You can’t see Mo’Nique’s legs well in this photo. There are more pictures below from other events and a clear one from the Globes on TMZ
Mo’Nique doesn’t shave her legs and she’s not ashamed to wear skirts without pantyhose. The 42 year-old actress and talk show hostess regularly shows off her hairy legs and is unapologetic about it. In 2006 she talked about her aversion to shaving in an appearance on The View, and explained that it was too much trouble to shave her legs but that she did shave her armpits. On the red carpet at the Globes, where she took home the award for best supporting actress, she lifted up her skirt to keep it from getting wet and gave us an eyeful.
Mo’Nique has more important things on her mind than personal grooming.
The sometime comedian took home the Golden Globe for best supporting actress for her dramatic role as an abusive mom in “Precious: Based on the novel ‘Push,’ by Sapphire,” and gave one of the most moving speeches of the night.
She dedicated her win to abuse victims everywhere, ending by saying, “For every person who’s ever been touched [inappropriately], it’s time to tell.”
She also thanked her life partner, referring to a moment “when I looked into your eyes at 14 and said we are going to be stars.”
Mo’Nique may have been so wrapped up in preparing her remarks, in fact, that she forgot to take care of a little beauty matter before the awards – shaving her legs.
And if she was at all embarrassed by her shaggy state, she didn’t show it. On the contrary, whether inadvertently or not, she picked up the skirt of her long gown on the red carpet, exposing the issue.
A long dress covers a multitude of personal appearance sins – until you pull it up.
For true Mo’Nique fans, however, her hairy red carpet appearance will come as no surprise.
Mo’Nique has actually been on the forefront of a laissez-fair policy toward leg hair for many years. She showed off her unshaven gams on a 2006 appearance on “The View,” after prompting from Barbara Walters.
She told Walters, and by extension a national TV audience, “I must show America what a real leg looks like . . . because it’s too much in the morning, every morning, to shave, to cut, you got Band-aids baby,” she said after popping out from behind the hosts’ table to show off her unshaved calf.
“I really think hair on a woman’s legs is a black woman’s thing,” she later added, after pointing out that she does shave under her arms to avoid “stink.”
[From The NY Daily News]
She’s right that body hair removal is a cultural thing. I know in Germany where I live many women don’t shave their legs or armpits. Still, if you’re going to be on the red carpet for a Hollywood industry event, would it kill you to shave? Mo’Nique had a pedicure before the event and she obviously had her makeup and hair done. She could have taken care of her leg hair too. Maybe she assumed that she was wearing a long dress and didn’t realize she’d have to lift it up due to rain. She’s been married for four years to her second husband, and if she likes it and her husband doesn’t mind I guess that’s all that matters.
In other news, Former Fox news columnist Roger Friedman had a pretty interesting report on Mo’Nique a few months ago. He claimed that she was insisting on receiving payment in exchange for promoting Precious and that many outlets wouldn’t meet her demands. Mo’Nique skipped the Cannes and Toronto film festivals and her diva attitude could cost her the best supporting actress Oscar.
Photos below credit: WENN.com
I’ll admit, I was a bit shocked when I saw the up close shot of her legs, but honestly I don’t see how it’s a big deal. I wouldn’t go on a show with a short dress and shaggy legs, but I really don’t care if any other woman chooses to.
Shrug.
i like her rebellious non-conforminst attitude. at least she is consistent.
So bored with her and her leg hair. Nothing new here. No one should be shocked or surprised.
Cultural or not, her legs, her hair, she can do what she wants.
Yeah, thats how it goes. I dont shave when I wear pants, it takes too long in the shower but I do give below the knee a quick once over when I wear shorts or a skirt. And antiperspirant does go on better when there isn’t hair to block it from the skin.
I’ll refute Mo’Nique on this one. Hairy legs are not a black thing. I’m black and I definitely shave! Personally, I don’t want to see that. Ugh, just lost my lunch!
Yeah she needs a buzz all over her legs…clippers! Fine if you don’t shave and go to an award show, but don’t hike your skirt up and show it off. That is just unattractive IMO.
we lived in Germany in the very early 70’s and my mother told our teenage babysitter that she should shave her armpits and legs and the next day the babysitters mother came over and yelled at MY mother. We still laugh about it to this day!
Who cares about a little hairy leg?
Hairy legs just don’t look right in an evening dress and heels. Get some Nair, Mo’Nique, if you don’t like shaving.
Now I’ll go for months in the winter without shaving my legs. But if I’m going to wear a dress I’ll be shaving, let me tell ya.
There is such a thing as waxing. You know, someone else can do it for you, you just lay there, it lasts a while.. just saying.
I kind of like it. And I’m so pleased that I read a whole 5 comments before the “ew” crap started. I don’t shave my legs in the winter, because it’s not like my legs will be exposed anytime soon (I live in Canada). I do shave if I’ll be in a skirt, but I’ll honestly confess that it’s because of societal pressure more than personal opinion.
