Good luck trying to fit Keke Palmer into a tidy category. She is such an extreme multi-hyphenate that any effort to describe her reads like a broken key on your laptop. But let’s try. She’s a child actor (Akeelah and the Bee) who grew into full-fledged leading roles with Nope and Hustlers. She’s written two books (the latest is Master of Me), co-hosted a game show and two talk shows, leads a podcast called Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, and is a singer with Interscope Records. Now, at 31, Palmer has a young son and co-stars with SZA in One of Them Days. She plays a woman trying to navigate calamity and chaos to make rent and arrive at her corporate interview on time. Viewers may have to suspend disbelief because, if they know anything about Keke Palmer, they’ll be pretty certain she’ll emerge victorious. I spoke to Palmer about her image while she was getting ready for an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers—“It’s a lot to do at one time,” she told me, “but I’m trying to give everybody what they need.” Chaotic, but ultimately triumphant. —Linda Wells
I’m not sure that I have a signature look. People notice my voice before they even notice me. My voice is more signature. I just asked somebody the other day what is it about my voice that people recognize, because when I hear it, it’s like nails on a chalkboard. I have a Midwestern accent. Maybe it’s that my voice is a little bit raspy.
When people hear my voice, they’ll ask me if I’m in disguise. I’m not always sure how to take that one. My life is in front of the camera, and if I just dress like anybody would on an off day, it ends up seeming like a disguise. There are occasions where I purposely don’t do my makeup, purposely don’t do my hair, purposely don’t wear an eye-catching outfit. When I’m dressed to the nines, people recognize me immediately by my look.
I’ve done so many different things with my hair that I don’t know if there’s one look that defines me. When I was younger, I had the signature of micro-braids until I was probably 12 or 13 years old. At that point, I got into weaves and longer hair. My mom would never let me relax my hair because she did it on my sister and felt it made her hair fall out. So that was out of the question. My dad would always prefer a particular length and color. He wanted it to stay natural-looking. I couldn’t go over shoulder length. No red lipstick, no dark lips, nothing like that. He never wanted us to grow up too fast. I was always a very obedient child. I respect authority and respect the rules.
I was so serious and very much a mini-adult. Even in the way that I dressed, it was conservative, like blazers and very Tory Burch– and Michael Kors–influenced. When I was doing True Jackson, VP [about a teenage apparel executive], I was influenced by that character, who was also a little adult.
As a teenager and a young adult, I always dealt with skin stuff. When I would wear makeup, sometimes it would make me feel kind of bad about the fact that I had to do so much to get a clear-looking texture. It just started to drain me. I decided I’d rather just enjoy my face and not feel like I’m trying to cover it up.
I don’t spend that much time in the mirror, but when a mirror’s around, I’m definitely saying hello. Worse than mirrors is just everybody always commenting on your looks and always being on display. It’s hard not to be so critical of yourself when a part of your job is to be—what’s the word I’m looking for?—observed or viewed. You’re a product, and your personhood is a part of your business. To be objective about that can be a little tough at times.
I was very inspired by the authenticity and individuality of Rihanna’s style, especially as a teenager. I just love that she was doing her own thing and making her way. I have so many different interests that there’s never been one particular style that I felt could define me. I love Princess Diana and Naomi Campbell. I really love the sleek, classic look.
Now I don’t see myself just as an actor. I see myself as a brand and as somebody that does a lot of different things. To establish a brand, you do have to have some type of physical identity, even if it’s not a signature. I want my brand to represent a certain level of glamour, a certain level of polish. Style and how I show up play an integral part in that.
Keke Palmer is an actress, singer, and television personality who has won two Primetime Emmy Awards. Her new film, One of Them Days, is out now
