Cover girl: Zuri Hall
Beauti Magazine recently enjoyed interviewing the talented Emmy winner and TV host Zuri Hall. During the interview, Zuri shared some fascinating insights into her career path and how she got started in television hosting. She also talked about her passion for hard news and crime journalism, stressing the importance of integrity, truth, and justice in journalism, particularly in this era of fake news. Throughout the interview, Zuri revealed how her love for acting, music, and performance has always been a part of her and helped her express her personality on camera.
BEAUTI, COCKTAILS & #GIRLTALK
Zuri Hall is an Emmy Award-winning host and a Co-Host for the hit show "American Ninja Warrior," which airs on NBC. She is also a correspondent on the syndicated entertainment news show "Access Hollywood." Previously, she was a correspondent for E! News and co-hosted "What the Fashion" for Snapchat Discover. Hall was also the creator, host, and co-producer of "What's Good with Zuri Hall," an E! News series highlighting & investigating diversity in Hollywood. In addition, she has had acting roles on E! 's "The Arrangement," TV Land's "Nobodies," and the hilarious digital series "Hashtaggers." Hall's career started as an in-game arena host for the NBA's Indiana Pacers and hosted the 2012 Super Bowl Village. While co-anchoring the evening news in Dallas, Hall became a nominee for an Emmy for her investigative reporting. Hall is also the host of her 'Hot Happy Mess' podcast on iHeart Media's "The Black Effect Network."
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COCKTAILS…
Who, dead or alive, would you have a drink with tomorrow? Why would you pick them, and what is one question you'd have to ask them?
Michelle Obama. On a night out with Mrs.Obama, I would ask her about her secrets to navigating public life while protecting and prioritizing her private and personal life as a wife, mother, and friend.
GIRLTALK
You're an Emmy-winning TV host, pop culture pro, and undercover wild child. What inspired you to pursue such a unique career?
Growing up, I was pretty shy. I didn't even really look people in the eyes when speaking to them until I was an older child, and it was only because my granny snapped me out of it one day. She said, "When you speak to someone, you look them in the eyes." The implication was that it wasn't just a sign of respect for them but self-respect. So, I learned to respect myself enough to look someone in the eyes and tell them what I must say.
I started in the Children's Theatre Workshop when I was about five. After that, I wanted to go to Hollywood to be on-screen, acting, singing, and performing. Since I was so shy, the stage, the screen, and the camera were my permission to be big, bold, loud, and to show this other side of myself (I guess that's a Gemini in me.) I was tapping into a part of me that not everyone got to see, especially back then. So yeah, it was my permission to show another side of myself. But it was more than permission. It was a demand that I show another side of myself, and I enjoyed that side, and the people closest to me got to see it. But until that red light came on or someone said "Action," sometimes it was harder to show that to people who didn't know me well. I also like music and acting. I love film, writing, directing, and producing. Even as a young kid, I would write plays and direct the neighborhood kids. Then, they would come to my front porch and line up to audition. It was just always in me, the acting bug. The desire to be a performer and an entertainer is to make people happy and entertained via this stage.
I was always interested in acting, the stage, performance, and theatre. I fell into television hosting, presenting, and journalism because I won a competition to be the face of a local TV station in Indianapolis before I graduated from Ohio State University. I was there on a full academic scholarship, and it was my last quarter. I auditioned for this sort of elimination-style, American Idol-style job. It went from hundreds of people who auditioned to the top 10 to the top five, and then I won a contract to be the face of this local TV station.
It was baptism by fire. I learned how to edit, produce, come alive on camera, and read a teleprompter. I realized that I took to it like a fish to water. I loved it and got to show my personality. It was an opportunity to show my more extroverted, outgoing side because I was still pretty introverted, even throughout college. I realized then that every time I take one step, God brings me to win in this field, and I will go with the momentum and see where it leads me. It's led me to this incredible career that I have now.
When it comes to reporting hard news and trustworthy crime journalism, I'm passionate about it because I've always been someone whose core values include integrity, truth, and justice. I am the face of the partnership between Access Hollywood and the Black and Missing Foundation, and I think it's more important now than ever.
