Reviews

More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth

tiara_b's review against another edition

4.0

There were many holes left. Although she briefly discussed colorism, she did not discuss the privilege of her complexion and the comfort her white counterparts had. It shows in the people she chose to work with. There is a blatantly ignored implicit bias within Ms. Welteroth.

thechanelmuse's review against another edition

2.0

Half of Elaine Welteroth's memoir, More Than Enough, is about her goal orientented and career-focused mindset that's not only inspiring, it's relatable in how imposter syndrome and the fear of rejection seeps into our life's journeys. How we lean into fear or retract defines our direction as Elaine displays in her coming of age years. There were a number of times I smiled while reading, due to her tenacity to enter into the competitive field of beauty and style for a major magazine.

Based on the other half of this memoir, the title should’ve been called More Than (Black) Enough. Elaine is a biracial woman with a Black American mother and a German-American father who self-identifies as Black. In her youth, she notes:

"Eric and I decided that we would buck the system, challenge racial norms, and defy our parents by checking both Black and White [boxes]. The way we saw it then, checking just one was a dismissal of half of our family tree. Plus we were kids and breaking rules was fun. Checking both felt like a little victory—our own tiny act of resistance, a small but powerful way to tell the world who we are."

Lineage is a permanent aspect of one's Identity; It's unchanging. But, in Elaine's coming of age, it appears she leaves her molding in the hands of what others "view" her to be per certain aspects like hair.

It's funny that when she chronicles her Teen Vogue era, she speaks about wanting to revamp the company and bridge in the celebration of Black woman. She pens an article that’s met with backlash from Black women readers around the topic of hair. During this personal setback, she mentions:

“No one on the internet seemed to recognize that the story was tackling harmful stereotypes about Black hair, nor did they notice that a Black woman had written it, or that the biracial model we photographed in braids was as Black as I am.”

So she frames herself as Black then frames the model as biracial

sydneygoombs's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

van835's review against another edition

5.0

I'm not one to write a review but this one moved me in ways I didn't expect. Didn't think I would relate to the author as I am in no way even remotely connected to the fashion world. But I saw myself in her words and her story. Especially her fight to be heard and recognized for who she is and what she is worth. I cried, I laughed, I got angry, I sympathized. So many emotions and feelings that motivated me to start writing my own story. "When the world tells you to shrink, expand!" ♡

mayamcdo's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

taylersimon22's review against another edition

5.0

This book came at a time where I didn’t know I needed to hear these words

savion621's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

4.75

Motivational, finding your voice, inspirational, career, girl power

chanitaxmas's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

4.25

cecarson's review against another edition

4.0

While the book is an autobiography of Elaine’s life, there are sprinklings of advice and “self-help” concepts throughout. Her career history is inspiring especially at such a young age.

yyes's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective

4.0