EXCLUSIVE DETAILS: Jill Scott DEMANDED Her Natural Hair Be Shown On Magazine Cover

Sep 05 | by Natasha

She's one of our favorite YBF chicks for a reason. Fresh off her Made In America Festival performance in her hometown of Philly, singer/actress Jill Scott has just been revealed as the October 2012 cover girl for Essence Magazine. Check out the ultimatum she offered up to the magazine inside...

We caught up with the gorgeous 40-year-old at her Festival afterparty at Union Transport in Philly Sunday night, which also served as a fundraiser for her charity, Camp Jill Scott. And she unveiled her new cover alongside EIC Constance White.

Jill exclusively told TheYBF.com that she "staged sort of a coup" to make sure she could rock her natural hair for the cover. The confident chick gave the magazine company a choice--either she did the cover spread with her natural hair, or she wasn't doing the cover AT ALL.

When we asked who would actually protest her request, she said we would be surprised, because it indeed happens.

But it clearly it paid off. The "Golden" singer is looking simply fabulous on the cover of the October 2012 issue. And since she can rock her natural hair just as fabulously as her wigs/weaves, she said in the mag that she has a right to do both:

“This is the simplest form of myself. I look in the mirror and it’s like, ‘Hey, there you go. What’s up, girl?’ For me, hair is an accoutrement. Hair is jewelry. It’s an accessory. Tomorrow I may want a wig down to my butt and I’m gonna rock it, and the next day I may want a big Afro and I’m gonna rock that too…”

Loves it. And if you've been wondering why we rarely see her 3-year old son Jett, Jill says it's because she wants to keep him out of the business. But the little cutie does attend concerts inconspicuously watching mommy from the crowd. Sweet!

Jill is also starring in the upcoming all-black remake of Steel Magnolias on Lifetime, October 7th at 9p ET.

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Comments

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my god, we are so happy, they

my god, we are so happy, they are wearing FRIGGA HAIR WIGS. that is really encourage

by FRIGGA HAIR
9:34 am - Oct 5, '12

HELLO JILL I DON'T BLAME YOU

HELLO JILL I DON'T BLAME YOU ONE BIT SISTA, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO WEAR WHATEVER YOU WANT...LOOKING GREAT!!

by Helen Fisher
2:43 pm - Oct 4, '12

Essence is playing! I'm glad

Essence is playing! I'm glad she gave them an ultimatum.

by Mommaused2say
8:10 pm - Sep 14, '12

I don't believe this story.

I don't believe this story. Sounds like she was taken out of context. NEXT!

by LisaNiños
7:34 pm - Sep 12, '12

You go Jill!! I aint mad.

You go Jill!! I aint mad. Just wish they'd bring back your 'No 1 ladies detective agency' show. Both she and Noni were a hit.

by Realist
11:56 am - Sep 6, '12

Natural hair is in now more

Natural hair is in now more than ever. There is nothing more beautiful then natural hair and beautiful skin. I absolutely love it and had long hair and cut my hair short. I cut my sides super low and love it. My hair was down my back. People always ask why did I cut it. When you are use to hair it isn't a big deal to cut it. I think Jill looks awesome being natural or with her braids but the wigs are hideous.

by truthbetold42
8:22 pm - Sep 5, '12

I agree with Jill Scott 100%,

I agree with Jill Scott 100%, hair is like an accessory Natural or relaxed, how you wear your hair it's a personal choice for you to make. I've been natural for 27 months now and flat iron it all the time to get that relaxed look. ''Why not relax it?'' some may ask, well regardless that it's relaxed or not I still flat iron it, so why had an additional 3 hour per 3 month just to relax it? Also, it gives me diversity, if I wanna rock a huge afro, I can, if I wanna wear my hair long and straight, I can.... It simply gives the best of both worlds.

by Cyn Flo
3:45 pm - Sep 5, '12

ain't that a blip that a

ain't that a blip that a BLACK magazine had an issue with her wearing her natural hair on the cover, mannnnn we are own worse enemy!

by Marek's Wifey
2:30 pm - Sep 5, '12

You just now realizing that??

You just now realizing that?? lol

by LetsGetIt
2:40 pm - Sep 5, '12

That cut looks really nice on

That cut looks really nice on her. Anywho.. Is it just me or do you also hate when natural haired women in general go on natural rants but they have on enough makeup to put Sephora out of business?

by Ms.Thangfromthe...
12:20 pm - Sep 5, '12

OR they have their "natural"

OR they have their "natural" hair bleached and dyed (chemically) and typically with some shade of BLONDE... or red.

by Anonymous10
1:18 pm - Sep 5, '12

Exactly!!! I hate that shit.

by Ms.Thangfromthe...
1:28 pm - Sep 5, '12

"natural" chix act like they

"natural" chix act like they are in a dam cult and ppl in cults rarely make any sense. which is why I pay them no attention.

by shuga
12:25 pm - Sep 5, '12

Thank you. I couldn't agree

Thank you. I couldn't agree more.

by Blvdjewel
8:00 pm - Sep 11, '12

OK, I thought I was alone. If

OK, I thought I was alone. If you aren't "natural" you are self hating and don't really love yourself. WTF?!! I don't like that shyt, it's not for me, so I don't rock it. They get on my nerves...

by Chica-Chica
7:49 pm - Sep 5, '12

The media and people in

The media and people in general place so much importance on looks, race, gender, anything stupid they can find, to deter us from the truth of everything, and so there wont be some sort of societal breakdown, which im sure some of you already realize...

