Teyana Taylor: Black women aren't granted 'grace'

Teyana Taylor recently discussed the challenges of being misread as a Black woman. The actress and musician shared that her strong, androgynous features can make people feel intimidated, leading to a lack of 'grace' and her being perceived as tough when she feels like a 'princess.'

Taylor highlighted the societal expectation for Black women to constantly embody strength, stating, 'We're Superwoman all the time.' She drew parallels to her earlier remarks about Black women's 'softness not being a liability.' Taylor described herself as having a hard exterior but a soft interior, with 'muscle memory' of love.

Her significant career achievements were honored in June with the 2026 BET Icon Award, presented by Janet Jackson. Taylor became emotional during her acceptance speech, reflecting on two decades of hard work leading to this recognition. She expressed gratitude rather than arrogance for receiving the award.