Mindy Kaling and Beyoncé have a lot in common: They’re both mothers. They’re both strong women of color. They’re both talented beyond compare. But Beyoncé does have something over Kaling at the moment -- that Vogue cover.
ICYMI, Beyoncé became the Anna Wintour we knew we deserved when she led the cover shoot for the magazine’s emblematic September issue that hit stands earlier this month. The performer took over: She hired the photographer (23-year-old Tyler Mitchell, who became the first black artist to lead the shoot), she crafted the photo captions and she wrote the damn cover story herself.
*insert clapping emojis*
Kaling, being the gem she is, took matters into her own hands and recreated the cover photo, doing a stand-up job of it, too.
“Beyoncé Pad Thai” being, of course, the “warrior name” of Kaling’s “Mindy Project” character, Mindy Lahiri.
This photo would have been enough of a “hell yeah!” moment on its own, as Kaling is a wunderkind and thankfully always on hand for a laugh. But it took off, sparking others to channel Queen Bey and make their own flower crowns of bad*ssery.
Do we see what’s happening here, people?! The general public is mimicking Beyoncé and Kaling, two insanely talented and independent women, and from where I’m standing, that’s a recipe for not only a tenacious and resolute population, but also for #girlpower. Kaling -- especially her Lahiri character -- is the biggest representation of the “grow your own garden” mantra, and these photos are proof of that influence.
Women are likening themselves to Beyoncé -- and not in an ironic way!
BRB, crafting a flower crown for myself.