by hazelbeauty
12:10 pm - Sep 5, '12

Life is so lonely .I am a

Life is so lonely .I am a rich and single man at present .I need a woman who can love me back .I also uploaded my hot photos on ---Millionairetag,ｃｏ M--under the name of jeff1098..It’s the largest and best club for seeking CEOs, pro athletes, doctors, lawyers, investors, entrepreneurs, beauty queens, fitness models, and Hollywood celebrities.Please Check it out!I’m seriousdtyr

by tom056
12:09 pm - Sep 5, '12

Hair an acessory?? Ugh, only

Hair an acessory?? Ugh, only black women see their hair as an acessory. That ish grows form your scalp (your body). How is that an acessory? Blacks need to stop putting this chineese long looking yaky extra straight weave on their heads. I cringe everytime I see a woman with old silky loooking wig on or a bad weave. Wear natural looking extensions or realistic natural looking sew-ins. We have to evolve and progress. If our ppl before us were told that our hair is ugly, we now know better. Lets all embrace who we are. We are the only race that need to alter who we are. It's quite sad. I understand if you cant beat them, join them but..... where would we be as a race if we all thought like that? I wish top recognized black celebrities would wear their natural hair and start changing the image of black women to who we really are.

by PainfulTruth
11:56 am - Sep 5, '12

Yes hair is like an

Yes hair is like an accessory. You can change it up and wear it however your spirit moves you on any given day. What black people need to do is stop being so divisive and petty over something as silly as hair. Take heed from the words of India Arie "I am NOT my hair."

by MsKizzy
5:51 pm - Sep 5, '12

Oh God why?? First off, hair

Oh God why?? First off, hair from your head/scalp is not an accessory! How can something that grows from your head be an accessory? Some people need to think first before speaking/typing especially when you are displaying it on the internet! That’s so foolish and dumb for you to think that way. Dang there are many of you dumb ppl out here it makes me scared! Wigs, weaves, extensions are accessories. But not for BLACK females! We wear that ish everyday as if it is our hair. Therefore it is not accessorizing perming and or sew-ins are a way of life in the black community. Not done once in 2 years or waering clipins to go out every once in a while. If weave and all other fake hair vanished, most of you black women would not know what to do. Ugh I’m such a blessing to this site! You all really are not worth my time explaining this. It’s not a petty issue when we feel that what grows naturally out of your hair has to be altered chemically. It’s a form of self-hate. MOST black women perm and wear weaves that do not mimic their own hair texture. Why do we as a race feel that white looking hair Spanish, or Asian looking hair is better than our own? Weaves mimics other races. So dumb one, it is not petty!

by PainfulTruth
8:38 pm - Sep 5, '12

I hear you... If you refuse

I hear you... If you refuse to be seen in public without your weave it is not an accessory, it's a mask...

by Loving Song
4:56 pm - Sep 13, '12

Awesome!!! You go Jill. I

Awesome!!! You go Jill. I know they wanted you to rock some long white girl looking wig/weave. I appreciate it that, make 'em glamour you up in your own hair, not somebody else's. Love it!!!!!!!!!

by Reign
11:47 am - Sep 5, '12

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by Kcny
11:32 am - Sep 5, '12

Beautiful!!!!!!! Beautiful!!!

Beautiful!!!!!!! Beautiful!!! Black women are the sexiest when they have they own custom natural look. To bad most black women don't think that..

by LetsGetIt
11:20 am - Sep 5, '12

I definitely think she looks

I definitely think she looks gorgeous with the low cut. I said cut, because she may still have a relaxer in her hair even though its short. Also she has on a lot of makeup. Bare skin is natural as well.

by Classic87
12:36 pm - Sep 5, '12

AGREED! Blacks look a

AGREED! Blacks look a thousand times better with their own natural hair.

by PainfulTruth
11:36 am - Sep 5, '12

I replied to you on that

I replied to you on that garcelle beauvais post to, check it out.

by LetsGetIt
11:45 am - Sep 5, '12

Two idiots finally making a

Two idiots finally making a valid point. Congrats!!

by Ethel thinks YB...
11:41 am - Sep 5, '12

lol....hahaha, sista why you

lol....hahaha, sista why you gotta call me a idiot????

by LetsGetIt
12:05 pm - Sep 5, '12

And when have I not made a

And when have I not made a valid point? Youre an even bigger idiot if you can not tell me what valid point I have failed to make. Idiot though? Who invited you to our conversation? What other vocab word do I expect people like you to use though? Can't say I'm surprised.

by PainfulTruth
12:00 pm - Sep 5, '12

You suck. lmao!! also, to

You suck. lmao!! also, to answer your question....I invited my own self to the conversation. Not to mention that this is a PUBLIC website. p.s. Don't be surprised then. Be an asswipe like you normally do....

by Ethel thinks YB...
11:59 am - Sep 5, '12

Yes, it's a public website. I

Yes, it's a public website. I didnt post a free comment! I replied to him. That question wanst serious question and didnt need a response. I know you're allowed to write emotional irrational things.When I typed that sentence, I knew your uneducated self was going to say it's a public website. LOL I see you can not answer my other question though. But of-course you answer a rhetorical one. Lunch hour is done; recess is over. Get off the playground.

by PainfulTruth
12:33 pm - Sep 5, '12

Jill, you are not the first

Jill, you are not the first person to rock your natural hair in a mag. This is a non-issue that you wanted a lil' buzz from.

by Anonymous10
10:54 am - Sep 5, '12

if u rub a balloon on top of

if u rub a balloon on top of her head....it'll stick to the wall (try it)

by LisaRaye's Subc...
10:23 am - Sep 5, '12

I absolutely adore Jill.

I absolutely adore Jill. Jill is going to do great things. I feel it. Musically, she is the BOMB. As an actress, she is phenomenal to not have had a background in it. I LOVE JILL. And I love the fact that she stood up to the magazine and did not back down about her natural hair.

by Ethel thinks YB...
10:06 am - Sep 5, '12