Viola Davis I SAG Awards Acceptance Speech 2015 I TNT

Viola Davis rocked her natural beauty, hair and all at the SAG Awards on Sunday. And then she had this to say as she accepted her SAG award for the Shonda Rhimes' hit, How to Get Away with Murder.

Davis shut it all the way down. Slayed it -- and even called out Hollywood for its lack of diversity. Say that! I love it when we claim our power and stay true to ourselves - no matter what. Gone, Viola!!!

Natural Actresses Who Rock Their Curls in Hollywood

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Academy Award-nominated actress Viola Davis isn't the only Black thespian in Hollywood sporting her natural hair these days.

Though Davis' cropped, auburn coif is probably the most well known now -- and perhaps the first time in recent memory that a Black Academy-Award nominated actress sported her natural hair on the red carpet -- she  joins a cast of natural haired actresses.

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These natural actresses are definitely are not the first; they're just continuing a tradition. Cicely Tyson rocked cornrows in the 70s, and Pam Greer's fro is legendary.

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It might not seem like much, but natural hair means E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G, especially in La-La Land, where weaves, wigs and natural body parts are an oxymoron. I thought I'd list a few natural actresses.

This is by no means the total list, so feel free to add your comments below about any actresses I've missed. Don't forget about naturals who wear wigs and weaves -- they count, too!

Yvette Nicole Brown
Raven-Symone
T'Keyah Crystal Keymah
Tisha Campbell
Tamar Braxton
Vanessa Williams
Karyn Parsons
Thandie Newton
Janet Hubert
Alicia Keys
Vanessa Williams
Keisha Knight Pulliam
Joyful Drake
Kim Cole
Kim Wayans
Whoppi Goldberg
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Thoms
Aisha Hinds
S. Epatha Merkeson
Lisa Bonet
Queen Latifah
YaYa DaCosta
Solange Knowles
Vanessa A. Williams
Sophie Okonedo
Angela Simmons
Sheree Whitfield
Skai Jackson
Jill Scott
Kim Fields
Tempestt Bledsoe
Melinda Williams
Sanaa Lathan
Beyonce
Jada Pinkett Smith


Who else did I miss?

HairTroversy Part II: Wendy Williams Tries To Clean Up Her Comments About Viola Davis' Natural Hair

TV talk show host Wendy Williams is trying to clean up her comments about Viola Davis' natural hair at the Academy Awards, after naturals on blogs and in Facebook called out the talk show host for her slight against the Academy Award-nominated actress.

During her red carpet commentary, Wendy said this:

“You know, a lot of people used to say that natural hair wasn’t formal.”

Let the backtracking begin. On a recent show, Wendy said this:

"They gave me the fever on Facebook," Williams said. "To each his own. Natural is not for everybody. It's good for her, I'm not the natural girl. ... I liked her gown, her shape. ... I like Viola better with wigs, that's my personal opinion."

Sideye. Don't try to clean it up now Wendy after you got some flack. Who cares what I, Wendy or anyone else thinks about her hair? As long as she likes it, that's all that counts. If we're not writing her check, who cares?

Really, Wendy doesn't need to now explain her comments about someone else's hair -- not a wig or a weave that they purchased. We heard you loud and clear. I think most naturals have dealt with folks not liking our hair -- whether it's a style, our natural texture, or their wish for us that we'd get a relaxer again.

But calling Davis out on national TV?

Wendy, you're dead wrong for that one.

What do you think about Wendy's comments? How should naturals handle it when someone makes negative comments about our hair?

Viola Davis Wears A Copper Colored Coif at the Academy Awards

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She did it!

Viola Davis showed the world her natural hair on the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards!

I. am. so. excited!

Some folks may not understand what the big deal is. Hell, Viola may return to her wig tomorrow, but guess what? Today, at the friggin 84th Annual Academy Awards, she stepped out in natural hair. And that's all that counts!



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Reportedly, she told host Ryan Seacrest that her mother did her hair -- a short natural crop died a bright copper -- a brigher shade than the natural hair she revealed last week. Her hair and emerald gown by Vera Wang are the perfect match.

Davis, 46, is coming to her own after decades of working in Hollywood -- and you can feel it.

This is what she said about her natural hair, to InStyle Magazine:

"My husband wanted me to take the wig off,” she said. He said, ‘If you want to wear it for your career, that’s fine, but in your life wear your hair. Step into who you are!’ It’s a powerful statement.”

I agree. I hope Davis wins the Best Actress award for her role in The Help. Whether she wins or not, she's already won!

Actresses Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis at Essence Magazine's Black Women in Hollywood 2012 Awards

My fingers are crossed that actresses Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer will grab gold Oscar statues today at the 84th Annual Academy Awards for their respective roles in the blockbuster movie, The Help.

Davis is a contender for Best Actress and Spencer is up for the Best Supporting Actress' Award.

If they win, they'll join an elite group of Black actors that include Hattie McDaniel, Denzel Washington, Monique and others. Of course, I'll be watching for the fashions -- lovely gowns, plenty of sparkly diamonds and fab outfits -- on the red carpet. Natural hair on the red carpet will be an added bonus (maybe Davis will wear her natural hair?), but maybe I'm setting my expectations too high?

Stay tuned to HairNista.blogspot.com for the latest in Academy Awards' fashions and styles on the red carpet.

