Tracee Ellis Ross Quotes

Powerful Tracee Ellis Ross for Daily Growth

About Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross, born on October 29, 1972, is an American actress, model, and television host, best known for her role as Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the ABC sitcom 'Black-ish'. The daughter of legendary singer Diana Ross and music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein, Ross was raised in Beverly Hills, California. Ross's interest in acting emerged early; she made her television debut at the age of 13 as a guest star on NBC's sitcom 'Growing Pains'. However, it was her role as Joan Clayton-Cunningham in the UPN/The CW sitcom 'Girlfriends' (2000–2008) that catapulted her into stardom. For this role, she earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2014, Ross joined the cast of 'Black-ish', which has garnered critical acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations. Her portrayal of Rainbow Johnson earned her two consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017 and 2018. Ross's career outside acting includes hosting the American Music Awards (1994, 1995) and serving as a guest judge on 'America's Next Top Model' (2003). She is also an advocate for women's issues, racial equality, and LGBTQ rights. Ross's influence extends beyond the screen, inspiring audiences with her talent, charisma, and advocacy. Her versatile acting skills, coupled with her dedication to using her platform for positive change, solidify her as a trailblazer in the entertainment industry.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I've come to embrace my messy, magical, strongly flavored, imperfect life."

This quote from Tracee Ellis Ross emphasizes her acceptance and appreciation for a life that is not perfect but filled with unique qualities. She celebrates its messiness, which could represent the unpredictable or chaotic aspects of life, and its magic, suggesting the wonder and mystery that life holds. The "strongly flavored" part highlights the richness and distinctiveness that her life offers. Overall, she embraces her imperfections, acknowledging that they are an integral part of her journey, making her life all the more beautiful and meaningful.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, works our present, and opens a window on our future."

This quote by Tracee Ellis Ross emphasizes the transformative power of gratitude in enhancing life's richness. Gratitude turns what we have into sufficient abundance, enabling us to find contentment with our current circumstances. It helps us accept difficult situations, brings order out of chaos, and clarity out of confusion, thereby helping us make sense of our past, present, and future. In essence, gratitude is a powerful tool for finding peace, acceptance, and moving forward in life.

"I don't want to be where I am not celebrated."

This quote emphasizes the importance of self-worth, recognition, and appreciation. Tracee Ellis Ross is stating that she chooses to invest her time and energy in environments and relationships where she feels valued, respected, and appreciated – a place where she is 'celebrated.' It serves as a reminder for everyone that it's essential to prioritize personal fulfillment, acknowledgement, and acknowledging the worth of oneself in life.

"You are imminently capable, imminently valuable, and imminently powerful."

This quote by Tracee Ellis Ross conveys a strong and empowering message about self-worth and capability. It suggests that each person is inherently equipped with immense potential, value, and power. The word "imminent" emphasizes the immediate presence of these qualities within oneself. In essence, Ross's words remind us to recognize, embrace, and utilize our innate abilities, understanding that we are valuable individuals worthy of recognition and empowerment.

"Every day is an opportunity for self-discovery, growth, and evolution."

This quote by Tracee Ellis Ross emphasizes that every day offers fresh possibilities for personal development. It encourages us to continually explore ourselves, learn, adapt, and transform, recognizing each day as a unique opportunity to grow in wisdom, character, and understanding.

I need to see my own beauty and to continue to be reminded that I am enough, that I am worthy of love without effort, that I am beautiful, that the texture of my hair and that the shape of my curves, the size of my lips, the color of my skin, and the feelings that I have are all worthy and okay.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Love, Beauty, Color, My Own

Here is my wish and my desire and my pledge as well: that we remember our true nature and our womanhood. That we own and know that we are more than our bodies and yet our bodies are these sacred, beautiful, rhythmic houses for us.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Own, Here, Bodies, Womanhood

My natural disposition is pretty joyful, but you know, I have bad days and sad moments like anybody else.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Bad, Natural, Pretty, Disposition

For so many years, I was trying to beat my hair into submission, trying to get it to look like someone else's hair, and I didn't know how. I remember going through a phase where I even put beer in my hair, because I was told that would make it smooth and curly.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

I Remember, Through, Years, Curly

It is important to me to take care of my skin. In general I don't like to wear foundation; I'm not a fan of the look. I like my skin fresh and natural enough so my freckles show through.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Natural, Through, Like, Freckles

Human rights, race relations, gender politics, health care, and foreign policy - it's a lot to keep track of, and yet all of these things affect us in our daily lives. Making sense of everything requires meticulous unpacking of feelings, delicate navigation of social norms, and a community of love to help along the way.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Love, Politics, Delicate, Foreign

I don't always feel fierce and fearless, but I do feel like I'm a rock star at being human.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Star, Rock Star, Always, Being Human