When there is so much fake news, when anybody can tweet something true or false, it's essential to have credible journalists. Integrity-driven journalists aren't just trying to be the first person to announce or report something but also ensuring they get it right. I admire those who commit their careers to hard news journalism, especially when it can sometimes be a thankless job.
It's not easy, and anytime I have an opportunity to do deep dives, the more serious journalism, I appreciate and take it very seriously. Whether it's sitting down with an Afghan Popstar who's recently fled Afghanistan and is now a refugee in the States (that was a two-part sitdown I did for Access Hollywood that the TODAY show picked up) or the true crime exclusives where I'm sitting down with local authorities, the sheriff's department, mothers of missing black and brown children and adults, and people of color, period, are essential. I'm grateful to be able to contribute meaningfully to those conversations and the coverage of those stories.
You're from Ohio, but you've made it in Hollywood. What's the most significant difference you've noticed between the two places?
Oh my gosh, they are night and day. I love love, love home. I'm so proud to be from Ohio (specifically, Toledo), but I also love being in Hollywood.
It's easier for me to lock in on where there are similarities because there are so many differences. But, the biggest (which isn't necessarily shade at Los Angeles or Hollywood, more commentary on Ohio) is that Midwestern folks in Ohio (especially where I'm from) have much heart there. The people there are very kind, friendly, and open. When someone asks you how you're doing at the grocery store, they want to know the answer. They'll wait at the checkout line for you to give them a meaningful response. There's just a lot of care in Ohio and the Midwest.
That's not to say the same thing isn't here in Hollywood, but it is a little harder to come by. With so many, well, most people arguably out in Hollywood are here chasing a dream. They came here for a particular reason, and I respect that (I am also someone who also came to Hollywood for a specific reason). There are just a lot more self-motivating interactions in Hollywood. Whereas in Ohio, folks often don't have too much to gain by random interactions because they have no idea what you do and probably couldn't care less, and that feels good to go home and feel the down-to-earth positive vibes. But Hollywood is fun. It's glamorous, and you get many folks from across the country from places like Ohio (who are happy to be here).
Interestingly enough, the locals, born and raised in Southern California, are the most chill or tend to exhibit some Ohio qualities. They're unaffected by where they come from; the people who come here and have this quote-unquote idea about how someone in Hollywood should act is a bit exhausting for everyone.
You've interviewed many A-listers. What's the most exciting thing you've learned from interviewing celebrities?
The most exciting thing I've learned is that every interaction is fascinating. Sometimes, I have exciting revelations from different celebrities. But the most important thing I've learned is what I knew before I showed up in Hollywood because my father always instilled this in me: at the end of the day, we're all human. We all bleed the same red blood. No one is any more special or less extraordinary than anyone else. We're all unique.
Celebrities have their insecurities, egos, fears, shame, secrets, pains, and pleasures, just like the rest of us. However, they have found themselves (because of their talent, luck, or both). Until recently, with the invention of social media, there's an opportunity for everybody and their mom to become famous. But celebrities are in these rare opportunities, so people tend to put them on these pedestals.
The truth is, not only are they like us, but more often than not, celebrities appreciate being approached or treated like their fellow man. So when you come to them human to human, try to connect meaningfully. That's when I get the most exciting conversations, surprising revelations, and meaningful interactions. Because everyone wants to feel seen and heard, I believe that to my core, which is what I aspire to do through my work, interviews, and conversations.
What is the most challenging part of getting ready for the on-camera appearances you still experience?
The most challenging part is wasting time on those special red-carpet events. Usually, I have 60 minutes for a glam session. Which is fine when I do the everyday Monday through Friday on-camera work for Access Hollywood or on set for American Ninja Warrior. But you want to look your best for the big red carpets like the Golden Globes, the Grammys, and the Oscars. So when you walk that red carpet, where the photos last forever, I always love to schedule at least 90 minutes, preferably two hours. Not because I need all that time to get glammed but because I want to have fun with my glam team. What we're doing is rare and fantastic. You want to enjoy it, not feel rushed through the process, hoping you won't have a wardrobe malfunction on the carpet. I like playing music, laughing, and joking with my glam team. We could sip a little champagne if it's a special occasion.
What positive transformations have you witnessed in the entertainment industry since your career began?
