Sabrina Elba on Finding Purpose, Marrying the Internet’s Husband & Building S’Able Labs

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 Stay up to date with Marie Claire Australia on Instagram   🎧 Listen to You're Gonna Want to Hear This and follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify   👀 Watch and subscribe to You're Gonna Want to Hear This on YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips.   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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.