Who is your dream dinner-party guest?

Tracee Ellis Ross | Taken from Instagram

In developing the HOSTED brand strategy, I shared with my team that if HOSTED were a person, it would be Tracee Ellis Ross because of her joyful, beautiful and authentic energy. I want HOSTED to embody these qualities so that anyone who engages with us experiences a brand that places high value on living joyfully, beautifully and authentically - whatever that looks like for them. 

I have loved Tracee and have followed her career for as long as I can remember, and the one thing that is consistent is that whenever I read or listen to her interviews, I find myself thinking, I don’t know anyone who is more herself. And what’s even more admirable about Tracee’s joy, beauty and authenticity - is that it is permissive - it doesn’t make me want to be her or live her life - instead, it has made me deliberate about doing the work of deeply knowing who I am, so I too can become more myself. 

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she’s asked why people love her, and she responds by saying - “I hope it’s because people feel like themselves when they are around me. I hope they feel safe to be themselves when they are around me - and maybe that makes people think that it is me that they love, but it’s really themselves that they love.” 

I think that is one of the most beautiful aspects of hosting, creating a space, an atmosphere that allows for you, the host to be yourself and be experienced in your fullness by your guests; and equally for your guests to feel the same. 

Cheers, 

Katleho