It has been shifting in the industry for more than a decade I've been here. The most positive transformation I have seen is just more diversity and inclusion. I particularly love seeing black women on screen. Whether rocking our natural curls or having more conversations around our hair, bodies, style, energy, and personalities, other people could appropriate for so long, and it was okay and cool. But it was a problem or made people uncomfortable when we showed up as that. So to see the industry shift, not just evolve, to embrace us as our most authentic selves but also give credit where it's due that's been a beautiful thing, but we still have a long, long, long way to go.
What is the most unforgettable moment you recall as a sideline reporter on "American Ninja Warrior?" Would you be a competitor if you had a chance? Which obstacle would you do, the Cliffhanger or the Spider Jump?
The most unforgettable moment was the first time I walked on that set for my first night of taping. It was overwhelming to be on this massive hit show on NBC with this vast budget, gigantic course, and, most importantly, incredible culture, fan base, and community. Just the magnitude of it! The course was ten times bigger than it looked on television, and my nerves were ten times higher than I expected when I picked up the microphone for the first time. Then, finally, the camera lit up, and it was time for me to start talking.
Joining that show was special because the community is unique, kind, loving, and aligned with my value system (those Midwestern values, especially that I have). I was so humbled and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the show and the fact that I was a significant part of it. It was like a "Mama, we made it" moment.
I can't believe I've completed four seasons, and I'm so excited to be re-upping with this incredible show. It just blew me away. Thinking about it right now still blows me away, and that first night on set is one I'll never forget.
Would I compete if I had the chance? I like to learn from other people's lessons, but my co-hosts, Matt and Akbar, have run the course. Matt broke a bone or two; that was all I needed to hear to know I wasn't about to get up on that course. Akbar completed it, but he's a former professional athlete, which I am not, which is different from my journey. Sometimes I wonder if I could make it through the shrinking steps, but only for a while. I need to start stretching more, but I'll be waiting at the buzzer for whoever hits it, ready to cheer them on and celebrate.
If I had to choose an obstacle to do, though, I would prefer the spider jump. The cliffhanger takes so much grip strength and agility to fling yourself at the perfect speed with the right amount of effort to land on that next cliff, and you have to do it more than once. With the spider jump, it takes stamina, and you've got to hold on for dear life, but it takes a little less finesse. So yeah, I'm going with the spider jump. But to be clear, it is not easy. None of the obstacles are. That's the whole point of the show.
You define Alpha Babe as an unapologetically ambitious (and mindful!) millennial woman designing a life she loves + leads. She knows what she wants & she isn't afraid to work for it. She embraces her duality: she's intelligent and sexy; strong and soft; a hardworking badass and a self-care connoisseur; a beautiful balance of substance & style. What was your first Alpha Babe moment that led you to aspire to pursue your dreams?
Oh, that's a good one—my first AlphaBay moment? I can't think of one specific moment. I remember feeling very strong and very alpha. When I got to around high school age, whether it was a well-meaning family member or a colleague, I remember (generally speaking) hearing them say, "You know just what you want, don't you?" They were impressed but also skeptical in that the implication was that I could be alpha in work or my professional pursuits.
But when it came to relationships and finding a man I wanted to be with, men were/are intimidated by alpha, and I remember constantly rejecting that idea. I've always felt that a strong man can handle a strong woman. But, of course, that doesn't mean there's not a time to be, quote-unquote, feminine to tap into my divine femininity, which I'm certainly more interested in now than I ever have been. Sometimes, I want to follow not just lead, but I've always felt I could do and be both. And the people who are supposed to be in my life would not only hold space for that or allow it but would be impressed by and supportive of it.
Regarding the first moment that inspired me to pursue my dreams, I've always wanted to pursue these dreams. But I've always been more alpha. I've been learning to lean into the babe of it all in recent years, to tap into that femininity. It is something that I want to embrace and celebrate. I am strong and soft, smart and sexy; these things aren't even on opposite ends of the spectrum. It's all of these things at once.
We, women, are so multi-dimensional and so layered and beautifully complex. And so it's about embracing all of that simultaneously. That term was something I came up with almost eight years ago, mainly for myself. It encouraged me to be both when I didn't think I could.
