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There’s a mix up on the afternoon I’m scheduled to meet [Zolee Griggs](https://www.instagram.com/zoleeg/?hl=en), the 22 year-old actress from Hulu’s _Wu Tang: An American Saga_, a dramatization of the emerging years surrounding the legendary New York City hip hop power group, created and executive-produced by members RZA and Method Man, respectively. As I sit waiting in the Hollywood coffee shop for our interview, I’m able to confirm the mix up as soon as I check Griggs’ Instagram; she’s just posted a video of shrimp sizzling in a pan, followed by a video of three street tacos, filled with the shrimp, chopped onion, cilantro, avocado, salsa verde, and lime wedge to boot. They look delicious. But they’re also a stark reminder she is not about to walk into the café. Phone calls are conducted and she’s en route.
Minutes later, Griggs enters the cafe like some radiant, hypebae mermaid. Griggs has super long braids that swirl around her, even as she stands still. As soon as I wave her over, she jumps in the seat opposite mine and leans across the table as if we’re old friends. “Girl I am sooooo sorry. I never got the new calendar invite,” she says. “My publicist just called me and I _Birded_ here as fast as I could.” I assure Griggs that she need not worry: she was here now and I’m excited to talk.
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Certain people magnetically and effortlessly draw you in, like catching a gust of air conditioning spill out of a store on a hot, sticky day. With Griggs, I quickly identify her charm. Griggs is the kind of cool girl you want as a best friend. It’s evident in the way her jeans loosely hang from her petite frame. It glows through her big green eyes.
Born and raised in L.A., Griggs signed with Ford modeling agency when she was just two years old. She went on to star in Disney’s _Corey in the House_, but Griggs still has a mostly relatable childhood. She was raised on astrology and Outkast, and in high school she blogged about fashion. Griggs recalls the time, at 13 years old, when her Dad took her to American Apparel and told her to get ‘something funky’. As a self-proclaimed anti-conformist, hunting for something “different” has been her M.O. ever since.
I ask Griggs how her aversion to conforming affected her job on _Wu Tang_, where for the first time in her career, she plays a character inspired by real people.
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“If it’s for the art, it’s not conforming in a sense where it’s controlling and limiting,” Griggs explains about her role as Shurrie, who is actually an amalgamation of RZA’s three sisters. Playing Shurrie was an all around stepping-stone. “She’s a badass who can get down,” describes Griggs. “It shows me in a different light. Not just as an actress, but as a person,” she confides.
Finding one’s light, and embracing it, is a passionate topic for Griggs. In 2017 she started Grl2women, an initiative that provides girls aged 11-21 with a judgment-free platform that encourages confidence, positivity, and open conversations. As someone who once asked Yahoo Answers when she would grow boobs, Griggs understands the importance for young girls to have opportunities to speak candidly. But not just girls, she reiterates, “I hope everybody’s being themselves.” We hope so, too.
* * *
Photographed by: [Lili Peper](https://www.instagram.com/lili__peper/?hl=en).
Styled by: [Kyle Smith](https://instagram.com/kyleforserious).
Hair: [Steven Mason](https://instagram.com/kyleforserious) using [Schwarzkopf Professional](http://www.schwarzkopf-professionalusa.com/skp/us/en/home.html) at [Exclusive Artists](http://www.eamgmt.com).
Makeup: [Shannon Pezzetta](https://www.instagram.com/shannonpezzetta/?hl=en) using [MAC Cosmetics](https://www.maccosmetics.com) at [Starworks Agency](https://www.starworksgroup.com).
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