At 52, Tracee Ellis Ross is still that girl: unapologetically fabulous, deeply insightful, and as candid as ever. But in a recent conversation on Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s podcast ‘IMO’, the actress, director, and forever diva got real about something many women silently battle.
Yes, Tracee has the career, the legacy, the glam but even a powerhouse can feel the ache of what hasn’t happened.
“As much grief does surface for me around not having children and not having a partner,” she confessed, “I still wouldn’t want the wrong partner.”
In the episode, Tracee spoke with Michelle and Craig about what it’s really like navigating love and loneliness in your 50s. She didn’t sugarcoat anything. She opened up about the pangs of not having the family she once imagined but emphasized that she’d never settle just to fill a void.
“I am not interested in that,” she said, firmly. “You have to make my life better. It can’t just be I’m in a relationship just to be in a relationship.”
Tracee also didn’t hold back when it came to critiquing the dating pool. According to her, most men her age are still swimming in the deep end of toxic masculinity — stuck in outdated beliefs about what relationships should look like. And as far as playing coach or mother figure, she’s not ready.
“I’ve been long past the age where I feel like it’s my job to teach somebody or grow them up,” she added.
As for dating apps? That’s a no. The Girlfriends star prefers organic vibes. Real-life connections, setups, and catching a spark face-to-face. She’s not swiping left or right for love.
Tracee Ellis Ross revealed she prefers meeting potential clients in person at events or organized settings, noting that these individuals often have a similar level of recognition and stakes involved in the interaction.
“It’s usually people that also have a level of recognition. They have as much to lose as me to a certain extent.”
Even with moments of grief, Tracee’s still full of hope but on her terms. She’s holding out for the kind of partner who adds to her life, not complicates it.
And honestly, whether she finds “her person” or not, Tracee Ellis Ross says she is still living, glowing, and evolving out loud. While letting all of us know it’s okay to want love, grieve its absence, and still refuse to settle.