What do you think about the Academy Awards? Will you be tuning in? Who do you hope wins?

Viola Davis Says Natural Hair Makes Her Feel "Powerful"

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Viola Davis' chic, cropped natural coif caught everyone by surprise during a recent LA Times' Magazine photo shoot.

Davis' natural hair is absolutely stunning -- and enhances her beautiful features. So I was suprised when she sported a chic short wig at the NAACP Image Awards last weekend. Where did her natural hair go?

blank stare

Davis stepped out in natural hair at Essence Magazine's Black Women in Hollywood 2012  awards this week with a bold TWA. She told Essence about her reluctance at times to wear natural hair.

When asked if she breaks out her natural hair for special occasions, Davis replied, "No, there hasn't been any occasion that I felt brave enough to do it."

We've all been there, and I totally get it. Swag is mandatory with natural hair. You just have to know that you know you look good. Even when your twist out failed, your curls plopped and you are having a bad hair day ... you still are on point.

And it takes bravery to do that.

Viola Davis wearing her natural hair in an LA Times' Magazine photo spread 

But there are days when, admittedly, we just don't have it. Even as naturals, our confidence about how we look is very much tied to our hair. I know that feeling good about myself on those not-so- good hair days is something that I struggle with. 

Davis was honest, and I respect her for that. I know I've been there are and after four years of wearing my hair curly, doubts still creep in. (I just make sure that on those days, I wear big earrings, a cute outfit and do other things that make me feel good).

Add the weaved up, wigged up pressures of Hollywood -- which, unless you are an actress, we really don't understand --  and I get Davis' reluctance to give up the safe bobs she's always worn. While all our natural hair journeys are different, we all have similarities: Davis is learning to step into her own and I think it's something most of us can relate to or at least identify with.

How many blogs do you see about wearing natural hair in the workplace, dating or relationships. For a long time, my post about natural hair and marriage was one of my most viewd osts. When you think about it, blogs about natural hair, careers and relationships almost always are inevitably tied to our insecurities about our natural hair. 

Let's support Davis' journey and others that are on the natural fence. I know that when I'm having a bad hair day, a compliment means the world to me.

 "I feel very powerful, I really do," she said. "I feel more powerful every day, more secure in who I am, and I've waited so long for that.... It feels so divine." 

Amen.

What do you think? Can you identify with Davis' struggle? Have you ever been reluctant to wear your natural hair? Does natural hair make you feel more powerful?

Viola Davis Rocks A TWA!

I stared at this picture over the weekend.

It was as if looking a someone I knew, but couldn't place the face.

Yesterday, I finally figured out who "she" was -- legendary actress Viola Davis, rocking a cropped TWA.

Can you say LOVE?

This looks soooo much better than Davis' normal wigs/weaves. I love the look. I think it takes years off her face. And it looks so chic. This is why I didn't recognize Davis. For years, all I've seen her is in wigs/weaves. She wore a God awful wig while on Law & Order some years back.

Who knew that she hid all that beauty hiding under wigs? She is absolutely stunning, and her short, natural coif brings out her beautiful eyes, bone structure and facial features. I hope that Davis rocks her natural on the red carpet -- a shake your finger defiance in the face of all the weaves and wigs that are synonymous with Black Hollywood.

Not knocking the hustle, and trust that I do understand what Black actresses have to go through to make it. Hair is just one other thing added on top of them trying so hard to make a living.

But in a Hollywood in which I can probably count on one hand -- two hands, the most -- the number of celebs who actually rock their hair, not to mention natural, Davis' natural hair is so much more than just hair.
Not my hair, of course, but I just hopes she contines to rock her hair -- at least for a little while.

Just goes to show ... natural hair almost always looks better than fake.

Viola Davis Looks Magnificent in Marchesa

Actress Viola Davis wowed the red carpet at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in L.A. over the weekend.

She looks DIVINE in this Marchesa gown. The white and gold accents beautifully accent her complexion. I love everything about this look! By the way, she snagged the SAG Best Actress award for her role in The Help. The Help co-star Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Acress.

Could an Oscar be not far away?

Hit or Miss? Golden Globes

Black glitterattis sizzled on the red carpet during the 2012 Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills.

Actors Octavia Spencer, Idris Elba and Morgan Freeman took home honors -- setting the stage for hopeful Oscar wins later. Ya know we showed up and showed out! It was all glam and glitz, with Black Hollywood's style game on point, of course.

Here are the hits and misses. Photos by Getty Images.

The queen of hip hop soul sizzled in this beaded Michael Kors gown. Love it!

"The Help" actress Octavia Spencer sizles in this demure, yet fashionable number by Tadashi Shoji. It's got just enough elegance and sass, while not over-the-top.

The Help actress Viola Davis is a smash hit with this one shoulder, Grecan-inspired Emilio Pucci bordeaux gown. Uber sexy, with the revealing shoulder and the thigh-high split.

Love actress Paula Patton, but I'm not a fan of this fishtail dress by Monique Lhuillier. I love the design of it, but the color ... not so much. A different color, maybe?

Amber Riley sizzles in this red gown by Badgley Mischka. Very haute, and richly compliments her skin tone.

Idris Elba is stunning and dashing as ever in this black tux. I love the rhinestone tennis shoes.