While the ever-so-popular #BreakingMyHeart trend is currently flooding the clock app, we can’t help but think of female sex symbols in the 90s.
Before the internet dominated our social media timelines with throwback photos of their parents to Mint Condition’s “Pretty Brown Eyes” classic, celebrity women ruled the latter part of the twentieth century. At a time when pixie cuts, french rolls, and flipped bobs clung to the freshly permed heads of the innovative era’s proclaimed “It Girls,” natural beauty had the entertainment industry on lock.
Many singers, actresses, and even dancers enjoyed the essence of black mascara, lined lips, and powdered blush, as it never took much for the ladies to land themselves on the cover of the latest magazine.
Whereas the 2020s saw the rise of “beat faces” and BBLs, the 90s made us appreciate queens in their simplest forms.
Here are the OG pretties we’ll never forget.
Female Sex Symbols in the 90s Who Will Forever Be Fine as Wine
Nia Long
It was only right to lead with no other than Ms. Nia Long, whose first breakout role was in the acclaimed soap opera Guiding Light as Kathryn “Kat” Speakes (1991-1994). The New York native caught the eyes of many when she played in an array of timeless films, such as Boyz n the Hood (1991), Made in America (1993), Friday (1995), Love Jones (1997), Soul Food (1997), In Too Deep (1999), and The Best Man (1999). We also grew to love her as Will Smith’s interest, Lisa, in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Rightfully so, Long was on every guy’s list of crushes back then… and even now.
Maia Campbell
Maia Campbell won us over as the sassy, young character Tiffany in NBC’s short-lived sitcom In the House, which co-starred LL Cool J, Debbie Allen, Jeffery Wood, Kim Wayans, and Alfonso Ribeiro, from 1995-1996. Her fellow credits included a role in the Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur-led Poetic Justice (1993), Thea (1993), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1996-1997), Moesha (1997), Sister, Sister (1998), Trippin’ (1999), Seventeen Again (2000), and With or Without You (2003). We’ve also seen the Los Angeles-raised actress in various music videos, including Tyrese’s “Sweet Lady” and Jaheim’s “Just in Case.” Earlier this month, Campbell became the talk of the online streets after her daughter, Elisha, posted her for TikTok’s #BreakingMyHeart challenge. And yes… Sis still looks GOODT!
LisaRaye
The Players Club (1998) made LisaRaye the ultimate fantasy back in the day. As we know, the Chicagoan portrayed Diana “Diamond” Armstrong in the Ice Cube-directed film, which featured Jamie Foxx, Bernie Mac, John Amos, Charlie Murphy, Terrence Howard, Faizon Love, Monica Calhoun, and A.J. Johnson. From there, LisaRaye went on to star in The Wood (1999), Civil Brand (2002), and Beauty Shop (2005), among others. Additionally, she’s known for her character Neesee James in UPN’s All of Us (2003-2007), Single Ladies (2011-2015), and most recently, Carl Weber’s The Family Business. You may have also spotted the icon in Tupac Shakur’s “Toss It Up” video, or Jamie Foxx’s “Unpredictable,” to name a few.
Garcelle Beauvais
We all loved Garcelle Beauvais as Fancy (aka Francesca) in The Jamie Foxx Show (1996-2001). The now-57-year-old’s welcome into showbiz began through modeling for brands such as Avon, Mary Kay, and Clairol. She then appeared in a couple of episodes of Miami Vice (1984-1985), opening the door for her acting career. By 1986, Beauvais snagged an on-screen spot in the thriller film Manhunter, along with Coming to America in 1988. You may also remember her as a main cast member in the Fox show Models Inc. (as Cynthia Nichols, 1994-1995) and NYPD Blue (as A.D.A. Valerie Heywood, 2001-2004). In 2003, she appeared in the visual for Luther Vandross’ “Dance with My Father.”
Lela Rochon
Lela Rochon has been that girl! From Harlem Nights (1989) and Boomerang (1992) to Waiting to Exhale (1995) and Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), the California State University graduate has delivered some of the most legendary roles. In Waiting to Exhale, we knew her as Robin Stokes, a top executive who’d grown tired of living life in the fast lane with someone else’s husband and finally wanted to slow it down. To date, that is some of Rochon’s most talked-about work, as she starred in the book-to-film adaption alongside Angela Bassett, Whitney Houston, and Loretta Devine. Rochon also served as Gerald Levert’s main squeeze in Lvert’s “My Forever Love,” along with Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” and Al B. Sure’s “Natale.”
Halle Berry
Last… but certainly not least, Ms. Halle Berry! The pageant model-turned-actress has been breaking necks and hearts since 1991’s Strictly Business (Natalie), which followed her film debut in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever (alongside Samuel L. Jackson) as drug addict Vivian. Berry skyrocketed from there, with starring roles in Losing Isaiah (1995), The Rich Man’s Wife (1996), B*A*P*S (1997), and Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998) spearheading a lengthy list of others. With over three decades in the business, it’s long been known that the Hollywood staple’s undeniable beauty has been the topic of many conversations… even now.
Which of these female sex symbols in the 90s had you googly-eyed? Let us know below!
