These 23 Black Celebs Prove That The Power Of Melanin Is Real

Brandy's face card never fails!

I'm sure we've all heard of the popular phrase "Black don't crack".

Kaylan Mahomes

But if you haven’t, it simply means that Black people tend not to show signs of ageing compared with other ethnicities. For instance, after Kaylan Mahomes posted this picture captioned "Mom, twin & me. ❤️" in 2016, social media went into a frenzy trying to figure out who the mom was, and I still have no idea!

Well, I'll have you know that I recently fell upon a study that confirms that the cultural myth is actually a fact!

HBO

A report published in JAMA Facial Plastics reveals that the secret is in our bones. Yes, you heard that right! According to the report, our bones are much denser and break down slowly, which means we have more youthful-looking skin for longer.

So I thought, why not celebrate our infinite magic by showing appreciation to 23 Black kings and queens who are ageing like fine wine!

1. Bianca Lawson

Paramount Pictures Studios, MTV Entertainment Studios/ Momodu Mansaray / Getty Images

Age: 43

If anyone is going to baffle you from this list, it will be Bianca. She looks exactly the same from her role as Nikki in Save the Last Dance to now, and no one can argue with me on this!

Here's a clip of Bianca in Queen Sugar:

Oprah Winfrey Network

2. Pharrell Williams

Dimitrios Kambouris / Wire Images / Getty Images, Amy Sussman / Getty Images

Age: 49

For everyone who had a crush on Pharrell back in the day, I'm here to tell you that there's no point stopping because he doesn't seem to be ageing. 

Here's a recent interview of Pharrell:

ABC News / American Broadcasting Co.

3. Brandy

United Archives GmbH / Alamy,  Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images

Age: 43

🎵 Mo to the E to the...🎵

Known for her distinctive voice and intricate riffs, Brandy has been that girl since the '90s, earning herself the title of "the Vocal Bible" — but her show Moesha got all the girls singing, including me!

Here's a clip of Brandy in the TV show Queens:

ABC

4. Idris Elba

HBO, Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

Age: 49

A man of many talents, Idris is known for his roles in Luther and The Wire, but he seems to spend most of his time drinking from the fountain of youth, because something isn't adding up!

Here's a young Idris in The Wire:

HBO

5. Halle Berry

Jim Smeal / Getty Images, Steve Granitz / Getty Images

Age: 55

Halle had all the guys and girls swooning over her in the '90s, and can you blame them? A former beauty queen who can also look 10/10 as Catwoman is a force to be reckoned with!

Here's Halle in her recent movie Moonfall:

Lionsgate

6. Taye Diggs

Steve Azzara / Getty Images, Amy Sussman / Getty Images

Age: 51

You'll come to learn that I've had a crush on every man on this list, and Taye really did something to me when he was in Brown Sugar. 

Here's Taye being a mood on TikTok:

@tiktoktaye / TikTok

7. Angela Bassett

Barry King / Getty Images, Jon Kopaloff / Stringer / Getty Images

Age: 63

That meme of Angela setting that car on fire in Waiting to Exhale will never leave my mind. Iconic!

Here's Angela in a recent interview:

InStyle

8. Jamie Foxx

Jeff Kravitz / Getty Images, Ian West — PA Images / Getty Images

Age: 54

A versatile actor who's a comedian at heart. His role in Booty Call left me in literal tears!

Here's a clip of Jamie in Spider-Man: No Way Home:

Sony Pictures Releasing

9. Regina King

KMazur / Getty Images, Leon Bennett / Stringer / Getty Images

Age: 51

Regina's roles as best-friend goals in Poetic Justice and as a family friend in The Cinderella Story represent people we all need in our lives. Sis can do both!

Here's a clip of Regina in the film Poetic Justice:

Columbia Pictures

10. Maxwell

Steve Azzara / Getty Images, Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Age: 48

When it comes to Maxwell, what did I fall in love with first? Well, it was the voice, of course! All of Maxwell's songs are a vibe, but his live cover of "This Woman's Work" sends chills down my spine. 

