Can You Guess Laverne Cox's Beauty Idol? (Hint: It Begins With a B)
By Jeffrey Slonim
Orange Is the New Black star Laverne Cox is a breakout actress on a breakout show. She’s also one of the first transgender actresses embraced by the mainstream media, for which she recently landed on the cover of Time magazine in a curvy-gorgeous Hervé Léger bandage dress. We spoke to her at the Mont Blanc–sponsored 24 Hour Plays in New York City.
What makes Laverne Cox feel beautiful? “Sometimes it’s a person I really care about looking at me a certain way. Sometimes it’s a dress and the right hair and makeup. Ursula [Stephen], my hairstylist, has taken me in new directions. Deja Davenport is my makeup artist has taken me in new directions. Christina Pacelli is my stylist. And I do love them.”
Related: 10 Celebrity Hairstyles That Make You Look 10 Years Younger
Who’s your beauty inspiration? ”Beyoncé, hello? I live for Beyoncé. It’s everything Beyoncé has done since Destiny’s Child. And Destiny’s Child came out around the time I was transitioning, so they were also a major inspiration to me.”
Your lips always look so full and gorgeous. ”I do a nude lip a lot. Then I like to break up my lip, because I have a really big lip, so I don’t usually do the same color on the top and bottom. I like a deep red.”
Your lashes are strong, too. ”I’m a lash girl. I like black eyeliner in the waterline. I love brown eye shadow in the crease. But I also like to mix it up.”
Related: 50 Beauty Products to Try Before You Die
What’s your workout regime? ”Honestly, because I haven’t been working out as much as I should, I’m just trying to get back into shape. So lots of cardio.”
Your always so up and charming. Where did you get your sense of grace?“My mother taught me how to be a woman, and how to be an exemplary human being, and how to work hard and to overcome unimaginable circumstances and do it with style and a little humor. I don’t always believe in myself. Sometimes it’s about connecting with what I’m passionate about. Sometimes the confidence can come through that. I become a vessel. And a lot of it is about God.”
More from Allure:
The Best $50 & Under Gifts for Everyone on Your List
Find the Best Haircut for Your Face Shape
34 Hair Ideas for 2014
The Best Sunglasses for Every Face Shape
photo: Amy Graves/WWD
