Before she became Lady London, Zaire Stewart was a fly toddler exploring New York City’s unique beauty culture. At just three years old, she was being carted to Dominican hair salons, getting her hair washed and pressed by the same women she still visits today. Her mother kept her dapper in DKNY and Moschino as they traveled between the Bronx and New Jersey. Greatly influenced by the beauty and brilliance of the women in her family, an aunt with an interest in global politics and anti-apartheid messaging recommended her name; it’s no wonder Lady London is such a cultural force. In 2018, Lady London developed an interest in music, built on a foundational love of literature from childhood to college. Lady London joined Naked Beauty to talk about how she discovered she had presence and how she wielded it into a nearly decade-long career and fanbase of more than a million people.

During our conversation, we talked about how she learned to maintain her composure as a public figure and how her confidence can’t be shaken by industry execs or online trolls. Lady London shares that her confidence was well earned, as it took her some time to accept that she could be beautiful and smart without downplaying one or the other. We get some tips on how to model that self-assurance during the Show & Tell portion of the show, when Lady London demonstrates how not to be baited. Of course, we learn all about her beauty rituals, tips, and favorite perfumes. We got other advice from Lady London, including how she mentors women coming into the industry behind her, and what she’s learned from the hip-hop legend pouring into her. Lady London is a creative force, poet, rapper, executive producer, mentor, and hobby enthusiast. As we learn in this interview, with Lady London, there is always more than meets the eye.

Tune in as we discuss:

(0:00) Welcome Lady London

(2:20) Growing Up Nerdy In The Bronx and New Jersey

(3:25) Her Early Style Icons

(4:20) New York Beauty Culture

(6:45) Growing Into Beauty

(8:55) Discovering That She Had Presence

(12:35) Show & Tell: Tips For Not Being Baited

(20:10) Her Beauty Routine

(21:15) Getting Protein As A Pescatarian

(24:30) Makeup Routine

(26:20) Hair Care & Health