During International Anti-Street Harassment Week (April 12–18), L’Oréal Paris is bringing its Stand Up program back into the spotlight with its Missed Opportunities campaign, a powerful reckoning with the invisible costs that harassment places on women’s freedom, choices and visibility.
At the center of the conversation is L’Oréal Paris Global Ambassador Simone Ashley, who recently chatted with us about why she’s bringing her personal conviction to the cause and what’s on tap as she enters the long-awaited Devil Wears Prada 2 press week.
This is a big message. What does it mean for you, personally, to work with L’Oréal Paris on the campaign?
“This is my third year working with L’Oréal Paris as a global brand ambassador. I feel so proud to be part of this and our whole family of ambassadors. It goes without saying that I’m in the company of some incredible women whom I really look up to. To also be a part of this street harassment campaign and everything that they’re doing with Stand Up with their training program…it’s such a positive message and a positive movement.”
Part of the partnership encourages people to stand up in uncomfortable situations, which is not easy for most of us. What advice would you have to anyone dealing with something where they don’t know how to use their voice in that moment?
“What’s so great about the Stand Up Against Street Harassment program is that the training gives you all of the advice and tools that you might need. I’m someone who…if I saw something on the street that didn’t feel right, or I could see someone was in a situation where they were in danger of being harassed or they were being harassed, I would make sure that the victim feels safe and not draw too much more attention to the situation.
Perhaps that is a distraction—removing someone from that situation and taking them away with enough distance so they feel further from everything that’s been happening. That way, they can be in a calm environment where they feel slightly safer and seen by someone like me or whoever else is there.
That’s, personally, what I feel like I would do. It’s different for everyone and depends on the situation you’re in, where you are, who you’re with and what you feel most comfortable doing.”
Thank you for sharing that. Not to take away from the seriousness of the message, but on a lighter note, Devil Wears Prada 2 is almost here, and you are in it. What does stepping into this whole world mean to you?
“Gosh, it’s been incredible, from getting the role to moving to New York and filming it and being part of such an incredible cast and crew—it’s such an iconic movie. I was such a fan of the first movie, and that was 20 years ago! I feel incredibly lucky and so grateful to be part of it. Now, we’re about to start the press tour this week. I’m really excited to be reunited with the cast again.
Obviously, I was also so proud and excited to see the L’Oréal Extensionist Mascara campaign around the runway offices because I shot that campaign with Kendall [Jenner] the year before in Paris on the Eiffel Tower. So that was a really nice full-circle moment. The message that L’Oréal conveys is confidence, knowing your self-worth and encouraging women to feel and understand that they’re worth it. I think that’s the same message in a movie like this.
The Devil Wears Prada, it’s all about female empowerment and not feeling like you need to shrink yourself and actually rising to challenges, rising to your own dreams and ambitions and obviously, at the same time, in the world of Devil Wears Prada, just looking and feeling fabulous.”
Well, we’re all collectively excited. Do you change up your beauty routine when you have to do a big press tour like you’re about to do?
“Well, beauty routine-wise, I’m very, very lucky to work with incredible makeup artists like Alex Babsky, who will be doing my makeup for the majority of the press tour and premieres, as well as other amazing artists that I work with, like Samantha Lau or Hung Vanngo. In terms of my beauty regimen, I’m leaving it to the pros. I’m very lucky to have them on my team and to be with me. Depending on what I’m wearing, we adjust and adapt the makeup around that as well.
Other than that, it’s plenty of rest, plenty of water, just taking care of myself. I love using the sauna and working out, but at the same time, making sure I see my friends and have fun with it along the way.”
I love that. You’re super into beauty. Do you have anything that you really love using all the time—any holy grails that are always in your routine?
“I love using my L’Oréal Extensionist Mascara. I can wear that even when I’m not wearing makeup. It just makes my eyelashes feel polished and extended, and it makes me feel like I can step out looking like I’m wearing no makeup, but just a little bit polished. Then, I always love using a lip balm or my L'Oréal Paris Plump Ambition lip gloss.”
