MISS HOLLYWOOD, ON MY OWN TERMS: YOU GET TO DECIDE WHO YOU ARE
WRITER: Renee Whitley
Let me tell you something, Hunnii: the world has gone absolutely bonkers with its opinions about what everybody else should do, wear, believe, and look like.
Your hair is too short. Your hair is too long. You should wear makeup. You wear too much makeup. Those clothes are too tight. Those clothes are too loose. You should do this. You should do that.
Wheww Hunnii… are y’all tired yet? Because I sure am!
Somewhere along the way, people got comfortable acting as though their opinions should become somebody else’s instructions. And social media has given those opinions a microphone, a comment section, and a front-row seat in everybody’s business.
But here’s what I want you to remember: you get to decide how you show up in this world.
You get to decide what makes you feel beautiful, comfortable, confident, and happy. You get to change your mind, too. And you don’t owe anybody an explanation for being yourself.
What people expect from “Miss Hollywood”
My public persona and name is Miss Hollywood. And I imagine that name creates a certain picture in some people’s minds.
Maybe they expect big hair, a face full of quadruple layers of foundation, the perfect lip color, and long, pointy nails. You get my drift. I could go on and on.
And listen, I have had my days when I got all jazzed up and popped my shit! 😂 I still do from time to time. But at this point in my life, I could care less about doing all of that every day just to match somebody else’s idea of what Miss Hollywood should look like.
I’ve never been a big makeup wearer. My nails grew naturally, and my hair was good enough for me. I enjoy wearing sweatpants and comfortable clothes, going about my business, and being happy just doing me.
That doesn’t make me any less Miss Hollywood. It makes me my version of Miss Hollywood.
Society might look at this and say, “Now THAT’S Miss Hollywood.” And yes, I can get dressed up and pop my shit. But somebody toss me some sweatpants or tights and watch this smile get even bigger. 😂 My name doesn’t obligate me to dress for anybody’s attention. What I stand for and what I have to say carry weight in whatever I’m wearing. I’m comfortable with that—and I don’t need everybody to agree.
The real story behind my name
Some people might assume I chose the name Miss Hollywood for vanity reasons. Baby, they couldn’t be more wrong.
When I was in my early twenties, I worked at a warehouse called Trane as an assembly line worker. Picture me in steel-toe boots and a helmet, doing my job. I wasn’t there to show off. I was there to work.
One day, my supervisor—an older man who had that grandpa-type energy—looked at me and said, “You look like you belong in Hollywood.”
And I thought to myself, Huh? Really?! 😂
From that day on, every time he saw me at work, he called me Hollywood. Isn’t that something?
Years later, in 2022, I was preparing to launch my platform when that name came back to me. I ran with it, and The Chat with Miss Hollywood was born.
The name has a memory and a story behind it. It reminds me of a moment in my life and someone who saw something in me. I get to decide what it means today.
My name. My style. My decision.
Hear me and hear me good: Miss Hollywood isn’t whatever you or anybody else thinks she should be. Miss Hollywood is whatever I feel like being on any given day.
One day, that might mean getting dressed up, putting on makeup, and stepping out feeling fabulous. Another day, it might mean comfortable clothes and a bare face. Both versions are me, and both are perfectly fine.
I refuse to allow society to dictate who I am, how I move, or what I need to do to be accepted. I’m not putting myself in an uncomfortable position to satisfy somebody who isn’t living my life.
What did En Vogue say? “No, you’re never gonna get it!” Hahaha! That part! 😂
To the person who feels pressured to fit in
Now let me talk directly to you.
Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt like you needed to change something because of what somebody else said? Have you ever second-guessed an outfit, a hairstyle, your makeup, or your natural face because you were worried about how people might react?
If you have, I want you to know that you are not alone. Those messages can be loud, especially when you hear them over and over again. It takes time and strength to quiet that noise and figure out what you actually want.
But please don’t allow somebody else’s opinion to become the final word on who you are.
They say you should look like this. They say you should dress like that.They say you should change your hair, your body, your beliefs, or the way you live.
Well, maybe they should mind their own business. Have they ever tried that? I’m curious! 😂
Imagine if we all lived according to everybody else’s opinions. One person would tell you to change your hair, and somebody else would tell you to change it right back. One person would love your outfit, and another would have a problem with it. You’d spend so much time trying to please everybody that you might forget to ask yourself what makes you happy.
That sounds like a damn mess to me, and it could never be me.
Do it because it makes you happy
I’m not mad at anybody for wearing makeup, getting their nails done, changing their hair, or having surgery. If that’s what makes you feel good about yourself, do you, Hunnii.
The same goes for the person who prefers a bare face, natural nails, a pixie cut, sweatpants, or whatever else feels right. Beauty and confidence don’t come in one package.
My hope is that whatever you choose, you choose it for you. Take a moment to ask yourself, Do I want this? Will this make me feel more like myself? Or am I doing it because somebody made me feel like I’m not enough as I am?
That answer belongs to you. And you’re allowed to take your time finding it.
Society will always have something to say
Society can be like a personal assistant you never asked for—always in your ear, shaking its head, whispering, and pointing a judgmental finger. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to live your life!
The truth is, people will have opinions whether you dress up or dress down, wear makeup or go without it, follow their expectations or go your own way. You can’t control every opinion that comes your way. But you can decide how much power you give those opinions over your choices.
You are allowed to set boundaries. You are allowed to say, “That works for you, but it doesn’t work for me.” You are allowed to protect your peace and surround yourself with people who appreciate you without trying to turn you into somebody else.
And if you’re still learning how to do that, give yourself some grace. You don’t have to become unbothered overnight.
Big glasses, silly faces, and my signature Wheww Hunnii tee—this is me enjoying being ME. Being myself comes easy. Trying to be who everybody else wants? Hunnii, that sounds exhausting. 😂 You don’t agree? I DON’T CARE. Simmer down—I’m enjoying myself. Life is too short to need permission to have a little fun.
Love yourself, Hunnii
I want you to get dressed for yourself. Wear your hair the way you like it. Put on the makeup—or don’t. Get dressed up or throw on those sweatpants. Speak your mind, follow your own path, and give yourself permission to enjoy your life.
You are the person who has to wake up and live in your skin every day. Your happiness, comfort, and sense of self deserve a voice in every decision you make about you.
As for me, I’ll keep being Miss Hollywood on my terms. Some days I’ll be jazzed up and popping my shit, and some days I’ll be comfortable and minding my business. Either way, I’m going to be me.
Love yourself, Hunnii. It’s a beautiful place to be. 💛
About the Author
Renee Whitley is a writer, media host, author, filmmaker, songwriter, and the creator of The Chat with Miss Hollywood. Known for her honesty, humor, and signature “Wheww Hunnii” style, Renee uses her platform to spark conversations, share stories, and encourage others to live confidently on their own terms.
Stay a Little Longer, Hunnii
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