Kerry Washington Reveals How Inventing Her 'Red Carpet Kerry' Persona Led to a Career Boost Catherine SantinoSeptember 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM 0 Chrisean Rose/InStyle Kerry Washington for InStyle.
- - Kerry Washington Reveals How Inventing Her 'Red Carpet Kerry' Persona Led to a Career Boost
Catherine SantinoSeptember 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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Chrisean Rose/InStyle
Kerry Washington for InStyle. -
Kerry Washington opened up about her red carpet persona for the first-ever InStyle x PEOPLE flip issue
The actress recalls losing out on a role to a "red carpet It Girl," prompting her to step up her own style
The special-edition issue hits newsstands on Friday, Sept. 12.
Kerry Washington is sharing her style story for the first-ever InStyle x PEOPLE flip issue!
InStyle is back in print for a special one-time edition as part of this week's PEOPLE issue. Presented by Olay Skin, the issue features Kerry Washington's exclusive InStyle cover story, fall fashion trends leading into NYFW, a first look at the InStyle Readers' Choice Beauty Awards and more.In her cover story, Washington opens up about how a career setback prompted her to up her red carpet game.
"[Earlier] in my career, there was this project that I really loved and it went to another actor," she recalls. "I knew that part of why she got it was she was more of a red carpet It Girl. I was asleep at the wheel of my own marketing."
She continues, "I thought if you're just a good actor, you'll get the roles. But it turns out, no, you also have to market yourself because, again, you are your instrument. You are walking around in the car you're trying to sell. It should be shiny and waxed."
Chrisean Rose/InStyle
Kerry Washington's InStyle cover
The Scandal alum credits Tracee Ellis Ross for being her "teacher" in this arena, adding, "She's got generational wisdom of fashion."
"Once I started to play the game, I saw the impact immediately," Washington explains. "You're in different conversations, showing up in the weekly magazines. Now you're a person! In the world! Who exists!"
The actress says that creating her red carpet persona, nicknamed "Red Carpet Kerry," allowed her to discover a new side to herself.
Chrisean Rose/InStyle
Kerry Washington for InStyle.
"It gave me permission to do that and not feel like I was compromising my values in some way. As I've gotten older, it's been part of the journey for me, integrating all of these selves," she says. "You can love a couture show and still work for the White House. You can be all of those things."
Washington also spoke about her relationship with longtime hairstylist, Takisha Sturdivant-Drew.
She recalls seeking out her own stylist to do her hair before a photo shoot "because not all hairstylists know how to do Black hair."
"[Takisha] came to my apartment and prepped my hair for the shoot and I really liked her," she says. "I asked, 'What do you want to do one day?' She said, 'I want to do movies and TV shows and covers of magazines.' And here we are. This is our third InStyle cover together. I think that's amazing. And she's just magic."
For more from Kerry as well as a sneak peek of InStyle's Readers' Choice Beauty Awards winners, grab the issue hitting newsstands on Friday, Sept. 12.
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