Tracee Ellis Ross Reveals the Powerful Childhood Advice from Mom, Diana Ross, That Inspired Her Haircare Brand

Tracee Ellis Ross is recalling some words of wisdom her legendary mom, Diana Ross, gave her when she was just 12 years old.

“She walked into my room and said, ‘Listen here, little girl. You’re either going to get a really good job or a really rich husband because the hair products alone are going to break the bank,’” Tracee, 52, said during an interview on stage at Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Summit on July 15. 

The advice clearly had a big impact on Tracee at the time, as she noted, “So, I built a hair company.”

In 2019, the Black-ish alum launched Pattern Beauty — a haircare company that caters to curly, coily and tight-textured hair. The company was inspired by her inability to find products that supported her own tight, curly hair growing up, she explained during the summit. 

“I believed there needed to be a paradigm shift around marketing, particularly when it came to Black people and Black hair,” the actress and entrepreneur added. “We are centered around the celebration of Black beauty.”  

The company initially started with one retail partner and seven stock-keeping units (SKUs) and has since expanded to 11 retail locations and more than 50 SKUs in the product line, according to the founder. 

The High Note star attended the World’s Best Summit, a two-day event from July 15 to July 16, in New York City. The event celebrates the top trends that are influencing the travel industry, including sustainable, accessible and luxury travel.   

Following the summit, Tracee’s new travel show, Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross (which she both hosts and executive produces), is set to premiere on Roku July 25.

Of the new series, she wrote on Instagram: “I’m a solo traveling broad and I want y’all to come with me as I explore! And when I say explore I mean wear my pretty clothes, eat yummy food, dive into art & culture, and get into hotel pools. I hope this show reminds all of us that we can live our lives courageously on our own terms and be our best selves, by ourselves, out in the world.”

The actress previously graced the cover of Travel + Leisure’s The Best in Class Issue in 2023, where she chronicled the importance of spending time with herself by solo traveling. 

“Start by going to dinner by yourself on a Friday night. See if you can do that. And you might not be a person who can do that.” Ross told T+L. “You might say, ‘I’m not doing that ever again.’ Then you’re not somebody who can go on vacation by yourself.”