I love this woman…shaving is way overrated. As are high heels, waxing, electrolysis, laser epilation, plastic surgery, putting makeup on and taking it off every day, itchy push-up bras and starving ourselves to be thin. I mean seriously, why don’t we ladies just agree to dress and live in comfort? Men will adapt. They want to get laid, after all.
@vale…waxing is painful as hell, yikes.
I don’t understand… She’s married to her second husband, but she thanked her “life partner”… what is this polygamy?
I knew a man who loved the sensuality of hair on women’s legs. He hated the feel of stubble and just wanted to spend a lot of time touching a lover everywhere.
Her body, her choice. If she can stand the criticism, more power to her.
I admit, I rarely shave my legs in the winter, my skin is horribly sensitive and it actually hurts to shave and I get an allergic reaction to Nair. But my hair is super fine and light and you can barely see it unless your nose is five inches from my legs.
Mo’Nique, with all that money you have, it wouldn’t have killed you to use one of those shower-proof Nair things, it takes like 10 minutes and then you wash it off. It’s not like you don’t shower, so it wouldn’t be a big deal.
Long gowns with hairy legs, OK. Leg-baring gowns on a red carpet – at least shave up to your knees.
I would never go to an event like that and not shave my legs.
In the long dress I could MAYBE see it, but in the photo of her in the short dress, NEVER.
But if that’s the way she wants it, oh well, not hurting anyone else. Not pretty to look at though.
Not my personal choice… but her legs her choice,I say.
I like and agree with her attitude. There’s nothing unhygenic about hairy legs and aesthetics are a matter of opinion. Good for her.
I wax, but I don’t mind other people’s hairy legs. What I can’t understand is people who find it offending or disgusting. Sorry, but I find this attitude silly, how can be something so natural and harmless offending? It’s not like a pungent smell, you don’t have to look if you don’t like it. I think Mo’Nique is doing an statement here, and I find it awesome.
Ick. That is all.
Good for her. Shaving your legs sucks. It’s so time consuming and then the stubble starts growing right away. I don’t think her legs look very attractive, but if she’s good with it and her partner is too, so what. As others have said it’s totally her choice.
Yes. To be a proper woman one must submit herself to harsh chemicals, painful waxing, or time consuming shaving.
Barf.
I hate Nair. It gives me a rash. Shaving is a pain in the ass and waxing hurts. I’ll shave if I want to and forgo it if I please. If that’s a problem for you, might I suggest growing up as a solution.
I hate the idea that women must conform or be subjected to the immature ‘eew’ gallery. Conforming never got Mo’Nique anywhere. Why on earth would she start now?
I like Mo’Nique’s attitude and agree with the comments that support going hairy. Let’s face it, most of the time we get rid of it for others people’s benefit. It’s gotten so ridiculous that I know a lot of women who shave/wax their arms. Now that’s too much!
I personally dont want my legs looking like the next “GUYS”. Literally, GUYS! That looks like a mans leg! More power to her that she does what she wants. If her husband doesnt care then nobody else should. But honey, i dont want to see it! yuck!
no really, I enjoy the smoothness of a shaved/waxed leg, it´s not because anyone is telling me I should…and seriously is not that much of a hard task to do it, i´d rather shave my legs every other day than having to vacuum clean the house
but indeed it is a matter of personal taste
I don’t have to shave my legs because I paid thousands of dollars to have them lasered and countless hours of squirming in pain under a laser HA!!! But, if I had to shave every day I just wouldn’t… I have sensitive skin and after running a razor through my legs it looks like I was jogging through poison ivy… Maybe someday women won’t have such stupid expectations thrust upon them so we can actually get some work done… pluck eyebrows, shave legs, wax pubes, curl eyelashes, keep all surfaces smooth, get pedicures, have bouncy shiny hair, be in perfect shape etc etc… makes me all tired just thinking about it :/
(does anyone else think it’s funny that someone using the handle “dude” is concerned about their legs looking masculine?)
mamasnail you’ve won my heart… why do we do this to ourselves? We are our own worst enemies it seems :/
I’m so lovin her bravery… after seeing a bunch of my friends wax their arms, I just gave up… so ridiculous… what’s next, head waxing? :/
I’m happy for her on her win, and I thought she looked fabulous on GG night. But it just totally messed up her whole “look” by showcasing that she didn’t shave her legs or her arms. That just looks unkempt. Plus why broadcast that? No one needed to see or know for a fact that she doesn’t like to shave. We already know. She messed up this look by showing that off on purpose. Her gown was floor length…so we really wouldn’t have been none the wiser (to those who didn’t know). Ugh.