Putting all your eggs in one basket has never worked for me. Personally, I find if I decide too quickly that someone is my match, I start to get a little nutty.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Eggs, Basket, Putting, Nutty

The experience of both acting and producing has been wonderful. It certainly has created a full plate. But it is very exciting and rewarding to have creative input on the show. 'Reed' is about love and family and for me, playing a hand in shaping it has been deeply gratifying.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Love, Been, Very, Reed

I don't really talk about my personal life. It's a strange and funny and weird thing. Sometimes you have a conversation with someone and the paparazzi snaps a picture of you and people decide you're dating. If I try to answer everything people say, I would be up all night.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Sometimes, Weird Thing, Paparazzi

My mom had beautiful clothes. My mom is elegant; my mom is glamorous. But my mom is also really real, and I grew up with a mother who had babies crawling on her head and spitting up on her when she was wearing gorgeous, expensive things, and it was never an issue.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Mom, Had, Babies, Spitting

If you look back at what I believe and what I stand for, I am certainly a proud feminist.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Proud, Back, Certainly, Feminist

I eat in the same philosophy that I live with: joyfully!

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Philosophy, Eat, Same, Joyfully

I have a few rules on lipstick... I don't wear gloss because I can't talk properly. I like matte lipsticks; I like an opaque shade that you can't see my lip color through at all.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Color, Through, Like, Opaque

If wearing a weave is what makes you feel beautiful, if wearing a wig, if wearing your hair pink, blue, that's what matters, in my opinion.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Pink, Wearing, In My Opinion, Wig

There's a power in what we hold as artists, and part of that comes with responsibility... to share the human experience and really allow that to be seen.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Experience, Part, Allow, Human Experience

Share shame so you are not left alone with it. If you can't find another person, get a journal. I didn't say make a video on Snapchat. It's for you, not anyone else.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Shame, Say, Another, Journal

We should all do what we can in our daily lives to remember that we are glorious and powerful.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Remember, Powerful, Lives, Daily Lives

Because of my unique experience as my mom's child, the beginning of my journey was more about me trying to figure out who I was on my own. My mom is one of the greatest moms and so supportive of all my siblings and of all of us being who we are, and not who she wanted us to be.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Beginning, Own, Supportive, My Journey

Even if politicians spew confusing, convoluted jargon, these people are still meant to represent me, and the only way that happens is if I stay informed and vote.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Informed, Still, Meant, Jargon

The experience of being a mixed person is all over the place - one of my best friends is Chinese and Italian; my other best friend is Lebanese and Trinidadian. The mix of heritage, culture or identity is something that our country is built on.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Country, Other, Mixed, Lebanese

I'm attracted to bold women - I collect them. I met one of my best friends when we both were about 22 and working at 'Mirabella' magazine. I was wearing this blue dress I had borrowed from my mom, and I didn't know I had deodorant lines all over it until my friend signaled to me.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Dress, Over It, About, Deodorant

I've heard people say, 'Why do you have to do a show that's called 'Black Girls Rock'?' or 'Why is there an expression called 'black girl magic'?' You know, when you say, 'Save the dolphins,' you don't mean, 'I don't like whales.' That's just not the way it works!

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Magic, Show, Works, Whales

I used to watch my mom put her makeup on for the stage, and it was one of the most special moments. I would sit quietly on the dressing room floor and watch her put her face on. I think she looks most beautiful in the morning when she wakes up with no makeup on... it's my favorite look on women.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Mom, Makeup, I Think, Dressing Room

I just really strongly promote pushing against this culture of perfection. I mean, I'm sorry, for me, Spanx don't feel good. I've tried one of those waist-trainer things on - that hurt like the bejesus.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Good, Feel, Against, Perfection

I'm extremely blessed to have the extraordinary mother that I have, and I don't mean Diana Ross, I mean the mother. My mom paved a road that didn't exist, as did Oprah.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Mom, Blessed, Oprah, Paved

The national treasure that is Diana Ross is a dim light compared with who she is as a mother. My mom paved the way not only for my career but also for who I am as a human being.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Career, Human Being, Dim, Paved

There is no right way to do life.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Life, Right, Way, Right Way

When I'm not working, I spend a lot of time on my hair. When it's time for my hair to get some rest, I either wear it in a ponytail, bun or my favorite 'milkmaid' braid.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Rest, Some, Wear, Ponytail

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is like a hero, to have played different comedic roles. She gets sexier, funnier, and better with time.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Like, Funnier, Roles, Comedic

I loved being a redhead! I always wanted to try it. I was obsessed with Lucille Ball growing up. I really wanted to try it but I always thought that doing it would ruin my hair.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Doing, Always, Redhead, Ruin

In this day and age, I ask anyone I date right away: 'Are you married? Are you in a relationship with anyone? Does anyone think they're in a relationship with you?' And by the way, if someone says, 'Yes, I am dating other people,' that's not necessarily a deal breaker. But you have to communicate it, not hide it.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Date, Deal, Other, Right Away

I used to think 40 was old. Now I think, 'Hey, 40's hot!'

