JESSICA ALBA TALKS TO COSMO ON FIRST CAREER

Jessica Alba



Jessica Alba covers the March issue of Cosmopolitan (on newsstands February 9). Alba has become one of America’s richest self-made women, worth more, as of last year, than Beyoncé and Jennifer Lawrence, per Forbes estimations. Here, the actor-turned-tycoon outlines the honest truth behind her success.



Jessica Alba Quotes



On her first career: "I always wanted to be a big action star, to be as relevant as men. I was very aggressive with the vision and manifesting it.”



On owning your femininity: “Most of my life, I identified more with my masculine side. I was kind of aggressive and super masculine in my early 20s—even into my mid- 20s. I got boobs when I was young… and I was like, What do I do?… I was never the girl who they marketed. I was always feeling angry, like an imposter. I learned how to be cool with the feminine later in life."


On never doubting your own expertise: “I’m in a man’s world in business. But I know what women want— [men] don’t… Whenever [male colleagues] question me in meetings, I’m like, ‘Go home and ask your wife. This is a pointless conversation. Go home and talk to her.’ When we were talking about package designs, I was like, ‘Are you really giving me notes on packaging for feminine care? I literally can’t with you.’”



On equal pay: "There are not as many women in government titles, business titles. It’s just not equal. And until there is equality, you’re going to feel that no matter what industry you’re in. But from day one, I was like, girls should have an equal seat at the table. Take Jennifer Lawrence. I mean, she’s opening movies—she’s the box office draw as much as any guy in the movie, if not more. She should be compensated for that."


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