Jillian Hervey

Jillian Hervey – Life, Artistry, and Authenticity

Dive into the inspiring journey of Jillian Hervey (b. June 19, 1989) — singer, dancer, style icon, and one half of Lion Babe. Explore her background, music, influences, and meaningful reflections.

Introduction

Jillian Kristin Hervey (born June 19, 1989) is an American singer, dancer, and performer best known as one half of the neo-soul / alternative R&B duo Lion Babe.

In this article, we’ll explore her life, career, influences, and some of the insights she has offered about identity, art, and self-expression.

Early Life and Family

Jillian Hervey was born in Los Angeles, California on June 19, 1989. Vanessa Williams, an acclaimed singer, actress, and former Miss America, and Ramon Hervey II.

Hervey’s parents divorced when she was about eight, and after that she spent time between her mother’s and father’s homes.

Hervey has also noted her diverse ancestry: beyond her African American roots, her heritage includes English, Welsh, Irish, Finnish, Italian, French, and Portuguese lines.

From a young age, she was drawn to performance. She began taking guitar lessons at age 11 and studied dance at The New School in New York, where she cultivated her movement and expressive sensibilities.

Career and Achievements

Music: Lion Babe & Beyond

In December 2012, Jillian and Lucas Goodman released the song “Treat Me Like Fire”, marking the debut of their musical collaboration under the name Lion Babe.

They followed up with the single “Jungle Lady” in 2014, further establishing their artistic identity.

In July 2015, they performed at Lollapalooza, expanding their live exposure. Begin, was released in 2016.

Reviews and press often compare Hervey’s vocal style and aesthetic to icons such as Erykah Badu and Corinne Bailey Rae, noting her ability to blend softness and edge. San Francisco Chronicle even observed her shifting between a “smoky timbre” and more ethereal modes in different tracks.

Fashion, Beauty & Cultural Influence

Hervey extends her artistry into fashion and beauty. In early 2016, she became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics through their “Future Forward” campaign, spotlighting rising musicians of color. Pantene as a hair care representative, advocating for embracing natural curls and textures—a meaningful stance in an industry that has often sidelined non-straight-hair aesthetics.

Hervey has been open about her journey toward loving her natural hair. As she told Glamour, going natural changed how she felt in her skin, boosting confidence and helping her lean deeper into creative risk.

Her fashion sense often channels ’70s influences and bold silhouettes. She has cited inspirations such as Naomi Campbell and Chaka Khan in shaping her aesthetic.

Personality, Themes & Creative Vision

Through interviews and public statements, certain themes and qualities emerge in Hervey’s outlook:

• Authenticity & self-acceptance: Her journey with her natural hair, her reflections on race, and her resistance to conforming to narrow beauty standards show a strong desire to live on her own terms.

• Roots and heritage: Being the daughter of Vanessa Williams, Hervey is conscious of legacy, yet she seeks to define her own path.

• Interdisciplinary expression: Her roots in dance, performance, music, and fashion converge in how she presents her art—movement, visuals, texture, and voice interweave.

• Empowerment through representation: By positioning herself as a visual and vocal example of curly-haired Black beauty, she becomes a role model for audiences often underrepresented in mainstream media.

Hervey has occasionally spoken about how being part of a family that faced racism (for instance, her mother’s public challenges after being crowned Miss America) influenced her early awareness of identity and the burdens accompanying visibility.

She has also expressed that the freedom she later felt in New York, amid greater diversity, opened her to risk-taking and deeper self-expression.

Notable Statements & Reflections

Here are a few compelling quotes and expressed ideas from Jillian Hervey:

“Once I [went natural], everything started to change. I started feeling very comfortable in my skin and really confident about who I was.”

On her curls and identity: she has said she was taunted for her hair in school, but over time she embraced it and now celebrates it.

While Hervey is not as widely quoted in major media sources as some figures, her public interviews consistently emphasize themes of self-love, representation, and refusing to compromise on identity.

Lessons from Jillian Hervey’s Journey

1. Legacy does not define you entirely: Hervey honors her heritage without being bound by it; she builds her own artistic identity.

2. Embrace what makes you “other”: The very features (hair, skin, voice) that may be marginalized can become sources of power and resonance.

3. Art is multidimensional: Her roots in dance and movement inform her musical persona; she shows how performance is holistic.

4. Visibility matters: Her role in beauty and hair campaigns for curly, textured aesthetics helps shift norms in representation.

5. Vulnerability as strength: By sharing her past struggles with identity, critics, and acceptance, she builds connection and authenticity.

Conclusion

Jillian Hervey stands at the intersection of the cosmopolitan and the soulful: a performer who moves between sound, movement, and image with intention and integrity. Her journey—from navigating identity in mostly white spaces, to forging a musical voice with Lion Babe, to redefining beauty norms—offers both inspiration and challenge to audiences.