Crystle Stewart Shares Her Journey Through Fame, Family, and Embracing Her Strength in ‘Beauty in Black’
Audiences worldwide are captivated by Beauty in Black, a drama created by Tyler Perry that delves into the high-stakes and image-conscious world of a cosmetics empire. The series has quickly ascended to become the most-watched English-language series on Netflix, amassing 8.7 million views and 57.4 million viewing hours within a week of its premiere on October 24, 2024. Following the highly anticipated release of its second part in March, the show continues to explore themes of ambition, power, and betrayal within the beauty industry.
Central to the show’s intrigue is Mallory, played by Crystle Stewart. Her nuanced performance is considered pivotal to the series’ emotional depth, and for Stewart, the journey of being part of a global hit has proven both career-defining and surreal.
“I live two different lives!” Stewart shared. “I live between Houston and LA. Houston is all about family time with my kids, drop-offs, taking them to school, and back and forth, lunches and all that. When I come back to LA for the events and all the celebrity things, it is an adjustment! I sometimes forget about the show until I walk down the street and they’re saying, ‘Mallory?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, yes! Hi.’ It’s been an experience. I’m so excited that so many people love this show. I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s responses about the latest.”
As the second part rolls out, Stewart has been actively participating in press events and appearances, embracing the accompanying glamour with enthusiasm.
“It’s my job. I’m an actress. I have a hit show that I’m on,” she noted. “It’s my job to promote it and be graceful about it. It’s something I really enjoy doing. In the headspace, I turn on some music, put my makeup on, try to find a cute outfit, and I’m ready to rock and roll.”
In Beauty in Black, Stewart’s character navigates the complexities of a beauty empire, a scenario that resonates with her personal experiences.
Chrisean Rose
Reflecting on her past, Stewart revealed, “I was going to study cosmetology growing up because I actually am pretty decent at doing hair. I wanted to go to hair school. I just decided on a different route. It was funny when they said, ‘You own a hair company.’ I love the beauty business in general. It was easy for me to fall into speaking about hair and hair-care lines and all those great things.”
Outside of her acting career, Stewart combines professional-grade skincare with personal favorites in her beauty routine. “I use DMK products now; they are really great,” she stated. “Their Moisture Max is wonderful. I use their BP lotion for any breakouts and their skin lightener for dark spots.” She also highlights Estée Lauder’s under-eye cream as a vital part of her regimen. “They have this under-eye cream that’s magnificent. That’s a life-saver, especially after being on set all day and needing to go to an event that night.”
Stewart’s long-standing staple is Keri lotion. “I have to put people onto Keri lotion. I’ve been using Keri lotion since I’ve been a baby. It’s a thicker lotion, but it absorbs on the skin. It leaves this beautiful, glowy look to your natural skin. I swear by that.”
As Beauty in Black progresses, Stewart hints at new dimensions for her character. “You see a different side of Mallory,” she explained. “They’re used to seeing this woman that is just fearless. She’s still fearless and on attack mode, but they see different emotions coming from her in regards to her personal life, her business life, and what she’s willing to fight for and what she’s willing to do to maintain what she feels is hers. I just love that.”
