What Leslie Jones’s confession about loneliness teaches us about pretty privilege

Leslie Jones is a powerhouse. She’s a great actress and comedian and now she’s going to be presenting for NBC at the 2018 Winter Olympics. There’s nothing that she can’t do. 

Or is there? 

Leslie has been sharing lots of workout selfies over the past few months but a recent one really got the attention of fans and fellow celebrities alike. 

In the post on Instagram and Twitter, Leslie said “Ok back to cardio. But confession I feel like I’m doing it for nothing. I know it not [sic] I’m healthy and look good but I really feel like ‘what’s it all for’ if the people you want to notice don’t. I just feel like I might die alone. Sorry that’s pretty heavy today!!”

Women everywhere, myself included immediately felt for her because we all know what it’s like to be lonely but also it’s so telling that even a super famous, talented, funny woman who is at the top of her game right now can feel like she’s not going to ever find someone to love.

It doesn’t matter how successful you are, you can still be afraid of not finding someone to share your life with – and that doesn’t dim any of your significance. In fact, it makes you more human. 

Now, Leslie is not only a strong, powerful woman but as pointed out in this Ebony article, is “subjectively attractive” and does not have what we call pretty privilege.

READ MORE: You know you've got pretty privilege when...

When you’re considered beautiful according to societal standards things come easier to you - you’re seen differently and you’re treated differently. 

But Leslie is a dark-skinned, 50-year-old black woman who does not adhere to conventional standards of attractiveness and is often not treated the same as conventionally beautiful women because she’s out there and verbose and funny as all hell. And she's not here for being put into a box andtold to look a certain way to be “pretty”.

There are lots of issues within communities of colour especially where we’re told girls who are darker skinned and have curly/coily, unrelaxed hair and dark eyes aren’t worth as much as their lighter skinned, straight haired counterparts.

READ MORE: Why beauty is not an ugly word

Add to that, she's a successful comedian who appears on one of the biggest sketch shows in the world and starred in a major blockbuster movie (hello Ghostbusters). When it seems that cishet men are really just so afraid of your success, you can see why Leslie was getting all up in her feelings. 

Not that she let it get her down though. The star said she was “just a single woman complaining” and then kept on posting mad selfies and living her best life.

Yep. We love that she knows how to respect her feelings without letting them consume her for too long.

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