10 Celebrity Women Who Support Other Women

Now more than ever, women supporting each other is imperative. With so much going on in the current administration that is harmful and demeaning to women, coupled with a host of public figures calling for a war on feminism, women, especially Black women, need to stand together and display a united front.

Unfortunately, not all feminists are created equal. And while women like Nicki Minaj claim to be feminists and want to uplift other women, as of late the only crown she seems interested in lifting up is her own. Thankfully, there a some pretty prominent Black female celebrities who let it be known to the world how much they support other women and how crucial it is to our current society. Some of these ladies are actresses, singers, directors and moguls…but what they all have in common is their willingness to lift up other women.

Kerry Washington

It shouldn’t be surprising that the woman who once fiercely portrayed Olivia Pope is also a die-hard feminist and supporter of women in real life. Kerry Washington is one of the few A-list celebrities who uses her platform to educate, celebrate and support the various causes, issues and platforms concerning women.

In a 2012 interview, she discussed her own feminism, but stressed that there is no certain way to be one, it’s mainly about freedom and supporting other women:

“The term feminist is so inclusive now. There isn’t one way to be a feminist or to practice feminism, to exercise feminism. You can be feminist in lots of different ways because the point is freedom of choice.  I also want to say that I very much identify with the term womanist, but I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. I also identify as a humanist. I don’t think that either of those terms are mutually exclusive.”

Alicia Keys

A few years ago, Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys shocked the world when she decided to ditch her glamorous hair and makeup routine in favor of going completely au naturale permanently. Many women praised her choice, as they saw it as a bold statement against what society deems as beautiful or acceptable.

With adopted feminist anthems like “Superwoman” and “Girl On Fire,” Alicia Keys has never shied away from letting her voice be heard as it relates to uplifting women. In an interview earlier this year she stated just how proud she is to be a woman, “Being a woman, being a girl, is the most awesome thing to be. I personally feel we are the more evolved species. We are the greatest creators on the planet, like, the planet literally would not exist if we weren’t in it. … We’re the entire universe, in five feet five inches. One beautiful, elegant, awkward body.”

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is many things to many people, journalist, mogul, actress, friend in our head and a sometimes savior– after all, they don’t call her Mother O for nothing. However, above all else, she has been a fierce supporter of women breaking down doors and making history in spaces where the doors were otherwise closed to them.

One current look at her largely female-led and female-created line-up of shows on OWN network and her enduring magazine O, gives you just a small fraction of the proof you need.

At the 2018 Golden Globes where she was awarded the Cecile B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement, Winfrey gave one of her most empowering, inspiring and uplifting speeches yet. In one especially moving passage she spoke about the importance of women being heard, “For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!”

Ava DuVernay

As one of the very few black female A-list directors in Hollywood, Ava DuVernay has made it her commitment to advocate for the diversity and inclusivity of women in the entertainment industry. Take a quick look at her work and you’ll see a collection of strong female characters that take on the men they encounter head-on and she has more women working behind the scenes than any other director.

In 2015, she voiced her displeasure at Hollywood continuing to overlook qualified female directors in favor of men with far less experience:

“You mean to tell me that there are no women who might have already made a film who might have been worth talking to for The Flash,” DuVernay says. “You’re a major studio saying, It doesn’t matter if you have experience or not, we still want him. I don’t know that guy, and he’s probably the greatest guy, but as a woman filmmaker, I have to think, what does that say about that choice? It’s always the young, cool hipster white guy. Always.”

Issa Rae

She’s already let it be known she’s rooting “for everybody black,” but actress/writer/creator Issa Rae should also add women to the list of people she regularly cheers for. Through her highly successful series Insecure, Rae shows the awkwardness of a woman trying to navigate her 30s while attempting to dodge life’s hurdles. However, the series also shows the importance of the strong bonds of female friendship, particularly as it relates to the characters of Issa and Molly.

