What happens when you refuse to be defined by just one version of yourself? 

This week, Marie Claire Australia Editor Georgie McCourt is joined by Sabrina Dhowre Elba for a wide-ranging conversation about beauty, ambition, heritage, purpose and finding your own path. 

Sabrina is a model, entrepreneur, beauty founder, activist, philanthropist and UN Goodwill Ambassador, but she’s also someone who has spent much of her life challenging the idea that women have to fit neatly into one box. She opens up about growing up in a Somali family in Canada, the influence of her mother Maryam, and how her heritage shaped the way she thinks about advocacy, philanthropy and representation. 

She also talks about building S’Able Labs with Idris Elba, her husband, and the frustration with an industry that historically failed to properly cater to melanin-rich skin. Which ultimately lead to why she wanted to create a beauty brand that celebrates African ingredients and knowledge without making the product feel exclusive.  

Sabrina also shares her hopes for changing the way the world talks about Africa, her work around agriculture and economic independence, and what she has learnt about using her platform to create long-term change. And, in a new chapter, she opens up about taking on her first lead film role, and what she discovered about herself while stepping into acting. 

This is a conversation about identity, ambition, culture, purpose and the freedom to explore every side of yourself. As Sabrina puts it, her message is simple: don’t be afraid to explore different sides of yourself and just do the thing. 

This episode covers: 

• Sabrina Dhowre Elba on refusing to be put in a box 
• Growing up in a Somali family in Canada 
• The influence of her mother, Maryam 
• Heritage, identity and representation 
• Building S’Able Labs with Idris Elba 
• Creating more inclusive skincare 
• African botanicals and traditional knowledge 
• The realities of self-funding a beauty brand 
• Purpose, philanthropy and meaningful impact 
• Changing the way the world talks about Africa 
• Agriculture, climate change and economic independence 
• Marriage, partnership and working with Idris 
• Sabrina's first lead film role 
• Why you should never be afraid to explore different sides of yourself 

Check out S'Able Labs here https://bit.ly/4x3WzLd

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Credits:   

Host Georgie McCourt   

Edited by Helen Smith 

Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our amazing team at Marie Claire  

You're Gonna Want to Hear This is a production of Marie Claire and Are Media.