From  | | |  | | A few nights ago, I sat down with a glass of pinot and turned on an old Disney classic. It's not often I revisit the fairy tales I grew up on, but I hold a special place for the 1997 film adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella." I was 10 when it first debuted on ABC and didn't fully register just how groundbreaking the film was. What I do recall is how I felt watching a young Black woman star in the titular role — and with microbraids at that. In her historic turn as Cinderella, singer-actress Brandy Norwood's long braids are pinned elegantly in an updo as spiral curls frame her face and a tiara rests on her head — an enduring image of a Disney princess with skin and hair that finally looked like mine. One woman behind the iconic look was Carla Joi Farmer, a TV and film hairstylist who was at the start of her career when she landed the gig as Norwood's stylist. Back then, Farmer said, she was facing "a lot of learning curves" on set — adjusting to early morning call times and shooting schedules that could extend into the wee hours of the night. She was also a single mother of two and seized on opportunities to bring her kids to work. "I remember the one day I brought my daughter to the set," Farmer said, "and she was just mesmerized." | |  | | Carla's daughter, Camirin, poses with singer-actress Brandy Norwood on the set of the 1997 film "Cinderella." (Carla Joi Farmer) | | Since then, Camirin Farmer has always kept a front-row seat to their mom's career, which spans 25 years and includes projects regarded as iconic staples in Black culture — including "Cinderella," "All That," "Girlfriends" and the Coming to America franchise. In fact, it was Camirin who had a prescient feeling about their mom's Oscar chances this year. In a viral video they posted to Twitter last month, Farmer jumps up in excitement as a live broadcast announces that the sequel "Coming 2 America" is nominated for best makeup and hairstyling. It marks only the second time in the academy's history that Black women have been recognized in this category. Ahead of next weekend's ceremony, I talked to Farmer about her career, the push for more representation in Hollywood, and how she strives to showcase Black beauty across film and television. | | A message from McKinsey & Company |  | Authorship. Writing is a big part of many jobs, but it's often a challenging endeavor that requires time, effort, passion, and perseverance in order to do well. In the latest episode of My Rookie Moment, seven McKinsey leaders walk us through their journey to authorship and offer tips for writing (and life). Whether you're exploring the idea of writing a book or curious about the creative process, be sure to check it out. | | | | | | | | | Three need-to-know stories | | | (Mandel Hgan/AFP/Getty Images) | 01.Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson will begin today. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said she will probably be confirmed, which would make her the first Black woman on the high court. At the hearings, she'll face a number of friendly Democrats — and some firebrand Republicans who are expected to ask her heated questions about race, ethics and her background as a public defender. 02.As Russia continues to batter Ukraine with air strikes, nearly 4 million people have left the country — most of whom are women and children. Experts warn that that criminals may seek to capitalize on the desperation of these refugees. The International Organization for Migration last week pointed to initial reports of traffickers exploiting the large-scale human displacement, including instances of sexual violence. 03.On Thursday, University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship. Her first season during which she competed as a woman, Thomas won the 500-meter women's freestyle with a time of 4 minutes 33.24 seconds. | | | | | | | A story to make you smile | | | In 2018, after years of frustration with watching women's games on mute at sports bars, Jenny Nguyen and her friends joked about having a bar of their own. They called it the Sports Bra and even gave it a tagline: "We support women." Then, amid the pandemic, Nguyen said she found herself searching for ways she could do more for her community. That's when her girlfriend asked her: "You know how we always joke about the Sports Bra? ... Why don't you do it?" Now their joke will soon be a reality. In April, the Sports Bra will open in Portland and will only play women's sports. Early coverage of Nguyen's venture has received praise from women's sports fans around the world. Read more from Anne Branigin in The Washington Post. | | | | | | As more workplaces head back to the office full or part time, we want to know: If you were reimagining something about your office space, what would it be? Maybe the dress code would be ultra-casual or the temperature a few degrees warmer; perhaps there would be spaces for pets and kids. Dream big, but keep it limited to the physical space of the office. Fill out our quick form, and we'll share some responses in an upcoming article. | | | | | But before we part, some recs | | | (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post) | Siobhán O'GradyCairo bureau chief, The Washington Post
(Currently in Kyiv, Ukraine)What's something you want more people to know about regarding the war in Ukraine? Try to imagine the gut-wrenching choices each person here has been forced to make: Should I stay or flee; send my kids away or move with them; fight to protect Ukraine or avoid it in a bid to survive; leave the bunker to buy food or get through another night without supplies? In such a violent war, every small decision could be the difference between life or death. What's something big or small that's giving you hope or inspiration these days? I have reminded myself every morning of why we are here: to bear witness, gather testimony and spread awareness. I've been surprised to receive notes of appreciation or concern from so many readers. Knowing that our written stories, videos, images and podcasts are getting through to them — and to leaders in Washington and elsewhere — is what keeps me going on the ground. How do you try to unplug after a hectic work day? In Cairo, I take my dog, Babette, on a long walk each night. I don't wear headphones or look at my phone. I greet all of the familiar faces on my route and try to make that time joyful and unrelated to work. | | | | | | |
