If you meet Taylor without a ponytail, she's humble, forgiving, and a true virtue of patience. But there's nothing that brings out my inner hot girl like a 40" yaki braid from my local beauty supply store, and that's big facts. Celebrities like Beyonce, Yara Shahidi, and Alicia Keys have all championed the braided faux ponytail with all the style and grace Biggie talked about and xoNecole has the details on how you can achieve this style, too.
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We're only a few weeks into the year and I know you're trying to get your finances all the way together, which makes this elegant yet budget-friendly style a perfect choice for mavens who want to slay without sacrificing a check at the hair salon.
With a brush, a pack of hair from the beauty supply store of your choice, some edge control, and a whole lot of bobby pins and the possibilities of your braided pony are endless.
If your interest is piqued but you're not sure where to start, here are some celebrity-inspired styles that will have you heading to the store ASAP:
Beyonce
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Give your chemically-treated hair a break and try out a blonde braided pony as a protective style.
Yara Shahidi
Earlier this week at the Golden Globes, Yara gave us all the Set It Off energy with this 90-style braided pony by Rio Sreedharan.
Issa Rae
Film Magic / HBO
Issa Rae never fails to come through with the natural styles and this one of a kind spin on a jumbo braided pony is no exception.
Yara Shahidi
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No gallery of braided ponies is complete without a proper topknot and Yara Shahidi's expertly crafted high bun fits the bill perfectly.
Marsai Martin
Marsai Martin may be young, but she's here to show the world that high fashion comes fun-sized, too. Add gold thread to level up your elegance instantly.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Getty / Steve Granitz
This braided pony perfectly modeled by Tracee Ellis Ross is reserved for expert home stylists who know their way around a fishtail.
Janelle Monae
Getty Images
This butt-length, jewelry-adorned braid is proof of Janelle Monae's undeniable drip. Level up your pony by adding accessories that match your fit.
Featured image by Instagram/@rio_hair.
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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