Power Moves: Crystle Stewart & Taylor Polidore Williams Discuss Netflix’s Beauty in Black
Check out this Exclusive Interview on SHEENTV As television continues to evolve, Black women are helping redefine what storytelling looks like on screen. Through complex, ambitious, and resilient characters like Mallory and Kimmie in Beauty in Black, audiences are connecting with stories of power and resilienceDuring the American Black Film Festival, SHEEN spoke with stars…
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Check out this Exclusive Interview on SHEENTV
As television continues to evolve, Black women are helping redefine what storytelling looks like on screen. Through complex, ambitious, and resilient characters like Mallory and Kimmie in Beauty in Black, audiences are connecting with stories of power and resilienceDuring the American Black Film Festival, SHEEN spoke with stars Crystle Stewart and Taylor Polidore Williams about representation and the importance of telling stories centered on Black women in power. (Watch the full interview above for the complete conversation).
Stewart plays Mallory Bellarie, the HBIC of the Beauty in Black empire, while Williams portrays Kimmie, a woman who survives sex trafficking and ultimately rises to a CEO role.
When asked how they related to their characters’ personalities in real life, Stewart shared, “I think Mallory’s assertiveness, leadership skills, and entrepreneurship are similar to me, but everything else is completely different.”
In the series, Kimmie is often pushed to extreme lengths, including risking everything to protect her sister. For Williams, that protective instinct was the biggest real-life similarity to her character. “I don’t play about my brother,” she laughed, adding that beyond that, she and Kimmie couldn’t be more different.
One of the show’s central themes is women in positions of power. In a world where Black women are often told they are “too assertive” or expected to soften themselves to make others comfortable, Beauty in Black challenges those stereotypes through characters who lead with confidence and ambition, unapologetically. “We get labeled if we’re assertive or stand up for what we want,” Stewart said. “To show two Black women in leadership roles who are actually getting along at the end of the day is very powerful.”
The characters also reflect the show’s central theme of going from powerless to powerful. Kimmie’s journey takes her from being trapped in sex trafficking to reclaiming her power as CEO, while Mallory overcomes a tough upbringing in foster care to become the face of the Beauty in Black empire.
“People message us saying they see themselves in these characters,” Williams said.. “It’s inspiring to watch someone go from being an underdog to running a company. We hope people get entertainment and drama, but inspiration as well.”
As for what’s ahead, the stars remained tight-lipped about the next and final season, teasing only one thing: fans should expect the unexpected.
“More twists, more turns, and it’s coming soon,” they promised.
One thing is certain: Beauty in Black will continue to deliver the drama audiences love while showcasing stories of ambition, transformation, and women stepping fully into their power.
Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black is available for streaming on Netflix.
Image credit: American Black Film Festival
