While celebrity kids can sometimes get caught in their parents' shadows, Lori Harvey—the daughter of Steve and Marjorie Harvey—has become known as a star of her own. Whether you know her from social media, her high-profile relationship with Michael B. Jordan, or one of the numerous rap songs that reference her, you've likely seen a headline or two about this 25-year-old this past year.
However, Harvey's now attempting to "take control of [her] narrative" and show the world who she truly is.
"Before, I have been more so quiet and let the media run with whatever story they've felt like running with and didn't give it any attention; no confirmation, no denial, no anything," Harvey said in a recent interview. "Now that I'm getting older and coming into my own and starting my businesses, I want to take control of my narrative. I want to let people get to know me—who I really am, not necessarily who people think I am."
Most media coverage on Harvey has been centered on her love life in one way or another, though she instead wants to focus on her latest project: SKN by LH, her skincare brand that sold out within 48 hours of launching.
"There aren't a lot of big skincare brands that are headed up by or have been founded by Black people or, specifically, Black women, so I wanted to add to that list," she stated. "When the next generation is coming up, and there's that little brown girl who wants to get into skincare or start her own company, she can see me and be like, 'I can do it, too.'"
While Harvey's ambition to be a Black, Gen Z businesswoman came to fruition in Oct. 2021; she nonetheless had to push through understandable anxieties over her project.
"Before I launched, my anxiety was through the roof," Harvey revealed. "I questioned every little thing, like, 'Is my packaging OK? Should I have redone this? Should I redo this? Is this the right time? Should we push the launch date back?'"
She also opened up about how these feelings were exacerbated by other pressures, such as those that come with having a famous father and being a social media figure.
"There's the feeling like, 'I have to be successful because my dad is this successful giant,' and of course wanting to impress your parents and make them proud," she said. "Then there's the societal pressures of social media: everything has to be perfect. There are times I've gotten insecure, or you start comparing yourself to other people. You see what they're doing on social media, and you're like, 'Oh my god, I'm not doing enough.'"
"[Social media] can be a breeding ground for negativity—it can get really toxic and just take a toll on people's mental health. I had to start prioritizing my mental health as I got older with things that were affecting me negatively," Harvey added.
Harvey began dishing on her and Michael B. Jordan's romance shortly afterward. For context, the pair were first speculated to be dating back in late 2020, and they went Instagram official in early 2021. They're still going strong, and their relationship is the subject of frequent headlines.
"Always communicate. Overcommunicate, even, so you are always on the same page," Harvey advised. "Also, be friends first. You know how sometimes you fight with your siblings and, of course, you love them, but you're like, 'I don't even like you right now? It's important to always be friends whether you like the person."
Humorously, Harvey also shared that while Jordan had some "good notes" and suggestions for her skincare brand, it's still a learning process for him.
"Mike doesn't know a ton about skin care—everything he's learned, he learned when we got together. He used to just wash his face with a warm rag and walk out the door, and it would make me cringe."
Harvey reflected on her overall journey through early adulthood and shared some advice for other Gen Zers.
"I've made a ton of mistakes in my early 20s, and I'm sure I'm going to make a bunch more," she stated. "But the key is learning from your mistakes and applying what you learned in the future so that you don't make the same mistakes over and over."
Finally, she shared her thoughts on where she believes the next five years will take her—i.e., what she'll have accomplished by 30.
"In five years, hopefully, I will have many more businesses that have successfully launched," Harvey optimistically said. "Hopefully, SKN by LH is a household name, and people are loving it, and I'm a real force in the business space, the beauty space, the fashion space. Hopefully, I have a baby; hopefully, I'm married."