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Think, Old, I Think, Hey

I always had a thin frame, but when you hit 40 and eat french fries three days in a row, it's like, 'What happened?'

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Always, Like, Had, Frame

I feel like I'm on the inside for the first time. Inside the castle. I have an Emmy nomination!

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Feel, Castle, Like, Emmy

For me, it really is about the self-acceptance... the more time that I spend really accepting and allowing myself to be exactly where I am, the faster it is I move towards what I wanna be doing.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Doing, More, Move, Accepting

I think it's possible to have a vision for your life that goes beyond any circumstance of anything that you've ever seen, and I encourage people to do that. But I don't think that any of us can do that in a vacuum.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Think, Goes, I Think, Circumstance

I used to literally collect friends that had hair like me. And it would start like this: 'What kind of products do you use?'

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Kind, Like, Literally, Collect

I have started using the expression 'compassionate activism': It's about keeping my heart open so that I can understand the point of view of the other person.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Other, Expression, Using, Compassionate

I think my biggest tip - and I consider it a part of my beauty routine - is getting my sleep, without a doubt. I do a true eight hours.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Think, Hours, I Think, Tip

I think that complicated, nuanced, deep, heavy - that's the place to go. That's what makes a great show. That's what all of us deal with in life.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Deep, Think, Deal, Great Show

I think culturally, even if you just talk about it in context, the standard of beauty has not included women of color. Period. Not just black women. If you are not a certain thing, there has not been space for you.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Think, Standard, Period, Context

In the context of our world, sizes 8 and 10 are teeny, but not for Hollywood. I had to ask myself, 'Do I want to be somebody who worries about what I'm eating? Or do I want to find a balance where I can be healthy and not consumed by that and maybe have to buy some larger pants?' I bought new pants.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Some, Consumed, Larger, Context

What I think is exciting is that, to a certain extent, there is a revolution happening where black women are owning their own beauty, despite the standard of beauty that in the past has not had space for it.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Think, Standard, Extent, Women Are

Keeping the facts differentiated from the fantasy is incredibly helpful in gathering your information as you discover if a person is a match for you.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Discover, Fantasy, Keeping, Gathering

I'm baffled by the people who say, 'I'm just not going to vote.'

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Say, Going, Baffled, Vote

'Blackish' is set in current times. So, doing a police brutality episode in current times when kids are watching our show, it gives them an access point to have these kinds of conversations as family.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Doing, Access, Set, Brutality

Red carpet is a little bit scary. It's not about expression. It's about taking a pretty picture in a really weird, awkward way, with so many people watching. It's a glamorous part of the job, but it requires its own kind of courage.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Own, Part, About, Red Carpet

It is important for me to feel like myself on a red carpet - not the way somebody else thinks I should look.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Myself, Feel, Like, Red Carpet

Lily Tomlin was one of the early comedy greats who influenced my courage to be the person I am.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Comedy, Influenced, Am, Early

There's no way you can go home and learn lines, because you need to go home and sleep. So I've figured out systems. I order two lunches so I can eat dinner before I leave work, so when I get home, I can just go to bed.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Bed, Before, Figured, Lines

I was watching the Nina Simone documentary alone in my room, and I said out loud to myself, 'Why do we not know that this woman is beauty? She is beauty! Why did no one tell me this growing up? Why was her name not next to 'beauty' in the dictionary?'

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Beauty, Woman, Next, Documentary

Every two months, I'll get a trim, and every two years, I'll get a cut. And my night ritual is that I go to sleep. I don't wrap my hair, I don't bun my hair, I don't do crap!

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Cut, Months, Ritual, Trim

Everyone's always like, 'Be your best self!' And that drives me bananas, because when you're not, it makes you feel really bad.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Bad, Always, Everyone, Bananas

Clothing started as an armor for me. It was one of the ways that I protected myself from the world. It evolved into a form of creative expression.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Myself, Expression, Evolved, Armor

In my late 20s, I realized that I had a very clear social conscience and strong opinions about things like diversity, equality, and education, and while I tried to become more politically literate, I just couldn't catch on. It felt like I had walked into a movie that had already started, and no one would explain what had happened.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Strong, Explain, Very, Catch

I feel like our culture is so good at pulling other people down and being so judgmental, but there's space for all of us to be who we are. There's space for us to celebrate each other and root for each other and not take each other down.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Feel, Other, Our, Pulling

