Nia Long On Being Seen As 'Ageless' And The Pressure It Brings

Nia Long rose to fame in the 1990s, appearing in films such as "Friday," "Boyz in the Hood," and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." She has continued to deliver quality work, most notably appearing as the lead character in Netflix's psychological thriller "Fatal Affair."

While Long's acting abilities are undeniable, another aspect that has piqued viewers' interest is her ageless skin, which has resisted nature's natural influence on the human body. Pictures of her on her social media page have further pushed this ageless narrative on the actress.

In a recent sitdown with People, the 51-year-old spoke about how such well-intended compliments about her skin and looks may sometimes push celebrities to shoot for unattainable beauty standards.

The "Fatal Affair" actress spoke on the film industry's pressures on women to remain beautiful and youthful regardless of their age. She claimed that she had freed herself from such expectations by allowing things to flow spontaneously.

"I am a proud 51, and eventually I'm going to age in a way where it's obvious, and I want it to happen beautifully and gracefully. I don't really want the pressure of feeling like I have to be beautiful and perfect because I think beauty comes at any age."

Long then noted that, while she has attempted to live a life free of such industry demands on her appearance, she has occasionally found herself being overly critical of herself when she makes public appearances, as she attempts to give off the same look she had decades before.

Even in such instances, the "black AF" singer noted that she is never pressured to explore things that are out of her comfort zone and avoids anti-aging practices in her cosmetic regimen.

Long revealed that she uses products that keep helping her stay healthy physically and maintain healthy skin.

"I don't do anti-aging things or use products because I think I look old or am trying to avoid aging," she said to the news publication. "I use products to stay healthy and to keep healthy, vibrant skin. There's a difference."

Such products include serums, vitamins, and biotin, all of which are based on less invasive ingredients and include healthy acts like hydrating, using less makeup, and doing yoga, Pilates, and jump rope.

Despite this measure, the actress believes that she still has a lot of work to do to keep it that way as she grows older.

Aside from that, the actress related her lovely skin with being blessed by the supernatural, adding she was grateful for such a privilege. She is, however, pro-self-beauty and feels that having a radiant appearance and skin comes first from within before being glossed over by outward influences.

"But I honestly think the real beauty comes from within," Long asserted. "And I know for myself, I am a work in progress. I mean, we can use all the creams, all the lotions, all the makeup in the world, but if you're not feeling good on the inside, the beauty just isn't radiant. It becomes sort of this superficial mask."

Long believes that embracing self-care should be family-centered, ensuring that her sons, Kez Sunday, 10, and Massai Zhivago, 21, are not left out in learning the importance of self-care, especially because the concept of beauty is generally associated with women.

In a past interview, Long claimed that eating a meat-free diet while using natural-based products on her skin has also helped her keep her shine,

"I was raised a vegetarian and have always eaten pretty healthy," she told New Beauty in 2014. "When you feel good on the inside, you feel good on the outside too — I'm all about a full mind, body, soul, and wellness connection."

She also acknowledged that her mother's genes had played a role in her skin looking amazing all the time. Still on self-care, Long is partners with SmileDirectClub, a medical company founded on the belief that affordable and convenient premium oral care should be accessible to everyone.