‘I Had So Many Doubts’: Rosario Dawson On Impostor Syndrome And Ethics In Fashion

You know the phrases. Diamonds are forever. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. They speak to the precious nature of the stones, their value as assets and their long-standing status as the ultimate jewel. But in recent years, such phrases have been questioned. People are wondering if the bright sparklers on their wrists have a dark side.

They are questioning the source of their diamonds, the ethics of their discovery, and seeking alternatives that they can trust have not had a detrimental effect on the environment or its inhabitants. And among those trying to help that consumer make a conscious choice is Pandora, with its new Pandora Brilliance collection of sustainable, lab-created diamonds. Joining the brand to adorn herself is Rosario Dawson, the actress best known for roles in Rent, Sin City and The Mandalorian.

‘I was just so amazed,’ Rosario tells Grazia over Zoom from her home in the US. ‘I'm a huge fan of their charm bracelets, and the nostalgia of that, but this is a company that’s going carbon neutral, using recycled gold and silver with their pieces, and that is affordable for people: it's romantic, it's beautiful, and it highlights just what innovation and inspiration can do.’

Rosario’s interest in socially conscious fashion is genetic. Her great-grandmother was a seamstress who worked with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Her grandmother passed that passion down.

‘Theworld of fashion is a huge polluter, and we have a lot of work to do,’ she says. ‘We want to express ourselves, which is such a natural thing to do, but we can do that by being more conscious and recognising - as I think we're doing now so much more - who made our clothes, and who made this jewellery? And we've gotten to this point where being conscious with intent, and purchasing with purpose, doesn't have to mean that you don't have style.’ This same family connection also furnished her with her most profound memory in the jewellery sphere.

‘My grandmother used to just wear a bunch of bracelets on her left arm, and they jangled so you'd hear her before you’d even see her,’ she recalls. ‘I love that so much. You know, it was such a huge part of who she was, and that's why it was hard when she passed, because she was so alive. That's what we need to be reminded of: we are alive, let’s enjoy it, let’s celebrate even when it’s tough. I miss my grandmother, but I'm glad for my memories.’

Pandora’s collection is very much an exploration of what can be achieved if you ignore limits, and the idea of infinite possibilities. For Rosario, it’s a philosophical common ground after she realised, long into her career, that she was responsible for her own success, which followed her film debut in acclaimed drama Kids.

‘I had so many doubts,’ she recalls. ‘For years, I kept being like, “wow, I’m so lucky that this happened in my life: what if I hadn't said yes?” and one day a friend said, “Yeah, but you did? You said yes to this audition, you then went and did the audition, and you got this role: you've got to own those choices.” And that’s imposter syndrome: there are so many people who are really unqualified and have zero talents and zero skill, but they just forge ahead. This is my world and I'm claiming it: it's been really powerful. If there's only one thing that I look back on that I regret it’s that I didn't allow myself to enjoy it more. That’s why I'm excited about being a part of campaigns like this, whose whole message is: “shine.” You are brilliant. There are infinite possibilities within you. We are capable of anything and everything that you want. But you have to believe in yourself.’

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