American actress Tracee Ellis Ross to host Fashion Awards 2019

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Nov 1, 2019

The British Fashion Council has selected an American actress, activist and beauty entrepreneur to host this year’s Fashion Awards.

Tracee Ellis Ross, who is best known for her performance as Dr. Rainbow Johnson on the ABC comedy series Black-ish and her role as Joan Clayton on the long-running hit series Girlfriends, picks up the baton from British actor and comedian Jack Whitehall and South-Sudanese British model and activist Alek Wek.

She is also the CEO and founder of a new haircare brand called Pattern, which caters for the curly, and tight-textured masses. Founded just two months ago, the brand is already a hit, selling out the majority of items within one day. Pattern also has a philanthropic element, helping to support organisations and initiatives that empower women and people of colour.

And she is considered one of the founders of the #TimesUp movement, also being actively involved in working towards the goal of creating safety and equality in the workplace. 

Her activism and advocacy for women’s rights has turned her into an influential voice in conversations around diversity, equality and female empowerment, and in April 2018, she became the first black woman to open the TED Conference.

Her appointment as host of the Fashion Awards 2019 speaks volumes about the UK industry’s efforts to become more inclusive and diverse. Earlier this week, criticism over black women’s representation within the fashion industry erupted again after Elle Germany published a ‘Back to black’ issue which was slammed from all corners for being culturally insensitive.

Tracee Ellis Ross will host the Fashion Awards 2019 on 2 December at the Royal Albert Hall in London.