She's A Joy

What’s the secret to having the most carefree summer of your life… or just a more carefree life, period? Tracee Ellis Ross—star of Black-ish and the happiest person we know—has suggestions.

- Monica Corcoran Harel

SAYING THAT TRACEE ELLIS ROSS’S MIDDLE NAME IS JOY IS NOT JUST AN allusion to her big, bubbly personality: “When I professionally changed my middle name to Ellis, my father’s middle name, my mom said to me, ‘I’m sad that you let go of Joy, but it’s okay because you’ve embodied it,’” recalls the Golden Globe– winning star of the ABC hit Black-ish. “I’ve always sort of cultivated joy, found a way to laugh at life, and that has amplified into a sense of self-care that’s also about finding serenity and peace with myself.” Sometimes that means engaging in what Tracee, 44, calls “healthy risky behavior”—setting happiness goals to move herself in the right direction. “You don’t have to jump off the 31st floor of the building. Take the stairs, go at your pace, but push yourself a little bit,” she says. Let Tracee push you toward your best self too, and your most awesome summer will be this one.

Black-ish is a comedy that hits on serious issues. In real life, when has humor gotten you through a tough time? 

Growing up, my sense of humor was a way that I kind of kept people at bay, because I was actually very shy. I hid in the bigness of my personality. Interestingly, I first started to gain confidence when I began modeling. I was entertaining the room and telling stories, which wasn’t quite what photographers wanted. [Laughs] But it helped me find my voice.

The saying “Misery loves company” feels so true sometimes. How do you deal with somebody who tries to dampen your joy?