Empire Star Taraji P. Henson Speaks Out On Following Your Dreams

When Empire’s Cookie talks, people listen! Now, the music mogul matriarch’s portrayer is speaking out on the importance of following one’s dreams and folks are listening to that, too.

Taraji P. Henson Opens Up

To help make her point, the Golden Globe-winning performer posted a photo of herself taken in the early 1990s in which she tried her hand at hairstyling. “This guys is one of my famous wet sets done by me,” Henson shares. “That was HAIR CRACK in DC in the 90’s baaaabyyyy.

“I used to charge $20 for wet sets that was my lil side hustle. Oh I also did acrylics (that is another story) God saved me because when I didn’t get accepted into #dukeellingtonschoolofthearts I thought that meant I wasn’t cut out for acting so I wanted to enroll in cosmetology school but missed it by one year.

“Went to North Carolina A&T for engineering FAILED PRE-Calc with a BIG FAT F (with 2 tutors 😩) CLEAR SIGN FROM GOD!!!! That is when my daddy (may he rest in HEAVEN) told me to get my ass back home to DC and enroll in Howard for acting because he knew that was my calling!!!

“Funny thing is I always kept my passion for hair even when I was acting. Look at GOD!!! I now have my own hair care line @tphbytaraji (and we are just getting started) sold in @target stores EVERYWHERE!!! MORAL OF THE STORY TRUST GOD. ALL DOORS THAT CLOSE ARE NOT DEAD ENDS!!!! I love you guys. I pray this motivates someone today!!! YOU CAN DO IT ALL!!!”

It’s safe to say that Henson’s post, which has been viewed over 64,000 times (!) at the time of this story was being written (within an hour of her posting it), has motivated quite a few people indeed! “You literally spoke to my soul with this one,” posted @phree_byrd. “I was sitting in my office in full tears. Thank You.”

Don’t miss the final season of Empire. The hit Fox series returns for its last episodes starting Tuesday, March 3 at 9 p.m. on Fox.