Ariana DeBose is using her platform for good. The Oscar winner was recently tapped as the face of Kenneth Cole’s fall ’24 women’s collection, and on Tuesday night, she joined the company’s newly appointed women’s creative director, Emily Cole, to celebrate the campaign titled, “United We Stand.”
For DeBose, deciding to partner with brands isn’t as easy as yes or no.
“When the rise of ‘Ariana DeBose’ happened, I realized I had more opportunity to work in this space and partner directly with brands. I took a lot of time to think about what I wanted that to look like,” she told FN. “I always look for companies with a purpose, with a soul, and Kenneth Cole, historically, the way that they have chosen to move through the business and the industry has 100% always had a heart and a conscience. And it’s not only about doing good business, but about affecting change in the world or in their own backyard, whether that be New York City or just in their small corner of the industry, and quite frankly, it’s not small.”
Kenneth Cole, the designer and company as a whole, is known for its dedication to social impact. Its current partnership with I AM A VOTER and upcoming jewelry collaboration aimed at raising funds and mental health awareness with the Mental Health Coalition Kenneth founded were touted during the event, for instance.
Plus, DeBose’s Kenneth Cole fall ’24 campaign is all about female empowerment and encouraging women to use their voices in the fight for change and equality.
She added, “I am someone with an identity that can frequently be politicized in different ways. So for me, every day that I wake up and I walk out my front door is a day that I am have an opportunity to express myself through fashion and make an even greater statement with who I am.”
DeBose, an activist in her own right, has been outspoken about reproductive rights, LGBTQIA+ issues, representation in Hollywood and more. She became the first openly queer Afro-Latina to win an Academy Award in 2022.
“[Fashion] is not really about the red carpet moment, it’s about the everyday,” she continued. “I have to feel confident and empowered every moment that I walk through the world. Clothing is my armor. It matters, and if I don’t feel confident or empowered or just encouraged to be my most authentic self in them, I don’t wear them. I’m very much wearing Kenneth Cole, and that tells you, in my opinion, everything.”
