Queen Latifah, an icon of empowerment and resilience, took to Instagram to inspire her followers and highlight her groundbreaking initiative, the Queen Collective, a program created in partnership with Flavor Unit Entertainment and Procter & Gamble.
Speaking at the ADCOLOR Conference, she shared her journey from facing doubt to rewriting her narrative and becoming a trailblazer in film and advertising.
Breaking Barriers with the Queen Collective
The Queen Collective aims to increase gender and racial equality by providing emerging filmmakers with the resources, exposure, and economic support needed to reshape storytelling in entertainment and advertising.
Latifah’s passion for the initiative shines as she encourages others to pursue their dreams, regardless of naysayers.
“There will always be people who do not share your dreams or vision… but YOU know better! Write your own story,” Latifah wrote on Instagram, inspiring her fans to persevere in the face of adversity.
Turning “No” into “Yes”
In a powerful video accompanying the post, Latifah reflected on a pivotal moment early in her career when she was told she could never be a movie star.
“We turn that into a yes, she can,” she said.
Latifah’s response to doubters came with a meteoric rise, including starring in the number-one box office hit Bring It Down the House and earning an Oscar nomination for her role in Chicago.
“Them is movie star things,” Latifah quipped, proving her critics wrong and cementing her place as a Hollywood powerhouse.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Through the Queen Collective, Latifah continues to uplift underrepresented voices, ensuring the next generation of storytellers has a platform to succeed.
Her journey from breaking barriers to building bridges is a testament to her mantra: Write your own story.
