{blackbabes} Tracee Ellis Ross Looks Chic on Essence's "Black Women in Hollywood" Double Cover, Talks black-ish Success

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Essence

Who better than Tracee Ellis Ross to cover Essence's annual "Black Women in Hollywood" issue? In fact, the black-ish actress scored a double cover for March 2015!

Striking two confident poses, Ellis Ross, 42, rocked a Byron Lars Beauty Mark dress and Sophia Webster pumps for the first cover. For the second cover, she modeled a Jay Godfrey dress and her own shoes. For the TV star, feeling beautiful is about more than dressing the part—it's about valuing her inner beauty. She hopes that by being true to herself, she'll inspire young women to embrace their perceived flaws. "I hope they look at me and think, 'That lady looks like she accepts herself,'" the actress explains.

Ellis Ross was recently named Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series at the 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards. Working "14-hour days, five days a week" on ABC's half-hour sitcom has left her feeling "happy-exhausted." Ellis Ross says she wouldn't trade the experience for anything, as she's "living the dream."

Essence

In the hit comedy, Ellis Ross plays Bow Johnson, a doctor and a happily married mother of four kids. "I like being the 'hot mommy.' Also, I find that on TV, marriage gets a really bad rap. It's this thing that you never want to do, and the comedy comes out of what people hate about being married. What drew me to black-ish is that this couple loves each other and the comedy comes out of that," the actress reveals. Plus, Ellis Ross says, "I want to have a family, so until that time comes, this show is a brilliant substitute."

Essence's March 2015 issue is on newsstands now.