While speaking on a college campus panel, Rae explicitly stated the driving force behind Insecure…and it lies with women. “It’s a show centered around two black female friends,” Rae said. “Black women are essential to my life, and any time I have a chance to work with them, support them, I’m there.”

Janelle Monáe

In case her videos for “Pynk” (featuring an amazing pair of vagina pants) and “Make Me Feel” didn’t make the message clear, singer/actress Janelle Monáe is all about the love, empowerment and support of women. Going as far back as her early black and white tuxedo-wearing days, she has consistently challenged gender roles about what women should be and how they should be represented.

In 2016 interview, while she was promoting the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight, Monáe called out men and stressed the need for their support as it relates to feminism:

“Feminism should be a part of Black masculinity,” says Monáe. “Men should absolutely feel like it is their duty to be allies with women; speak up against sexism and help us fight some of the evil things that have been done to us. If Black masculinity is part of being a man, then what makes you a man is also your support and how you treat women.”

Amandla Stenberg

Young actress Amandla Stenberg continues to prove that age ain’t nothing but a number when it comes to voicing her support of other women. In her short career, she has used her platform numerous times to speak out on the discrimination and injustices facing women in Hollywood and throughout the country.

She’s been called a vital young voice of the future and with good reason. In an eye-opening interview in 2016 where she herself interviewed feminist icon Gloria Steinem, Stenberg spoke about her feminism as it relates to her specific gender identity:

“I never did not identify as a feminist, but I didn’t know where I belonged because I didn’t see myself represented. As I started to explore my gender identity, I didn’t know how I could claim the title of feminist without subscribing to the gender binary. I thought I had to be a proud woman to be a feminist. Then I came to the realization that I can be proud of women without necessarily identifying as one. A lot of people are rejecting the binary—that’s the future of feminism.”

Solange Knowles

Never one to conform to what the mainstream deems as acceptable for women, Solange Knowles has made it a point through her entire career to do what she wants and put the fierce determination of women front and center.

Her outspoken nature is the perfect platform for her to speak about the issues impacting women and she puts those themes into her music as well. In one of her most revealing interviews to date, Knowles firmly cemented her status as a proud feminist and as a woman who supports other women at all costs:

“I am a proud black feminist and womanist and I’m extremely proud of the work that’s being done. I’m a feminist who wants not only to hear the term intersectionality, but actually feel it, and see the evolution of what intersectional feminism can actually achieve. I want women’s rights to be equally honored, and uplifted, and heard…but I want to see us fighting the fight for all women — women of color, our LGBTQ sisters, our Muslim sisters.”

Zendaya

Young Hollywood has a great representative in actress Zendaya. Once you get past the beauty and the talent, there lies an intelligent young woman who is passionate about the continued need for the support of women and her stance on modern feminism.

Zendaya is especially outspoken about the importance of black women supporting each other and when asked to define what she thinks feminism is in a 2015 interview, she kept it short and sweet, but totally inspiring, “A feminist is a person who believes in the power of women just as much as they believe in the power of anyone else. It’s equality, it’s fairness, and I think it’s a great thing to be a part of.”

Beyoncé

While not as unapologetic about it as her sister Solange, superstar Beyoncé has given examples of her feminism throughout her career. Mostly through her music, she has sang about women in powerful positions and striving through adversity.

In a rare 2016 interview, she was asked directly what feminism and supporting other women means to her and provided a lengthy response:

“I put the definition of feminist in my song [“Flawless”] and on my tour, not for propaganda or to proclaim to the world that I’m a feminist, but to give clarity to the true meaning. I’m not really sure people know or understand what a feminist is, but it’s very simple. It’s someone who believes in equal rights for men and women. I don’t understand the negative connotation of the word, or why it should exclude the opposite sex. If you are a man who believes your daughter should have the same opportunities and rights as your son, then you’re a feminist. We need men and women to understand the double standards that still exist in this world, and we need to have a real conversation so we can begin to make changes.”