. Honestly, I was there for a benefit for a restaurant we were trying to save. It’s an LA restaurant called My Two Cents.
My Two Cents on Pico next to the boutique Nobody Jones? What’s happening with that restaurant?
Yes! So she was being sued and they had a lawsuit but thanks to Melina [Matsoukas] and Solange we were able to raise enough money to help her, so it’s fine. But yeah Beyoncé came to that event because Solange is involved and I guess she goes to that restaurant. Beyoncé goes to that restaurant a lot apparently. I didn’t know.
What happened when you met her?
I was wearing a plain white shirt but the focus was she was there and I was there with two of my best friends and we didn’t expect her to come. I was there sitting next to Angie from the Shade Room and she had her own predictions like, "Do you think Beyoncé is going to come?" and I was like "Girl, come on. She's Beyoncé she's not coming.” Then she showed up and we all watched her walk in with Jay Z and like that was enough for me. Being in the same room as her I was like “Oh, cool, cool, cool” Nobody needs to say anything because I saw you, you're great.
I was talking to my friends outside and they were like, “Girl, Beyoncé is right behind you” and I was like, “No she's not." And so we were all trying to play it cool and not look and pretend we were talking to each other while also like looking.
She was there with Jay Z and Jay Z saw me, I saw him see me out of the corner of my eye and tried to play it cool because I had just been in his music video for Moonlight.
He came over to say hi first and then we saw Beyoncé see him come over and she came and I was like “Oh God, Oh God.” I didn’t even listen to what he was saying. It's so rude because he's just as great and it's great to meet him, but I have already met him and then she came over and was just like "Hey, I’m Beyoncé."
Are you kidding?
I was thinking you don't have to introduce yourself but I was like, "Hey, I didn't know that.” [Laughs] She was like, "You're beautiful, I love your work I’m a fan." I died.
So I introduced her to my other friends and they walked away and then we just stood there stupidly. We had nothing to say to each other.
And then life was made?
I almost forgot I was supposed to be saving the restaurant because I had been saved. So, why focus on that?
Rae has more in the works with CoverGirl so make sure to watch this space and see the incredible and talented beauty on the latest season of Insecure.
