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Home · Culture

Symone Sanders Loves Her Bedazzled Nails. And She Isn't Changing Them To Be 'Acceptable' For TV

Symone Sanders Loves Her Bedazzled Nails. And She Isn’t Changing Them To Be ‘Acceptable’ For TV
Symone Sanders
By Paula Rogo · Updated October 24, 2020

Political strategist Symone Sanders recently took to Twitter to defend why she will continue wearing long, bright nails during her television appearances.

The popular CNN commentator shared a fan’s question about her colorful nails on Twitter, and decided to use the opportunity to school the masses on allowing women of color to be their authentic selves when they appear in environments where their numbers are limited.

“Hi Symone. You are so smart and beautiful,” the question said. “I like your comments on CNN. But may I give some advice? Okay, what do you think about your long nails? It’s not appropriate when you are CNN TV and discussing [sic] about politics. This is my opinion. Please do not take it [sic] bad. I [sic] am one of your followers.”

Sanders said she created the Twitter thread as a “reply all” to the people who had the same question, and she took them to task about calling the appearance of women like her “inappropriate.”

THREAD: I’m going to “reply all” to this because I think more than a few folks need to hear my answer. Ok? pic.twitter.com/Iace3yl06f

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

“When someone tells me my nails, the dress or blouse I wore or my hair is ‘unprofessional,’ I find what they are really saying is it is out of the norm for what they are used to seeing on cable news,” she responded.

“There aren’t a lot of black women on cable news,” she pointed out, and as a result, many are not used to seeing women who give smart analysis, but also present themselves differently.  

“B/c I am not “supposed” to be able to give you solid political commentary with a bedazzled nail right?”

I stopped looking for validation long ago from folks who didn’t think I belonged in the first place. Don’t let the non-melanated proverbial majority (proverbial b/c people of color are the actual global majority) tell you what’s “acceptable.” You will be left out every time.

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

She added: “I stopped looking for validation long ago from folks who didn’t think I belonged in the first place. Don’t let the non-melanated proverbial majority (proverbial b/c people of color are the actual global majority) tell you what’s “acceptable.” You will be left out every time.”

Check out her full thread below:

THREAD: I’m going to “reply all” to this because I think more than a few folks need to hear my answer. Ok? pic.twitter.com/Iace3yl06f

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

When someone tells me my nails, the dress or blouse I wore or my hair is “unprofessional,” I find what they are really saying is it is out of the norm for what they are used to seeing on cable news.

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

When someone tells me my nails, the dress or blouse I wore or my hair is “unprofessional,” I find what they are really saying is it is out of the norm for what they are used to seeing on cable news.

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

B4 my 1st contract, I had an agent tell me I wasn’t “palatable enough for cable tv” & another said I needed voice lessons because I didn’t “sound professional enough.” Translation: I didn’t look or sound like any of the women they were used to seeing on tv.

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

*spoler alert* there aren’t a lot of black women on cable news. 🤭🤫

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

So I’m fully aware that when I show up curvy, with a low cut, a bold lip, an oversized bow, amazing nails & a chilling analysis...people don’t know how to take it. B/c I am not “supposed” to be able to give you solid political commentary with a bedazzled nail right?

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

Nah. I’m completely comfortable with my authentic self. I have no problem showing up authentically as Symone and delivering. The problem is most of y’all aren’t comfortable. Some of y’all keep showing up as K. Ashely when your name is really Keisha.

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

But you show up as K. Ashley because someone impressed upon you long ago that Keisha wasn’t acceptable enough for the office. 😮🤐

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

See when someone says my XYZ isn’t “professional” what I hear is that they are uncomfortable with what I’m doing b/c they aren’t actually comfortable w/themselves. They wonder how I have the audacity to authentically show up every day meanwhile they are tossing on a mask from 9-5

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

I stopped looking for validation long ago from folks who didn’t think I belonged in the first place. Don’t let the non-melanated proverbial majority (proverbial b/c people of color are the actual global majority) tell you what’s “acceptable.” You will be left out every time.

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

But also don’t let anyone (because friends, family and folks that mean well also struggle with authenticity) try to put you in a box and tell you what is “appropriate.” Let’s strive to live boxless...there, the opportunities are endless. (END) pic.twitter.com/pLmCqtCqkF

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 7, 2018

Tell ’em!

 

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