#WINNIEXSM Winnie Harlow by Steven Klein for Steve Madden | Choice Winnie Words @ ForbesWomen

AOC is slow to respond to Winnie Harlow’s sexy collab with Steve Madden. The WINNIE HARLOW X STEVE MADDEN project was revealed in September, 2019 in images by Steven Klein./ Hair by Hos Hounkpatin; makeup by Kabuki

The upside of being late with Winnie’s Steve Madden campaign is checking in with Forbes to read the November 7 post Why Winnie Harlow Doesn’t Believe In Role Models. As it turns out, Winnie is beautifully outspoken on just about every topic tossed her way by Moira Forbes. We share a sampling.

The Place of Role Models in Our Lives

“I don't believe in role models. I don't think anyone should be put on a pedestal or made to feel like someone you should emulate,” says Winnie Harlow. “You should want to be yourself.”

On Comparing Yourself to Other People

“I try not to compare myself to anyone else. It’s inspiring to see my girls in my industry doing the things that they're doing. But I have my own path that I have to walk and you just can't compare,” says Harlow. “Take my aspiration of being what I want to be and put that in your life to do what you actually, really dream to do.”

On Redefining Beauty:

“My definition of beauty shouldn't have anything to do with your definition of beauty. I think beauty is really within the eye of the beholder. Everyone should stop focusing on what everyone else thinks beautiful is.” 

On Accepting Responsibility:

“People put a lot of responsibility on fashion and beauty industries for what they put out into the world, which is true. They have a lot of responsibility in it. But I think we also have to start taking responsibility for what we put into our systems and what we allow these industries to feed to us. You have to focus on what you want to be given in life, and stop just taking whatever is given to you.”

On the Pressures of Fame:

“There’s times when I won’t even go outside because I feel like I can’t be myself. I don’t want to always deliver something. I want to live my life. When I take 50 pictures every single day, I am no longer belonging to myself. I don’t believe in being the people’s person. I appreciate the love and I want to reciprocate that love, but I also need to be able to feel like a human being and not a statue in a museum.”

Moira Forbes hosts the video series "Success with Moira Forbes." She is publisher of ForbesWomen, a multi-media platform serving successful women in business and leadership. Representing four generations of publishers, Moira joined Forbes in 2001 in its London office. She graduated from Princeton University. Check in with Moira Forbes for lots more Winnie Harlow.