Working at Teen Vogue, one of my biggest joys was meeting young stars before their prime. Few were as sensational or instantly lovable as Chloe and Halle Bailey. The self-taught R&B stars and multi-talented sisters—whose voices literally stopped traffic when they broke into song for me at a Los Angeles restaurant in 2015—earned a coveted early co-sign from Queen Bey, who discovered their breathtaking renditions of her ballads on YouTube. Now, they’re garnering Grammy buzz for their critically praised 2020 album Ungodly Hour, which showcases a sound all their own, with influences ranging from Beyoncé to Billie Holiday, but for the TikTok generation. Their careers now span film and television—Halle will play a Disney princess in her role as Ariel in the upcoming adaptation of The Little Mermaid, and both have long been fan favorites on Freeform’s Grown-ish. Through it all, their steadfast sisterhood remains strong. Watching the evolution of two young, self-possessed Black girls blossom into full-blown women before our eyes is a gift to all who bear witness. They are Black Girl Magic personified—and this is just the beginning.
Welteroth is an author, a former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue and co-host of CBS’ The Talk
Correction, Feb. 18
The original version of this story misstated the status of Elaine Welteroth’s work on Project Runway. She is a former judge on the series.
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