148 DECEMBER 2017
NYRA LANGDETAILS AT VOGUE.COM.AU/WTBisty Copeland, who makes a guest appearance in
Sydney with the Australian Ballet this month, Sydney with the Australian Ballet this month,
has a way of making things look easy. Arriving has a way of making things look easy. Arriving
at her shoot with a sunny energy and a wide, beaming at her shoot with a sunny energy and a wide, beaming
smile, she instantly makes everyone feel as if she is just one smile, she instantly makes everyone feel as if she is just one
of us. Then the second she steps in front of the camera, of us. Then the second she steps in front of the camera,
boom, you realise who you’re in the room with. Here is a boom, you realise who you’re in the room with. Here is a
prodigy who started dance at the advanced age of 13, then prodigy who started dance at the advanced age of 13, then
became the first African American principal dancer at the became the first African American principal dancer at the
American Ballet Theatre (one of the top companies in the American Ballet Theatre (one of the top companies in the
world) – a woman who was a muse to and collaborator world) – a woman who was a muse to and collaborator
with Prince and is an author, a diversity advocate and an with Prince and is an author, a diversity advocate and an
idol to young dancers everywhere. She’s petite (158 idol to young dancers everywhere. She’s petite (158
centimetres) but has the effortless strength of an athlete. centimetres) but has the effortless strength of an athlete.
And while she’s humble about her own beauty, she’s big on And while she’s humble about her own beauty, she’s big on
playing cheerleader to others. She talks about challenging playing cheerleader to others. She talks about challenging
conventions and how her new role as the face of Estée conventions and how her new role as the face of Estée
Lauder Modern Muse fragrance helps her do it.Lauder Modern Muse fragrance helps her do it.
Ying Chu: “How did you find confidence in yourself as Ying Chu: “How did you find confidence in yourself as
aayoung dancer?”young dancer?”
MMisty Copeland:isty Copeland: “It took me a while to understand that “It took me a while to understand that
the classical ballet field is so much about what you look the classical ballet field is so much about what you look
like, and also to accept that it’s okay to be different. I don’t like, and also to accept that it’s okay to be different. I don’t
need to look like every ballerina that’s come before me. As need to look like every ballerina that’s come before me. As
a young person, I wish I had had more examples of success a young person, I wish I had had more examples of success
through people who looked like me, showing me that through people who looked like me, showing me that
brown skin is beautiful. I’ve been able to discover beauty brown skin is beautiful. I’ve been able to discover beauty
on my own terms.”on my own terms.”
YC: “WYC: “Who have you looked up to along the way?”ho have you looked up to along the way?”
MC: MC: “Veronica Webb [the first African American model to “Veronica Webb [the first African American model to
land a major beauty contract, with Revlon in 1992]. She was land a major beauty contract, with Revlon in 1992]. She was
one of the first groundbreaking black women I met early in one of the first groundbreaking black women I met early in
my career. She set an example that there were endless my career. She set an example that there were endless
opportunities no matter where you came from.”opportunities no matter where you came from.”
YC: “Have you always been into beauty?”YC: “Have you always been into beauty?”
MC: “MC: “My mother loved make-up. She never left the house My mother loved make-up. She never left the house
without full mascara and red lips. But as a child, I never without full mascara and red lips. But as a child, I never
wanted to stand out. The most I wore, up until high school, wanted to stand out. The most I wore, up until high school,
was clear mascara. I didn’t really discover make-up until was clear mascara. I didn’t really discover make-up until
IIbecame a dancer, and I still don’t wear much when I’m not became a dancer, and I still don’t wear much when I’m not
working. But I’ve always been a big perfume person. It’s working. But I’ve always been a big perfume person. It’s
something Isomething Iput on before I step into rehearsal or onto the put on before I step into rehearsal or onto the
stage. I think it’s nice for my partner to smell something stage. I think it’s nice for my partner to smell something
beautiful, and it has just become a part of this ritual of my beautiful, and it has just become a part of this ritual of my
preparing to go onstage.”preparing to go onstage.”
YC: “WYC: “When do you feel most beautiful now?”hen do you feel most beautiful now?”
MMC:C: “On stage, when I’m able to really become the “On stage, when I’m able to really become the
characters. Something about all that hard work and history characters. Something about all that hard work and history
makes me feel beautiful. It’s not that I feel ugly in my makes me feel beautiful. It’s not that I feel ugly in my
everyday life, it’s just not my goal to be beautiful.”everyday life, it’s just not my goal to be beautiful.”
YC: “So what motivated you to do a cosmetics campaign?”YC: “So what motivated you to do a cosmetics campaign?”
MC:MC: “It’s important for women to see themselves represented “It’s important for women to see themselves represented
in every hue and shape, with different careers and different in every hue and shape, with different careers and different
paths. You don’t have to have plastic surgery, you don’t have paths. You don’t have to have plastic surgery, you don’t have
to be stick-thin and starve yourself to be beautiful. I feel like to be stick-thin and starve yourself to be beautiful. I feel like
I represent a lot of people. And I want to encourage young I represent a lot of people. And I want to encourage young
people to love themselves and accept who they are.”people to love themselves and accept who they are.” ■■MM
Trailblazing Trailblazing
ballet star Misty ballet star Misty
Copeland has Copeland has
landed a major landed a major
campaign for campaign for
Estée Lauder – Estée Lauder –
and here’s why and here’s why
that matters. that matters.
By Ying Chu.By Ying Chu.On pointOn point
VOGUE BEAUTY
Misty Copeland wears
a Jill Stuart dress. a Jill Stuart dress.
Égal Dance leotard. Égal Dance leotard.
Dior earring and ring. Dior earring and ring.
EF Collection choker. EF Collection choker.