Jennie Garth Reflects On Iconic ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ Line ‘I Choose Me’ and Favorite Fashion and Beauty Moments (Exclusive)
The actress and IT Cosmetics are ditching the heavy makeup and letting true beauty shine through
Millions of young girls grew up watching Jennie Garth’s iconic Beverly Hills, 90210 character, Kelly Taylor, on television. From 1990 until 2000, the series set standards for teenagers around the world to follow, including beauty ideals and romantic relationships. As a young adult herself during filming, Garth, too, was impacted by those concepts.
But in 1995, Garth’s character made a powerful statement when having to choose between two boys, Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Dylan (Luke Perry): “I Choose Me.” The line was an empowering moment and boundary-breaking, not only for Garth but for young women everywhere and has since inspired the star’s journey.
Now, as she partners with IT Cosmetics, Garth is embracing her natural beauty with the Do It All Sheer Tint Balm, hoping to continue empowering the women who grew up alongside her. Woman’s World had a chance to sit down with Garth and discuss the memorable scene, her favorite fashion and beauty moments and how her relationship with beauty has evolved over the years.
Woman’s World: Let’s talk a bit about your partnership with IT Cosmetics and your personal connection to the brand.
Jennie Garth: I’ve been a fan of IT Cosmetics since its inception. It started as a product that really covered up any redness in your skin, and the brand has evolved into really embracing your natural beauty. So, with the Do It All Sheer Tint Balm, it’s all about embracing the beauty of our skin and all the things that we’ve endured. I know at my age, makeup needs have changed. I used to want to cover everything up and look flawless, and now I really am embracing that natural, fresh, hydrated skin. And now I feel like it’s reverse aging when I use this product. It makes my skin feel and look more plump and younger. So hello, of course I’m a big fan of it. It’s just a really natural look too, which I love, so we really align on that. And I think the brand in general, IT Cosmetics, is all about empowering women. This is just another choice where we can really choose ourselves and choose to let our true beauty shine through. And I love that.
You want to be able to see the roadmap of your life. The things that made you smile so many times. And the lines from kissing so many babies and puppies. There are things I want to enhance but also let it be natural.
Woman’s World: Speaking of IT Cosmetics being an empowering line for women, you have a new book coming out, I Choose Me, which is described as “part inspirational memoir and part motivational advice.” What made you want to write this book?
Jennie Garth: I feel like this book has been something I’ve been writing my whole life, because it really does cover my whole journey. As I’ve [entered] this place in life of acceptance and patience and kindness, [I’m] letting go of so many messages that I received from the outside world that were really cluttering my perception and my love for myself. So, this book is kind of my journey, but I also know that I was brought here to spread certain messages, certain positive messages. I love to teach people. I love to give tips and tricks. My parents are both educators, so I think it’s just in my genes. And when I was a little girl, I read a lot of self-help books. My mom had just a gorgeous selection of all the greatest self-help books. And that was in the 70s and 80s, when it was on fire originally and it hasn’t really slowed down. People want to be inspired. People want to have someone they can look to and say, “If they did it, so can I.’” This is the book with those messages in the forefront.
We need it. And the messages haven’t changed. It’s just retelling them in different ways so that other people can relate to them or grab onto some of the concepts, and hopefully instill those in their everyday lives. I also have a lot of self-help books and I love reading them. They inspire me to be better. There’s so many great messages that you can kind of infuse into your life. I think it’s an incredible format.
Woman’s World: So many people have followed your career and your journey, so it will be nice for them to see that they can relate to you through this book.
Jennie Garth: Many people grew up with me in their living rooms, so there is a very strong connection with my fan base. My fan base has inspired me to keep going and to keep pushing my own self-imposed limits. And I feel like it’s this beautiful reciprocal energy between the people that have been fans for a long time that are still with me: They inspire me, I inspire them. It’s beautiful.
Woman’s World: As for the name, I Choose Me, did you know that you wanted to use that line from the show for your book?
Jennie Garth: No, no. I think when I turned 50, I was sort of in an introspective place, kind of really wanting to know what was next and kind of felt lost. And I really did sit down and consider what is it in my life that has worked well, what are the areas that weren’t so bright? I made a conscious choice to focus on the things in my life that made me feel good, that made me feel like I was making a difference or serving someone else. So, I really focused on that, and that made me want to tell my story.
Woman’s World: Did the name of the book come after you named the podcast?
Jennie Garth: I had on my vision board to create a world around those three words, that famous line from the show, because I didn’t really know at the time what a significant statement she [Kelly from 90210] was making, and it didn’t really dawn on me until around the age of 50 when I started hearing women that grew up with me telling me what a difference that made in their lives. So, I really thought this is something that helped people. Today, it’s a beautiful reminder that we matter just as much as everybody else, and it’s so important to choose yourself so that you can then better show up for the people that you love. It’s just reinforcing the messaging that choosing yourself is always an option.
Woman’s World: How did you feel about the line when you were filming it and do you feel the same or differently about it today?
Jennie Garth: I think in the moment, working with Jessica Klein, the writer of that line, she was very sure that this was a life changing moment for the character and for young women. I was young and didn’t really understand the weight of that statement. And I think at 50, when I started to look back at things, I thought, “Wow, that is such a good message.” I didn’t fully understand it then, but I really do now. I just felt like it needed to be back in the forefront of people’s minds. So that’s become my passion and everything that I do is [about] empowering women to choose themselves and to remember that it’s important that we turn our attention back on ourselves from time to time. And it’s not selfish.
Woman’s World: Kelly was a fashion icon. Do you have any favorite looks from the show that your character or another character wore?
Jennie Garth: I love Kelly’s baby doll dress with combat boots. That was a good moment. The way the baby dolls were loose, but short. I love Brenda’s look, too, when she embraced the men’s clothing, with ties and trousers and shirts, I think that was a really gorgeous moment. Very Diane Keaton—I’ve always been a fan of her style.
Woman’s World: Are there any 90s makeup/beauty trends that you would bring back? Are there any you wouldn’t
Jennie Garth: Thin eyebrows! I love them and I’m also terrified. Now that I’ve gotten my eyebrows to grow in, I feel so fortunate, and then to think about tweezing them that thin again, it’s kind of terrifying, but also exciting. That’s something I might bring back.
Woman’s World: What has it been like growing up on camera and how has that affected your relationship with beauty?
Jennie Garth: Unfortunately, and I say that with all respect, the focus of my life or my worthiness in the industry, has been about the outward appearance. Now, I see things evolving into a true appreciation for women who have had many ups and downs in their lives. They’ve conquered things that they never thought they could and overcome obstacles. Makeup is kind of on that same wavelength of letting us show our wisdom and all the things that we’ve been through. It’s changed and there’s a certain amount of pride that comes from a woman of a certain age. They have that new confidence in themselves that you walk into as you age. I think that embracing your true beauty and really appreciating everything in your life—this skin, these eyes, these teeth, everything that has gotten you here—I think that connection with gratitude for beauty standards is changing.
Conversation
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