Uber talented TV producer, writer and actress Lena Waithe continues to evolve in the rainbow-colored beautiful she was meant to be.

While appearing at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s annual grants banquet on Thursday, August 9, the Master of None co-star and The Chi producer opened up to Variety about her decision to cut off her hair.

“I felt like I was holding onto a piece of femininity that would make the world feel comfortable with who I am,” Waithe told Variety.

“I think I thought for a long time, ‘Oh, if I cut my hair, I’ll be a stud, I’ll be — in the gay world, there’s a lot of categories — I’ll be a stud or I’ll be a butch,’ and I’ve always thought, ‘Well, no, I’m not that, I’m still soft,’ and I said, ‘Oh, I gotta put that down ’cause that’s something that’s outside of me.'”

The prospect of living up to other people's definitions was no longer a concern for her. She wanted a change that represented who she has always been.

“If people call me a butch or say ‘she’s stud’ or call me sir out in the world, so what? So be it. I’m here with a suit on, not a stitch of makeup and a haircut. I feel like, ‘Why can’t I exist in the world in that way?'”

.@LenaWaithe explains why she cut her hair: "I felt like I was holding onto a piece of femininity that would make the world feel comfortable with who I am" #HFPA
pic.twitter.com/GTlxZJ11uO

— Variety (@Variety) August 10, 2018

Waithe is used to making waves and not caring about what possible backlash may come toward her. She realizes she is a role model to a lot of young women who haven't had a role model before.

Celebrity fans, of course, couldn't contain their joy for her shorter hairstyle.

We love you, @LenaWaithe. So much. https://t.co/BqvYrBrYQm

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) August 10, 2018

Love this woman…& your barber is killin it! Keep sharing your truth, @LenaWaithe ✊???? https://t.co/BoPwfJTTG2

— Sterling K Brown (@SterlingKBrown) August 11, 2018

I love you @LenaWaithe. You look fly AF https://t.co/VQEitTFq8I

— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) August 10, 2018

Yall… is it just me or does @LenaWaithe look like @RaphaelSaadiq with her hair short? She still fine AF. I'm just saying lol. pic.twitter.com/shqR8Zy7nR

— Sesali (@BadFatBlackGirl) August 10, 2018

I’m taking a lesson out of @LenaWaithe book. Move in the world how you wanna move. For you, not anyone else. ???? Noted. ✨ https://t.co/Nl55g9riAS

— Danielle Brooks (@thedanieb) August 10, 2018

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Lena Waithe's hair

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