You,You,You How to Radiate Killer Confidence This babe isn’t seeking approval. BY KELLY THORE In a recent interview, No Strings Attached actress Lake Bell admitted that when she’s scared, she taps in to her inner Angelina Jolie for strength. That struck a chord with some of us Cosmo staffers, because we’ve done the exact same thing. And we’re not the only ones who use Angie as a secret mojo source. After all, it’s hard to imagine an actress who, both onscreen and off, is more determined to achieve her goals, even when they’re ridiculously ambitious. “She’s the chick who fearlessly pursues what she pleases, whether anyone likes it or not, and always comes out on top,” says psychologist Sheenah Hankin, PhD, author of Complete Confidence. “Her confidence is palpable. It’s only natural that she’s become an empowering icon for women.” No one is saying that Angie’s life is perfect (daddy issues and blood vials come to mind…). And let’s not forget that she’s done things we 158 COSMOPOLITAN / JUNE 2011 don’t condone (ahem, man stealing). We’re just suggesting that if you’ve never asked yourself “What would Angie do?” in a clutch moment when your confidence was lagging, maybe it’s time you did. Rebel Role Model One thing we envy about Angie is that she doesn’t follow the rules. “On one hand, you have prim and proper actresses, and then you have her way over on the other side— with tattoos and a little rough around the edges—rebelling against that idea of perfection,” says Carole Lieberman, MD, author of Bad Girls: Why Men Love Them and How Good Girls Can Learn Their Secrets. “She just said ‘Screw it all’ and decided to do whatever and look however she wants, which is an urge we all have.” Yes, there are other badass celebrities whom we love and look up to (see Cameron Diaz, page 40), but when it comes to totally shameless gutsiness, Angie is on a whole different level. Regardless of where she is— looking fierce at an awards show or standing in her front yard in a silk bathrobe—Angie oozes strength and sexiness. “She has a seductive allure to her that women would kill for,” says Hankin. It’s clear the sheer willfulness of her movie characters comes from her, not anything written in a script or dictated by a director. It’s not Lara Croft or Mrs. Smith whooping ass, it’s Angelina Jolie. You can easily imagine her walking off the red carpet, hopping onto a motorcycle, and using a parked car to wheelie onto an overpass. And then there’s the fact that she has everything a woman could possibly want…times 10. She didn’t just get the guy, she got Brad Pitt, the sexiest man in the universe. She didn’t just balance a career and kids, she balanced being an Oscar-winning A++-list actress, all while raising a brood of six, traveling the world, raking in millions, and being labeled a saint by Bosnian refugees. And she makes it all look easy. “Everything is COSMOPOLITAN.COM John Shearer/Getty Images She may not be the perfect role model, but when it comes to conjuring instant self-assurance, channeling Angelina Jolie is one of the best strategies we’ve ever tried. You,You,You in excess,” says Hankin. “She’s so over-the-top that she fulfills every fantasy you could have.” Channel Angie Anytime Whether you find fault in her or not, tapping in to this chick’s überconfidence can still score you serious boosts. “Imagining what she’d do in a sticky situation can help you drum up the strength to beat your nerves,” says self-esteem expert Catherine Cardinal, PhD, author of A Cure for the Common Life. So how do you do it? Step one: Steal her body language. Remember when Jennifer Aniston was presenting an award at the 2009 Oscars, and the camera cut away to Angie in the front row? “She had her shoulders back with her chin high as she kept her eyes on Jen and smiled. Her body exuded confidence, which made Jennifer seem less powerful,” says Dr. Lieberman. During awkward moments (like when you run into the mean-girl clique at a party), squaring your shoulders, flashing a grin, and fighting the urge to look to friends for assurance will make you seem more in control. Step two: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Take a lesson from Angie’s infamous lip-gloss application during this year’s Golden Globes. Well aware of all the cameras, she made no effort to hide it as she swiped. “Moments like that show she’s not afraid to let people see who she is behind the veil,” says Dr. Lieberman. Many saw it as a faux pas, but she didn’t care—the same attitude you should take toward your critics. Step three: Put your best face forward. When The Tourist flopped on opening night in the U.S., did Angie sulk? Nope. The next week, she showed up at the movie’s Rome premiere donning a sexy black suit, red lips, and bombshell hair and walked that carpet as if her flick had just won Best Picture. “If she was disappointed in the reviews, she didn’t show it,” says Dr. Lieber- man. Appearing collected on the outside (even if you’re a mess inside) shows people—and yourself—that you N don’t let setbacks define you. Your GoTo Mojo Booster We figured you Cosmo girls would have a few sneaky (and excellent!) ego enhancers of your own… and we were so right. “If I’m out, sometimes I’ll bend over, shake my hands through my hair, and pop back up to give it volume. It’s hard to be down when you’re rocking big hair.” —Ana, 20 “I’ve saved a few e-mails from my boss where he’s complimented me for acing a project. I reread those when I need reassurance that I’m great at my job.” —LeeAnn, 30 “Going somewhere private and singing Glee-style. There’s just something uplifting about letting it all go.” —Kennedy, 24 “I have a stash of fake eyelashes at my disposal for when I’m having a blah day. They make me feel instantly foxy.” —Montana, 19 “The wallpaper on my phone is a cute picture of myself. Maybe that’s vain, but it’s a reminder of the ‘me’ I want to put forward.” —Jennifer, 23 “Whenever my confidence is flagging, I’ll go into a store and try on a gorgeous cocktail dress I can’t afford. Even though I don’t buy it, it makes me feel like a glam femme fatale.” —Brianna, 24
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