GABRIELLE RICHARDSON
New York-based model, artist, graphic-design student, face of Cotton On Body and co-founder of @arthoecollective, which is giving more visibility to artists of colour
MY MUM TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOVE MYSELF, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF THINGS WERE PUSHING ME BACK.
As a black woman, I didn’t always feel beautiful because of white beauty standards, but my mum pushed me to love myself to the fullest. I also look up to Solange [Knowles]. She is amazing – so vocal and so smart. She has a vision and she’s able to execute it.
EVERY DAY I’M STILL OVERCOMING ADVERSITY.
A lot of my power comes from the people around me. I think about all the people who are working against adversity to create a better, brighter world and they help me overcome.
I TRY TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES
– from people shitting on my appearance because my teeth are messed up, or because I’m not a size zero, or because I’m black and dealing with structural racism. I think about what I’ve gone through on the journey to loving myself and use social media to talk about it. Because one thing that really helps people is [the feeling] they’re not alone.
I HAVE A LOT OF HATERS AND HAVE HAD DEATH THREATS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
You have to learn to utilise that block button – take the negative energy out of your life.
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, YOU CAN NOW FIND SO MANY DIFFERENT WOMEN WHO HAVE THE SAME GOAL TO CREATE CHANGE AND A BETTER WORLD.
People can mobilise quick and meet up quicker. There are online communities, new tight-knit groups of women who just want to support women.
I KEEP BALANCED, HAPPY AND HEALTHY BY CENTRING MYSELF.
I get overstimulated easily because I always have a million things going on and then I can’t do anything. I say to myself, “Collect all your thoughts and meditate on them.” You need to just breathe.
I’M PROUD OF BEING PART OF THE ART HOE COLLECTIVE.
I love being able to bring light to other artists. I also have a project where we teach art classes to children in Brooklyn, because in a lot of metropolitan areas, grants for the arts are being taken away. Just being able to help other people makes me really happy.