Mj Rodriguez Tells Queer Youth: "Remember, You Lead By Example"

Rosemary Donahue

The first thing Mj Rodriguez says to me during our interview is, "How are you doing?" This may not sound out of the ordinary, but she's not asking the way many other people ask, like a generic, throwaway greeting. She really wants to know. When I return the question, she's palpably excited — and why wouldn't she be? Within the next week, she'll go on to deliver the keynote speech at George Washington University’s fifth annual Diversity Summit, as well as a speech at the Women of the Year Awards. She's also becoming more confident with herself than ever.

While confidence in your own skin is important for anyone, it's perhaps especially vital when you're an actress. Constantly wearing stage makeup takes a toll, even when you're in looks as gorgeous and vibrant as the ones on Pose. Set in the late '80s and early '90s, the show transports viewers to a different time through aesthetic elements like makeup, clothing, and a decades-gone version of New York City. "One of my favorite looks on Blanca was in the eighth episode of season two. She had this red, short jumper on and the makeup was so sophisticated yet sexy. I just loved the way Blanca looked in that moment, like a true mother who was finally coming into herself. And that red pump? It was everything. Everything," she tells Allure.

Her role as Blanca may be how many of us know Rodriguez, but she actually got her start in theater. "Stage performing was a wonderful, wonderful, beautiful stepping stone for me." She always knew she wanted to move from the stage to the screen and had her eyes on the prize from a very young age. "I just knew that musical theater and stage acting would open the door to being on screen, because they incorporate every single part of the craft. Singing, acting, and dancing are incorporated in musical theater, so that's how I got started. It was natural for me," she explains.

Rodgriguez has also just been named Olay Body's new spokesperson, and says she's becoming more comfortable in her skin every day, especially after doing the 14 Day Transformation with the brand's Ultra Moisture Body Wash. She tells me that her partnership has played a crucial part in helping her become more confident. Like many of us who spend a lot of time working, she hasn't devoted that much time to skin-care, but all that has changed since partnering with the brand. "Every single time I go out and people shake my hands or give me a hug, they're like, 'Oh, girl, your skin is so smooth.'"

She also mentions that she has psoriasis, and says, "Olay Body has given me the confidence to be more comfortable in my own skin and I know that it's healthier than ever. I get to actually go out without having to worry about flaking all over the place."

"We just have to keep fighting, speaking up, and leading by example."

Staying grounded is crucial when you're a public figure, regardless of the size of your audience, and Rodriguez shares some of her best coping mechanisms. Lately, she's been thinking a lot about what self-care means to her. She sees it as something that happens from the inside out, and says that while she loves things like face masks and hot showers, she's also a firm believer in meditation — especially right before she goes on stage. "I try to zen out as much as I can, it's the most important thing for me. I need to meditate to center myself."

Especially for LGBTQIA+ artists, Rodriguez believes that taking the time to remind yourself that you are worthy is imperative. "A lot of us don't get the opportunity to hear or see that, because so many children in the LGBTQIA+ community are displaced from their homes. So I think the most important thing is for them to find places that they feel comfortable with and also get to know themselves," she says. "I know this is easier said than done, but it's important to be able to exist without having to worry about what other people say."

She mentions she has always been aware that she'd face obstacles in her life but has walked through the world with a feeling she'd prevail and rise above them. While it's not easy, she advises other queer youth try as best they can to have this same mindset. "Times are drastically changing. There's obviously still more work to do, but now doors are opening for us. I mean, I never even thought I would be in partnership with Olay Body. There were never opportunities for trans women to partner with organizations like this, so I think we just have to keep fighting, speaking up, and leading by example," she says.

Ultimately, no matter who you are or where you come from, she has one very solid piece of advice. "When you walk into a place, remember you lead by example. And when you do that in positivity, light, and love, you will succeed no matter what."

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Originally Appeared on Allure