Viola Davis’s Latest Fashion Move Is Straight Out of Michelle Obama’s Playbook
There’s a special meaning behind the earrings that Viola Davis wore at the premiere of her new show, The First Lady, on April 14. Davis, who plays former first lady Michelle Obama in the series, was styled by Elizabeth Stewart, who shared on her Instagram that the jewelry choice was about more than simply looking good.
Designed by fine jeweler Satta Matturi, the earrings feature a cluster of diamonds set in yellow gold that fans out like the branches on a tree. Stewart confirmed that the earrings were made specifically for the Academy Award–winning actor, using De Beers diamonds that were ethically and sustainably sourced in Botswana.
The jewels were chosen as part of a project created by the De Beers Group and RAD (Red Carpet Advocacy) to uplift and highlight Black creatives and voices. According to the campaign page, the #BlackIsBrilliant project sets out to “help level the playing field within the jewelry industry by providing deserved exposure to Black designers, as part of our Building Forever commitment to accelerating equal opportunity and ensuring that every diamond we discover creates a lasting positive impact.”
Continuing with conscious and inclusive fashion choices, the 56-year-old actor wore a bright orange dress designed by Stella McCartney, who is known for her sustainable production process as well as recycled material initiatives. The How to Get Away With Murder actor also enlisted her longtime collaborators, makeup artist Autumn Moultrie and hairstylist Jamika Wilson, for the look.
This is far from the first time that Viola Davis has made an intentional statement on the red carpet, but it’s fitting that she chose the premiere of The First Lady to continue the trend. During her time in the White House, Michelle Obama worked with stylist Meredith Koop to ensure that her fashion choices represented the causes she was fighting for, or paid homage to international guests she and Barack Obama hosted.
Other celebs have also joined the #BlackIsBrilliant initiative, like American Horror Story actor Sarah Paulson, who wore Mateo-designed earrings featuring Botswanian diamonds in September 2021 at the Emmys.
Alongside Obama, two other first ladies will get the limited series treatment in the show with Michelle Pfeiffer playing Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt. Premiering on the streaming service on April 17, the show is described as “a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.”
Originally Appeared on Glamour