What led you to choose the title "Hot Happy Mess" for your Podcast show? Could you explain the meaning of each word and how it reflects the current state of our lives?
I chose "Hot Happy Mess" because I reached a point in my mid to late 20s where I was super ambitious and constantly on the go. It was hustle, hustle, and even though my life looked incredible outside, I got burned out. I was dealing with imposter syndrome. I was exhausted, and I felt miserable. I wasn't as happy as I knew I could be and was not at peace.
I had this tendency in my 20s to put off my happiness and live for later. No, I can't study abroad in college. No, I can't take the vacation or come home for that weekend and be with my family because I'm afraid to ask to use my vacation days. I'm building a career and a life. I'll live later. I'll celebrate later. While my ambition has undoubtedly gotten me very far, I know that some of those sacrifices have paved the way for some of the rewards I reach now. It didn't always feel good at the time. I realized in my late 20s that this was it. It is my life, and I'm in the middle of it right now, so I need to learn to stop putting my living off for later. I'm living now. I'm on it. If I'm tired, exhausted, or burnt out, I need to figure out how to make this moment feel better or clear because we only have the present moment.
I got to a point where I wanted to embrace it all. The hot, sexy, beautiful, picture-perfect, filtered side of my life with the happy, joyous, magical moments and then the mess, the nitty gritty, the woe is me, all at once. So "Hot, Happy, Mess" is embracing one's life at any moment. We can go from feeling hot to happy to a complete mess. I realized life was about finding and celebrating the magic in the middle of life's messes. If you think hard, you can usually find something that you feel is attractive, hot, sexy, beautiful magnetic about yourself. If you think hard, something could bring happiness, joy, peace, or fun. And you probably don't have to think too hard to find something that's a bit of a mess, complicated, chaotic, stressful, and causes anxiety in your life. I believe embracing it all is the key to it. The podcast is about everyday hacks, self-care, and self-love. There are conversations with licensed therapists and relationship experts, solo talks, and group chats with my real-life best friends.
We're navigating life and trying to figure out how to embrace it as it is so that we can enjoy the journey and stop waiting to get to some non-existent destination before we decide to be happy. We're demanding our happiness now. We're living joyously in any moment, seeking balance, and in a perfect world, exist in peace, contentment, radical acceptance, and curiosity with what is, whether it's hot, happy, or messy.
Throughout your career, you've focused on conversations celebrating and exploring diversity in Hollywood; what do you think is the biggest obstacle the entertainment industry has to overcome regarding diversity?
The biggest obstacle is not just understanding but embracing that no one person is the monolith. We are varied and diverse in our perspectives and experiences, whether racially speaking or socioeconomically. For example, my perspective and opinion as a black woman in Toledo, Ohio, could differ significantly from one in Austin, Texas, Sacramento, California, or Harlem, New York. This industry needs to continue making space at the table for multiple perspectives. It is not enough to have one seat at each table that checks off a quota that says, "Oh, we've got our brown girl. Oh, we've got our black girl. We've got our Asian girl. Insert your random token person here." That's not okay. It's not enough. It's only meaningful if the intention is to highlight the nuance of our perspectives. You can only highlight and dig into the nuance if you designate one person as the sole cheerleader and advocate to voice an entire group of people. So I would love to continue seeing those conversations and tables evolve in Hollywood.
What TV show or movie do you watch to escape reality and why?
I love "90 Day Fiance" on TLC! I am obsessed. I am talking about OMG status, episode one of season one, before all the spin-offs and offshoots. I am fascinated by the relationship's international and intercultural differences and dynamics. I was once in a relationship where we had a lot of that bridging the gap, culturally speaking. It wasn't a black-or-white thing or just a black-or-white thing. It was an American-to-Western European thing, and it's fascinating to see cultures collide, combine, and coexist. It's fun and brings drama. Still, it's also beautiful to see genuine and deep relationships between two people from very different worlds trying to make it work.
What would be your message if you had one opportunity to speak in front of a camera and offer words of hope, inspiration, and motivation to young females? Especially those aspiring to be in your industry.
Trust the process and trust yourself. Know that you are enough. You are more than enough. Your perspective is unique. It is important. No one has lived the life you have lived. No one has your exact skill set, experiences, or opinions, so own that.
