Yara Shahidi And Issa Rae Front Marie Claire’s May 2018 “Fresh Faces” Issue

Yara Shahidi

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Actresses Yara Shahidi and Issa Rae front Marie Claire‘s May 2018 “Fresh Faces” Issue. On the cover, the Hollywood stars are styled in bright ensembles. Photographer Erik Madigan Heck lensed the shoot.

Issa Rae

ON TURNING 18, VOTING, AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE:

“Even when you reach voting age, there are so few resources that are non-partisan in which you can develop your own political opinions. My ultimate goal is to turn the passions and interests we have into policy change.”

ON HOW YARA SHAHIDI COMPARES TO ALTER EGO ZOE ON GROWN-ISH:

“Yara has never dated and my character dated three guys in the span of two shooting weeks. So there was a lot that was new to me. One thing I’m learning to do is respect my own timeline. Things will happen when they happen.”

ON BEING A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSE REPRESENTATION IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY:

“I’m in no way trying to be the face of blackness. The goal is to open doors, role by role, and be drowning in a sea of people who look like me, or like someone else, so anyone can see themselves reflected on screen.”

ON HER GRATITUDE FOR WHAT HER SUCCESS HAS ENABLED HER TO DO:

“I’m happy and grateful to be in a position where I can want to see something, and then support the people who are telling stories I want to see.”

ON THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF HER HOMETOWN OF INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA:

“You see so many ‘For Lease’ signs go up because people are being pushed out. Part of me is conflicted—I want a cycling studio. I want a coffee shop. But it’s always at the expense of black and Latino people. There’s never an assumption that we could benefit, too.”

ON WHICH FRIENDS CHARACTER SHE WOULD BE:

“I would never peg myself as a Rachel. Definitely more of a Phoebe. Maybe with Monica neuroses.”

ON KEEPING HER PRIVATE LIFE PRIVATE:

“I get so much feedback about everything. The one thing I don’t need feedback on is who I’m sleeping with.”

Photos Credit: Erik Madigan Heck