- Minnie Dlamini connected with a discussion among a group of Black American actresses who expressed their frustrations
- Among the actresses were Gabrielle Union and Tiffany Haddish, who revealed their experiences in the industry during an Apple original series
- Users on social media shared their opinions about the actresses’ dialogue, voicing their thoughts in the comments
In a segment of Apple TV’s Number One On The Call Sheet, prominent Black American actresses discussed the obstacles they face on predominantly White film sets.
The discussion centered around the lack of attention given to Black actresses in the hair and makeup departments during film shoots. They noted that White beauty professionals were typically assigned to cater to Black individuals’ hair and skin tones.
Tiffany Haddish, Gabrielle Union, Meagan Good, Vivica Fox, and Nia Long recounted their worst encounters with the hair and makeup teams. Minnie Dlamini revealed that she too had experienced similar challenges and the stigma attached to advocating for oneself:
“Triggered. And then they call you a diva for being upset or changing it yourself.”
3 Instances Where Minnie Dlamini Was Called a Diva
Dlamini earned the diva label after reportedly requesting that her stylist and social media team accompany her to the Tropika Island Treasure shoot in Seychelles in November 2016. She also gained this title following a dispute with a brand activation in Durban due to her absence.
She reportedly turned off her phone and clashed with a producer. Additionally, Dlamini was labeled a diva after parting ways with her management, who cited her demanding demeanor and inadequate compensation as reasons for their split.
Hollywood Actresses Share Their Most Difficult On-Set Experiences
Vivica Fox stated that the hair and makeup team consistently struggled to meet her needs. She reminisced about a particular incident on the set of *Independence Day*, where her hair got damaged due to an unfamiliar approach:
“Child, they couldn’t do Black hair.”
Nia Long had a comparable experience, expressing her anxiety each time she entered a hair and makeup trailer that lacked Black professionals:
“There was not one person who looked like me.”
Gabrielle Union reflected on an early career setback when her hair was seriously damaged by a stylist who lacked the knowledge to care for it properly:
“The lady had a comb and a blow dryer with the heat up too much, where literally a chunk of my hair snapped off.”
She also expressed dissatisfaction with her makeup, as the makeup artist applied techniques meant for her lighter-skinned clients:
“She had the balls to use sky blue eyeshadow and dusty pink lipstick. I looked nuts.”
Tiffany Haddish shared that she only felt completely comfortable about hair and makeup on the *Girls Trip* set when the stylist knew how to work with Black hair and skin tones. Meagan Good similarly felt secure working alongside Black beauty professionals on the set of Kevin Hart’s Think Like A Man.
She frequently disliked her hair and makeup because her skin appeared orange or ashy due to makeup artists selecting incorrect shades:
“That’s been my experience for the majority of my career.”
Social Media Reactions to the Discussion
Online users were not surprised by the actresses’ experiences, with comments such as:
@misstiffmanaged remarked:
“The fact that this is still a conversation in 2025 is bananas.”
@nischelleturner noted:
“Baby, listen, I was gaslighted and called a diva for wanting to be treated equally!”
@denycelawton shared:
“Was #1 on a film where my leading man was AA and my co-star was Latina. Three leads POC, I requested a hairstylist who was TRAINED and well-versed with ethnic hair, especially since my character was a BARBIE type who required many hair changes.
“They gave me a 20-something White woman who said she had experience. On day one, I was in my trailer having to do my own hair because she had a Revlon curling iron and hair spray ready for me. She had zero knowledge of my hair type or how to style it. I’ve been on set with Black stylists who didn’t know how to do hair either because they were taught how to style hair on mannequins with White textures in school. It’s exhausting.”
@missarkell pointed out:
“The actress who plays Ginny from Ginny and Georgia spoke about her hair journey whilst filming throughout the seasons and how it took them three seasons to find someone who could actually do her hair.”
@aaron_shelton_dss recounted:
“And the four years that I worked in television doing hair for over 150 different TV shows and films I have to thank Miss Fox for many of those jobs because without me knowing it was her that was sending all these black TV stars and film stars to me to do their hair privately in their homes, as well as on shows that included Rosie Perez Sandra Bullock Holly Robinson this is very long, but she never said a word to me about it.
“I found this out years later through another star who said, ‘Well, it’s Vivica that told me about you, and it clicked one day. She’s been the one who’s done this for me because when I first met Vivica, I did her hair for a photo shoot right after she did Independence Day. We got along so well, but she just had my back, and she didn’t need anything in return from me. She just wanted to make sure that she was there for somebody black. That is a true champion lady hero. I will never forget the kindness, the realness, and the honour of being able to know her.”
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