Issa Rae Opens Up About Confidence & Ignoring the Haters

Issa Rae is featured in the July 2018 issue of Cosmopolitan, out now.

Here’s what the 33-year-old Insecure actress had to say…

On gaining and maintaining confidence: “Confidence comes from knowing your s–t is good. I’m for sure confident when it comes to work and trying to fulfill my dreams. Socially, the confidence has teetered, but that’s growing as I’m coming into who I am.”

On ignoring the haters: “There comes a point when you have to block it out but remain humble—that’s the balance I’m trying to navigate.”

On becoming a face of CoverGirl: “[It was] kind of surreal. Like, ‘Wow, y’all are choosing me?’ It was for the little girl in me who never thought that this would be possible. There’s power in representation. There’s affirmation in representation.”

On how she wants to see women of color to be seen on screen: “I prioritize making dark-skinned women desirable. You don’t see a lot of dark-skin representation. That’s been overlooked. Also, seeing them as beautiful, in addition to desirable, which are two very different things.”

For more from Issa, visit Cosmopolitan.com.