It seems like the internet has made everything we know about celebrities very public. But there may be a few things you might not know about your favourite stars, specifically their race or racial heritage. As the years go by, more people are born from diverse races, cultures and ethnicities. But as you’ll see from this list, bi-racial or mixed race children existed way before it became popularized by these beautiful half black female celebrities.
Most of these black female celebrities have one black parent and another parent from another ethnicity. Although they do struggle with similar identity issues or not being able to relate with their fully white or fully black friends, coming from a mix of two families have helped them become proud of both of their cultures and their unique looks. This feature has gone on to support their careers in films, music and dance, successfully. Many on the other hand have argued that it becomes more lonely as this is a disadvantage in society.
Here’s a list of mixed race celebrities that are proud to be called beautiful black women (even if they don’t look like it at all) :
Meghan Markle
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, comes from a mother who is African American and a father of Caucasian, Dutch and Irish descent. In 2015 she was quoted saying: “While I could say Pennsylvania and Ohio, I instead give them what they’re after: ‘My dad is Caucasian and my mom is African American. I’m half black and half white” for Elle Magazine.
Age: 37
Born in: California, United States of America
Halle Berry
Think of sexy black women and Halle Berry will always top the list!
Halle Berry is the only black female actress to have won the Oscar for Best Actress, and she wasn’t shy on holding back what it meant for diversity in Hollywood. Her mother is Caucasian, English and German ancestry while her father was an African American. She is the poster woman for being one of the sexiest black women alive.
She is a firm believer in the one-drop theory which says that if any person has at least one ancestor from the sub-Saharan African ancestry, they are considered Black. She emphasized this during her custody battle for her daughter, Nahla, saying “I feel she’s Black and I’m Black”
Age: 52
Born in: Cleveland, Ohio
Mel B
Melanie Brown became the only black female member of the Spice Girls in the year 1994. The Spice Girls took off and became the most famous all-girl group in the UK, with albums that sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.
In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Mel B talks about being called racial slurs while growing up, and in the same interview, there was a multitude of women thanking her for embracing her iconic curly hair and transforming it into a worldwide fashion statement. Her mother is Caucasian of English ancestry and her father is from the Caribbean Islands.
Age: 44
Born in: Leads, UK
Ayesha Curry
She is the wife of the NBA superstar Stephen Curry and was recently discussing her new TV series on “The View”. She also confided about how challenging it was to adjust to life as a teenager of mixed heritage. Her mother is of Jamaican Chinese descent while her father is of African American and Polish ancestry.
“Growing up in Toronto, I was Black. I’m a Black woman,” Ayesha said. “I moved to North Carolina right at the start of high school. So at 14 there it was like … who do you choose?”
Age: 30
Born in: Toronto, Canada
Lisa Bonet
Best known for her role in The Cosby Show as Denise, Lisa Bonet was born to a father who is African American and a mother of Ashkenzai Jewish, Polish and Russian ancestry. She is currently married to actor Jason Momoa.
Age: 51
Born in: California, United States of America
Alicia Keys
This Grammy Award winner told the Guardian Magazine in 2001 that her mixed race background makes her a broad person, able to relate to different cultures. As a teen she used to hang out with friends of other races in Harlem. Her experiences growing up in the diverse demographic of urban America helped bring out the black female in her, she regularly sports curly or cornrowed hair and other times she straightens it as a nod to her white roots.
Her hair style is like a modern metaphor for her mixed race culture.
Her mother is of Italian, English, Irish and Scottish descent while her father is of African American descent.
Age: 38
Born in: New York City, US
Misty Copeland
She is a ballet dancer for the American Ballet Theater. She is the first black female ballet dancer to be promoted to principal dancer in the theaters 75 year history. Her father is of German and American ancestry while her mother is African American and Italian.
Age: 36
Born in: Missouri, USA
Mariah Carey
Queen of the 90’s and dropping hot songs still, the “ All I Want For Christmas” hitmaker’s dad is African American with Afro Venezuelan descent while her mother is of Caucasian, Irish ancestry.
Age: 45
Born in: New York, United States of America
Chanel Iman
Chanel was born to a mother who is Korean and African American and to a father who is African American.
As a model, she is the face her black hereditary and is a representative of hot black women all over the world by giving new meanings to the term.
Age: 28
Born in: Georgia, United States of America
Thandie Newton
The British actress known for her roles in Mission Impossible 2 and HBO’s Westworld comes from Zimbabwean ancestry on her mother’s side and Caucasian from her father’s side. She’s the perfect example for an ideal casting under the broad category of “beautiful black women”.
Age: 43
Born in: London, United Kingdom
Jessica Szohr
The Gossip Girl actress says her father is African American and European while her mother is Hungarian, German, Irish and English descent.
Age: 34
Born in: United States of America
Rashida Jones
The actress who became famous from Parks and Recreation is a descendant of Jewish immigrants from her mother’s side and her father is the famous Quincy Jones who is African-American
Age: 42
Born in: California, United States of America
Leona Lewis
As a British singer, she burst into the limelight with her popular hit “Bleeding Love”. Her mother is of Welsh, Irish and Italian ancestry. Her father is from Afro Guyanese.
Age: 33
Born in: London, United Kingdom
Halsey
This singer-songwriter, is biracial. She was born to a white mother and a black father, and she wants everyone to know that.
In a Playboy interview, she said “I’m white-passing. I’ve accepted that about myself. I look like a white girl, but I don’t feel like one. I’m a black woman. So it’s been weird navigating that.
Maybe she should read up on Halle Berry’s one-drop theory?
Age: 24
Born in: New Jersey, USA
Maya Rudolf
Many people are unaware of the fact that this famous SNL and movie star is actually a half black female actress.
Her famous mother, Minnie Ripperton is an African American and her father is Caucasian and Jewish.
Age: 46
Born in: Florida, United States of America
The life experiences of these and many other black female celebrities, growing up as bi-racial individuals meant that they had to carefully navigate between their African-American and Caucasian ancestries. Mainstream artists, and new generations of young mixed families can turn to these strong, beautiful black women to find answers to their questions about identity.