We as black people are not a monolithic bunch. We are not all the same, and neither are women. Instead, we are all individuals who have these extraordinary stories to tell and share with each other that will enrich all of our lives and help us all become more ourselves and better people.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Tell, Other, Individuals, Our Lives

Having been in the business for a while, I never like to look forward. You kind of enjoy what's happening while it's happening and leave the rest up to God, the angels, the trees, the stars - whatever you want to call it.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Enjoy, Been, While, Happening

As I get older, the more I stay focused on the acceptance of myself and others, and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Curiosity, More, Over, Older

I am a connoisseur of products. I check out everything, I try everything.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

I Am, Try, Check, Connoisseur

I listen to my body. Some days all I want is a good steak and others, I crave veggies and quinoa.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Steak, Want, Some, Crave

I think it's huge that I'm wearing my natural hair texture on ABC in prime time. As Dr. Rainbow Johnson on 'Black-ish,' I think my hair is part of the reality of this woman's life. She has four children and is an anesthesiologist and a wife. She doesn't have a lot of time to fuss with beauty, so her look is pretty simple.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Beauty, Woman, I Think, ABC

My goal is to make space for my selfhood. All of it. All of me, not just the parts I like or think that others like but all of it.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Goal, Think, Like, Parts

I think we're as happy as we make up our minds to be.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Think, Minds, I Think, Make Up

My weight fluctuates. I have years where I wear a size 10, and years where I wear a size 4.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Weight, Wear, Where, Size

I have a vocabulary in clothing. It's like a whole language.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Like, Vocabulary, Whole, Clothing

So about this Fierce and Fearless award, honestly, I am often afraid. I was terrified when I lost my voice. But I've come to understand and listen to the fear. I walk towards it. I lean into it to find the information and things that it has to teach me - unless it says run, and then I run.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Fearless, Voice, About, Award

I don't have children. I don't know how I would feel if my child brought home a different race boyfriend or girlfriend. I don't think I would have any issue with it. But I have no litmus test for that.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Think, Race, Brought, Litmus

I'm trying to find a little joy and happiness, a lot of giggles - and maybe some pretty shoes.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Some, Pretty, Lot, Giggles

I don't do what I do to get nominated. I do what I do because I love it.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Love, Get, I Love, Nominated

On 'Black-ish,' I like my makeup to be really natural - so much that I can do it myself. My character is a mother of four and a doctor and a wife, who would not have time to be putting on eyeshadow or curling her lashes.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Makeup, Natural, Lashes, Four

I'm always touched by people's different stories of who they are and why they made the choices that they made. I feel so empowered by the story behind the person.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Behind, Always, Touched, Empowered

I don't want to feel shamed into making a choice about my physical appearance or my body... or even about the choices I make about my life. I want to be feel empowered and inspired because they feel good to me.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

My Life, About, Shamed, Empowered

I cook naked, and I walk around naked. I'm very comfortable with my body.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Cook, Naked, Very, Comfortable

Using my voice to recognize and celebrate other women is a joy for me.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Voice, Other, Using, Recognize

Politics is tricky for me. For most of my life, I didn't think it applied to me.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Politics, My Life, Most, Tricky

We live in a culture where people are constantly telling us how to get what we want, and within that message is, 'You need to be something other than you are.'

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Other, Within, Telling, Message

My goal is not necessarily to be an inspiration. I think, if anything, I want to continue to be inspired and to continue to grow as a person.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Goal, Think, I Think, Inspired

I grew up on the ragged edge of self-acceptance, where I was holding on to it, but it was easy to fall off. But as I found my way inside myself, I've been able to accept my own hair, my own shape.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Own, Holding On, Been, Accept

I think, for me, my goal is to continue to be teachable. I can't see around corners, but I want to be able to walk enough in my life where I go around more corners than I ever thought I could go around.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

My Life, Thought, I Think, Continue

I'm toned, but I'm not cut. I like a little jiggle!

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Little, Like, Cut, Toned

Keep in mind that diversity does not just mean black. It means all of it - age, weight, gender.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Mind, Gender, Means, Diversity

As a woman of color, we're raised to know we have to be twice as good.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Woman, Color, Twice, Raised

I've never felt like I was in my mother's shadow. If anything, I felt like I was in her embrace.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Mother, Shadow, Never, Embrace

Career-wise, there are so many things where you don't get what you think you want. I've had to make space for, 'Do I let that debilitate me and make me feel bad about myself? And make me feel like I need to change myself in some way?' Because I think changing myself is very different from growing and learning.

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Some, I Think, Very, Changing

There are things about my body that I don't love, but I'm not trying to look perfect every day - I'm trying to look like me!

- Tracee Ellis Ross

Love, Every Day, Like, Perfect

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.