Tracee Ellis Ross is proud of the life she’s built — and she credits her legendary mother, Diana Ross, for showing her what true independence looks like.
In a powerful interview with Self magazine, the Black-ish star, 52, opened up about forging her own path and how her mother’s example shaped her beliefs about love, career, and self-worth.
“[My mom] didn’t build the wealth she has, she didn’t build the career she made because of a man,” Tracee said. “The example that was set for me was that I didn’t need a man to build the life I wanted. It wasn’t, ‘Look at me,’ it was, ‘This is me.’”
Despite growing up in abundance — her father is music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein — Tracee emphasized that everything she has now is the result of her own hard work.
“All of the abundance that I enjoy is mine, that I’ve built,” she noted. “Building my own life has made me very aware of what my mother built on her own.”
While she’s never been married, Tracee has always celebrated her life as it is. In fact, at the 2016 Emmy Awards, she wore what she called her “wedding dress” — a Ralph Lauren couture gown — while being nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, I’m marrying my life,’” she shared.
Though she embraces independence, Tracee makes it clear she’s not rejecting love — just rejecting the narrative that being single is something to fix.
“I’m not interested in being the poster child for singledom, because I am looking to meet a partner,” she said. “What I don’t mind is being a poster child for living your life on your own terms, for not waiting for partnership to find joy and happiness.”
As for finding that partner? Don’t expect her on dating apps.
“I already have such an issue with the swipe of life… I don’t want to put the idea of partnership into that kind of category as if I’m shopping for something.”
Tracee also pushed back against the idea that women should wait around for love while men get to decide when they’re ready.
“This is not going to be some sweep-me-off-my-feet [moment]. I like where my feet are. I’ve worked very hard to get them underneath me.”
And if love doesn’t happen?
“That’s OK,” she said. “It’s not a reflection [that] I’m a bad person or unlovable. I might never get an Emmy. It doesn’t mean I’m not worthy of one. So it doesn’t mean I’m not worthy of a partner.”
With wisdom, wit, and unwavering self-assurance, Tracee Ellis Ross continues to redefine what a fulfilled life looks like — on her own terms.
