As host of Tuesday’s Fashion Group International’s Rising Star awards, Tiffany Haddish didn’t just dress the part — she cheered on the nominees throughout.
Before the winners were announced, the actress and comedian chatted about her own style sense, and more specifically how she got it. Haddish credited her grandmother Alice Ray, a former model, with giving her the best fashion advice — “Wear it like you made it,” Haddish said. “She was one of the first Black women to be modeling on TV in the 1950s.”
Imitating how she used to whine to her grandmother — “’I don’t like it. I don‘t like the way this looks” — Haddish, who grew up in South Central Los Angeles, said, “She would always say, ‘Wear it like you made it.’ Wear it like you made it and are proud of it.”
Recalling how she would say that she needed earrings or other items, the 45-year-old comedian said, “My grandmother would say, ‘You don’t need jewelry. Let your personality be you jewelry and wear that like you made it.’”
Wearing a dramatic halter backless gown from her tablemate Cyril Verdavainne, who won a FGI Rising Star award last year, Haddish spoke of the importance of supporting young talent. “Eventually, they’ll be on top, and you have to help them up and guide them up. If I didn’t have anyone support me, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said.
During Tuesday’s annual event, the “Girls Trip” star applauded and called out from her seat for several designers. During Fern Mallis’ presentation of the Accessories award, the comedian said, “Sydnie [Peebles, a nominee for her Sydnie Banks brand] I need a bag!” And when Pratki’s Pritika Swarup took to the stage to accept the Beauty award, Haddish shouted, “You’re skin is amazing!”
With a few films in pre- and post-production and her “Funny and Fearless” comedy tour underway, Haddish hesitated to say what she is most eager to do that she hasn’t had a chance to. Drawing a long pause, she said, “I feel like I’ve done it all. I’m living my dream currently. I feel like I’ve done it all and there are a lot of [business] things that I want to do. Am I excited about those things? No, because I know I am going to do them. It’s like you know you’re going to walk out of your house today. I know this is going to happen,” she explained. “I feel very confident that what I’ve wanted to happen is happening. I just have to show up to the day.”
She added, “Excited though? I might see this guy tonight. That’s exciting.”
His name is not something that she offered and her upcoming business plans are staying under wraps for now too. “I learned the hard way — don’t tell everything to everybody. Hold on to it and let them see it. You’ll see it sooner than later. And you’re going to be so proud of me.”