The things that made you feel alienated when you were younger, or maybe even now, the people that scoffed at you or didn't understand you, the things that have been on your heart to share or say, are the things you need to lean into; Because now, more than ever, everyone has a Wi-Fi connection. Everybody has an opinion. Everybody has a microphone. It's tempting and easy in this day and age to hop on the bandwagon. There's no point in trying to follow the flock and be what everyone does but better. There's no point in copying and pasting what is trending.
I believe in quality over quantity and in doing the work, staying consistent, and showing up. The best way to stand out is by leaning into the things that make you different. I encourage you to do this because it's so easy to get discouraged and depressed when everything feels like a numbers game these days. You have to put yourself in the places where the opportunity to quote-unquote falls in your lap, but you've got to stay the course and believe that when the time is right, your time will come.
My other word of wisdom is, don't be so obsessed with one path, one specific way of getting to your goal, that you don't see other opportunities. That's the one thing that has guided me in my career. I've always stayed set on my goal to be on national television by 25. I want to be hosting a national show by the age of 25.
I was in Dallas, Texas, anchoring the evening news, and got an opportunity to host "Trending 10" on Fuse TV before I turned 25. So I packed my bags, moved to New York, and never looked back. So there was that level of intention and specificity, but I let the universe do the work outside of that. I let God do his thing, and I got there. So I encourage people to set intentions and be open to the universe. You might be so busy banging on a locked door that you don't realize there's a cracked window in the back that you can climb through. So be open to the way that opportunity presents itself. It may not be what you expected, but it may get you there.
You believe that everyone has a life purpose. What advice would you give to someone trying to figure out their purpose?
You should go to Zurihall.com (shameless plug, yes) and take my What's your purpose in life quiz. It's entertaining, and it only takes a few minutes. All you need to do is be honest about who you are, what you like, what drives you, your desires, and your core motivators. Then there are some fun, exciting thought starter suggestions on what bubble your purpose might fall into; Outside of that, if you're trying to figure out your purpose, explore, experiment, play, play, play more than anything.
I had to learn how to play, and I started doing it when I was almost 30. It gets creative juices flowing that allow you to see things differently. You don't have to be creative to try a wine and paint night or to go horseback riding. Try Taekwondo or rock climbing. It can be physical. It can be artistic. It can be scientific. You could take a class or sign up for an elective course at a local community college. Explore and play. When it starts feeling good to the point where you would do this for free, and it brings you joy, and you feel fulfilled, that's usually a good indication that it's something you want to pursue in a more meaningful way.
What do you have planned for the future? You have already achieved so much, and we can't wait to see more; what do you anticipate doing next?
Well, these last few years, I've been focused on enjoying the now. But, yet, I'm always wanting to do more. So I am actively striving for many goals, but I'm striving less intensely. I'm trying to get to a balance. And that seems like a paradox. But you'll understand better if you listen to heart happiness and some of the conversations we dive into on my podcast.
I just hosted Miss USA for the last two years, which has been incredible. Very recently was a part of Miss Universe for the first time as a backstage commentator, which was so special. Being a part of that was so awesome. I'm excited for this next season of American Ninja Warrior. I'm so grateful to be back with that team with my incredible community. Ninja is like family at this point. So I can't wait for that.
And if I had to give you something about what's next or what I'm excited for more, I'm excited to tap more into acting, getting back to what was one of my first loves, the stage, and the screen, in a scripted way. I love writing. I love learning a character. I am obsessed with the psychology of humans. I love tapping into other people's minds. I love having conversations. It's why I do what I do. Nothing is more interesting, transcendent, and unique to me than embodying another human, even for a limited time. So to be able to step into other worlds via the characters I am portraying is something I miss. I have done a little bit of it with the cameo on Apple TV+'s "The Morning Show," the role on E! 's "The Arrangement," and TVLand's "Nobodies," which was executive produced by Melissa McCarthy.
Those were little bits here and there, and I've been heating up with the auditions with some exciting callbacks. So I'm enthusiastic about acting more and for folks to see me on screen in a completely different way. So, stay tuned!
The Stylish Details
Photography by: The Riker Brothers
Keep up with Zuri on Instagram and Tiktok at Zuri Hall and Zurihall.com.
