It’s been one helluva year for Lupita Nyong’o. The actress won an Oscar for her supporting role in "12 Years a Slave" and became one of the most recognized young faces in Hollywood. Now she’s been named Woman of the Year by Glamour Magazine. In an interview, she talked about being a role model to young black girls:
GLAMOUR: You’ve become a role model for many girls–black girls in particular. Who were your role models, growing up?
LN: Oprah played a big role in my understanding of what it meant to be female and to really step into your own power. I wouldn’t even call her a role model; she was literally a reference point. You have the dictionary, you have the Bible, you have Oprah.GLAMOUR: Do you feel a responsibility to young women out there?
LN: I feel a responsibility to myself and my parents and the people whose love has gotten me this far–people who were in my life before fame. That’s where I get my sense of self. It’s deadly for anyone to take on that role of a deity; it’s not sustainable. I’ve got tons of flaws. Call my mother–she’ll tell you! She keeps it real. Sometimes you don’t want to hear the truth; she’ll tell it to you out of love.
Read more at Glamour.