Here's a video of Maxwell performing at the Soul Train Awards:

BET

11. Gabrielle Union

Universal Pictures, Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

Age: 49

There must be some Clovers in the atmosphere, since Gabrielle's breakthrough role in Bring It On had all the Black girls wanting to be Clovers.

Here's a recent video of Gabrielle getting ready for the Met Gala:

Vogue

12. Michael Ealy

Jim Spellman / Getty Images, Momodu Mansaray / Getty Images

Age: 48

Michael blessed our screens with his role as Ricky in Barbershop, and from then on, he's been hypnotising us all with those blue eyes.

Here's Michael in a recent interview:

ABC News / American Broadcasting Co.

13. Nia Long

NBC, Paul Archuleta / Getty Images

Nia Long: 51

No one rocked short hair better than Nia, and her roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and in Friday proved this!

Here's Nia in a recent Interview:

The Movie Report

14. Will Smith

Ron Galella Ltd. / Getty Images, Neilson Barnard / Getty Images

Age: 53

The moment Will realises his absentee father doesn't want him will always be one of the most touching episodes from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and no one can deny that it was one of the actor's best performances.

Here's a recent clip of Will in My Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman:

Netflix

15. Sanaa Lathan

Jeffrey Mayer / Getty Images, Roy Rochlin / Getty Images

Age: 50

Sanaa put on one hell of a performance when she played Violet in Nappily Ever After, and I'm still not over it!

Here's Sanaa in a recent interview:

Still Watching Netflix

16. Boris Kodjoe

Steve Granitz / Getty Images, Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

Age: 49

Boris has played the love interest of many of our melanin queens, but one of his best-known roles was Kelby in Brown Sugar — and even though he didn't get to put a ring on it, there's a line of women waiting for his hand in marriage.

Here's a young Boris in the movie The Gospel:

Sony Pictures / Columbia Pictures / Screen Gems

17. Tracee Ellis Ross

Vinnie Zuffante / Getty Images, Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images

Age: 49

Tracee's performance as Joan in Girlfriends ended with me in a love-hate relationship with the character, and for me that's rare!

Here's Tracee in a recent interview with Vogue:

Vogue

18. Larenz Tate

David Livingston / Stringer / Getty Images, Ron Galella / Getty Images

Age: 46

Yes, Larenz did make me fall in love with him after his poetic role as Darius in Love Jones, but trust me, I'm not the only one.

19. Here's Larenz in a recent interview:

ABC News / American Broadcasting Co.

20. Iman

Ron Galella / Getty Images, Taylor Hill / Getty Images

Age: 66

If you want someone to envy, it's Iman. She went from iconic supermodel to rock star wife so gracefully, and can you believe this is her now? Face card valid!

Here's Iman modelling in the '80s:

Runway Collection

21. Morris Chestnut

Ron Galella Ltd. / Getty Images, Tommaso Boddi / Stringer / Getty Images

Age: 53

Morris Chesnut has been a sex symbol since the '90s, and since he played beloved Ricky in Boyz n the Hood, he seems to be getting finer by the day.

Here's a recent interview of Morris:

Syndication

22. Lisa Bonet

NBC / Getty Images, Jean Baptiste Lacroix / Stringer / Getty Images

Age: 54

Lisa is most recognised for her role as Denise Huxtable in The Cosby Show, but today she's casually serving looks with her daughter Zoë Kravitz. 

Here's the most recent interview of Lisa:

Access

23. Blair Underwood

New Line Cinema / Getty Images, JC Olivera / Getty Images

Age: 57

If you're a fan of the hit movie Set It Off, then you know that Blair engaged in a steamy sex scene with Jada Pinkett Smith — and boy, was it hot!

Here's Blair in a recent photo shoot:

New You Media

24. Regina Hall

New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images, David Livingston / Stringer / Getty Images

Age: 51

One thing you should never do is sleep on Regina's acting ability, especially when it comes to her role as Candy in The Best Man. She killed that striptease with ease!

Here's Regina in a recent interview:

Syndication

*Sigh* I wish this list could've gone on forever, because I definitely missed out on a few. But who else do you think should've been on it? Let us know in the comments!