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When we think about the people we idolize, it's often easy to put them on a pedestal and regard them as super humans with a natural confidence that only the elite possess.
Of course some of the most famous women out there are blessed with buckets of natural confidence, but more often that not confidence is something that is learned. And it definitely has to be nurtured.
Check out this gallery to hear these female celebs' take on confidence–what it is and how it can be achieved.
For Queen B, confidence is all about turning something bad into something good. According to Complex, when she's feeling down, she asks herself, "What are you gonna do about it?"
J-Lo believes that when it comes to confidence, it's hugely important for people to be themselves. In 2018 she told InStyle that her mother and her grandmother "drilled this into her" at an early age.
According to Business Insider, the mighty Oprah's advice on how to be confident is, "Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness."
Actress Emma Stone thinks it's important not to be concerned about traditional beauty or perfection. For her, the best representation of beauty is someone who's unafraid to be herself.
Taylor Swift has struggled with body confidence in the past, and in 2019 she told Elle that achieving body confidence is not something that happens overnight.
In 2012, Michelle Obama spoke to Women's Health about how to make confident decisions. For her it's key to take a step back and not let the first reaction be the deciding reaction.
In 2014, Hillary Clinton told a group of NYU students that the best tip she could give to women in public life was taken from Eleanor Roosevelt: "Grow skin like a rhinoceros."
In 2013, Lena Dunham told Marie Claire that as a child she used to look at herself in the mirror and think, "I'm just so beautiful." Clearly she was blessed with natural confidence!
For Meghan Markle, confidence comes down to a simple choice: "continue living your life feeling muddled in this abyss of self-misunderstanding, or find your identity independent of it."
In 2012, Tina Fey told Vogue Diaries, "Confidence is 10% hard work and 90% delusion - just thinking foolishly that you will be able to do what you want to do."
For Senator Elizabeth Warren, the most important thing in the pursuit of confidence is to really know yourself and what defines you, independent of what anybody else thinks.
When quizzed by E! Rihanna was very open about how she stays confident: "Pretend. I mean, it's either that or cry myself to sleep. Who wants to do that?"
Mindy Kaling feels that true confidence is achieved when you know that even if you had everything taken away from you, you would be able to re-build it from scratch.
According to a 2013 interview with Teen Vogue, Solange's tip for achieving confidence is really to know what you're good at, and to hold on tightly to your strengths.
According to a 2019 interview with Essence, Lizzo knows the importance of being who she is, and is constantly working to challenge the narrative about how we are supposed to act.
Martha Stewart thinks that it's very important we have confidence in our actions, particularly when it comes to work. For her, it is this confidence that makes life good.
The key to confidence for filmmaker Nora Ephron boiled down to a simple rule: "Be the heroine of your life, not the victim."
Actress Troian Bellisario is a great believer that there is nothing like a healthy morning routine to fill yourself with confidence. She advises us to remember we are "young, beautiful, powerful, and unique."
Actress Gabourey Sidibe considers "daring" to be an important part of confidence. In her speech at the Ms. Foundation Gala in 2014, she said that she "lives her life, because she dares."
In order to feel confident, actress Victoria Justice makes sure to embrace imperfection and be thankful for the things she has in life.
Musician St. Vincent, aka Annie Clark, subscribes to the "fake it 'til you make it" theory. She believes that if you do not have confidence, pretending that you do will help you on your way.
Another great believer in "fake it 'til you make it," tennis star Venus Williams' advice is: "Just believe in yourself. Even if you don't, pretend that you do and, at some point, you will."
In 2017, Yara Shahidi gave advice to girls about confidence in an exclusive with Elite Daily. The actress believes that it is mainly about being comfortable in the space that you exist in.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is another successful woman who believes she has gotten to where she is by being fully herself, not trying to be someone else.
Actress Emma Roberts believes that confidence is a very attractive trait and that for her it can be achieved by wearing clothes that make her feel good about herself.
Model and actress Cara Delevingne thinks that we all need to dig deep and get to the root cause as to why we cannot allow ourselves to feel good. We are all allowed to celebrate and feel good about ourselves.
Selena Gomez has stated that she feels pretty confident about herself and her decisions, but she also feels it's important that people know she too has insecurities.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion believes that confidence begins within the self. You have to look at yourself in the mirror and like what you see in order to exude confidence.
Comedian Aparna Nancherla has described herself as "emotionally oversensitive" and has stated that digital communication has afforded her a safe space in which to feel more confident.
Sources: (Elle)
Top tips on confidence from some of the world's most influential women
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CELEBRITY Advice
When we think about the people we idolize, it's often easy to put them on a pedestal and regard them as super humans with a natural confidence that only the elite possess.
Of course some of the most famous women out there are blessed with buckets of natural confidence, but more often that not confidence is something that is learned. And it definitely has to be nurtured.
Check out this gallery to hear these female celebs' take on confidence–what it is and how it can be achieved.