I know this will sound mean, but I don’t think it has anything to do with going against the grain or being a “cultural” thing. I think it has to do with Monioque may not being able to reach her legs to properly shave them. Which still is no excuse I guess because she could have someone do them for her if she really wanted. But ugh. Hairy arms, legs, or arm pits on women just looks a bit nasty. Especially when you’re all dressed up. The same thing goes for nasty looking tatoos on women at fancy events like this. It just takes away from the beauty of the whole look. Elisabetta Canalis makes me want to scream when she does this. Still love her, but those tats on red carpet events are just no…
yeah and besides, hair is not gender specific… both men and women are born with it…
wow, that’s really uncalled for… I know lots of big women who can reach their legs… do you only have skinny friends or something? that seems kind of ignorant… and if she couldn’t, she is rich enough to hire someone to reach them for her if she really wanted to shave…
Things like this get me all excited… I can almost smell a revolution coming about and I can’t wait for it. But then, I see women butchering their faces and looking like toothpicks and I think “maybe not”.
I feel so sorry for the poor person who had to do her pedicure. I’d have gagged having to massage those hairy legs.
Thank you, Francesca B, I was wondering the *exact* same thing.
I was in Europe a few years ago and while vacationing in Spain, you could pick out the Germans around the pool as they were in teeny weeny bikinis with forests growing out of the top and crotch. I know it is a personal thing but I do not care to see pubes growing down to the knees of older women.
Meh, it’s a personal preference and hey, even though I don’t want to see them, she’s free to keep her legs (and arms…saw those in the Golden Globe pics) as hairy as she wants.
That said, I’d rather look at Mo’Nique’s hairy appendages than at Heidi Montag’s, Jocelyn Wildenstien’s, Kat Von D’s or Joan Rivers’ butchered, plastic, waxy, overly taut faces any day.
Gross. ‘Nuff said.
OK I drank my lunch today.. and will not be reading anything you all wrote… but DAMN! SHAVE THEM IF YOUR going to SHOW THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I live in Michigan… we do this a bit in the winter.. But if we are showing leg… we shave!!!!!
i think it’s her way to say “fuck you” to society and it’s double standards. in other news: girl’s don’t fart, poop, age, gain weight or have hair anywhere besides their head…
Man legs
@wow:
She looks ‘unkempt’?
Oh dear no! Why one might think she was busy enjoying her day rather than sacrificing her time to meet a superficial beauty myth. We can’t have that! Oh no. Women must keep themselves smooth and radiant for the masses at all times. Lest they be utterly human and therefore….unkempt!
Excuse me, I’m off to clutch my pearls in disgust.
princess pea: Trust me Im far from masculine. Just as your far from a princess!
Wow, so many of us have totally bought into something that is completely culturally constructed. I shave (not all the time), but it’s my choice and when I don’t do it, it isn’t gross. As so many people have already said, they are her legs, why do you care.
I find it weird that she should not shave her legs and at the same time wear makeup, high heels and a fancy dress, have pedicure and her hair done… Everything is a bother, if you want it to be and all of these “womanly” things are time consuming and repetitive. Hairy legs with a boho relaxed attire can look ok to me, but with fancy stuff.. not so much. It really stands out. But that’s just my personal preference.
Jon Hamm didn’t shave his face for the Globes, and frankly it looks unkempt with his nice suit. But it’s his face and I’m not the one who has to kiss it goodnight. Mostly, I think it’s really funny that people are so put out when they see something they don’t like the look of. Really, on re-reading, there’s a lot of “well it’s her legs, sure, but why do I have to see it?!” If it really upsets people to see something beyond their own standard of beauty, they should move on over to the Pratt household. I hear that’s the standard of living there.
well it’s not for me but it also doesn’t bother me. why should she shave her legs. people act like it’s something we’re “supposed” to do. it’s silly
I haven’t shaved my legs since I was in my late teens and I’m in my early 40s now. Granted, I too have leg hair that one can’t see unless one looks very closely. I gave it up because I wasn’t a half-way shaver and it just took too long to shave everyday. What a huge waste of time! I have never heard any complaints from any man that I have dated. I told my husband, since I love him, that if he wanted me to shave my legs he would have to return the favor. Needless to say, we both still have hairy legs. I say GOOD for Mo’Nique and screw all of the “standards” for how society says a woman “should” look. We are all beautiful as-is.
“I must show America what a real leg looks like . . . because it’s too much in the morning, every morning, to shave, to cut, you got Band-aids baby,” she said after popping out from behind the hosts’ table to show off her unshaved calf.”
I don’t care that she doesn’t shave, but she makes it seem like such an arduous, dangerous task, which, it’s not. It takes me 2 minutes to shave my legs.
Again, it doesn’t matter either way, but let’s call a spade a spade. She doesn’t feel like it?
It is NOT a black woman thing! I shave my legs
@sasa, you make a good point. If it’s all about being too much of an effort, she puts a lot of time and effort into everything else – hair, makeup, nails, etc. If she’s trying to make a statement or something, great, but if it’s just a matter of not wanting to bother with the effort, why bother with everything else then too?
On a side note, I like that red dress in the first small pic. And her Globes dress was pretty too.
@Princess Pea- I love you and all, but LEAVE JON HAMM OUT OF IT! He is hot! Beard and all. End of story! : )
I read somewhere Jon Hamm is doing it for a role.
The red dress is pretty, but those shoes and those nails… along with the entire leopard outfit.. I find her style questionable and hairy legs just make it even more confusing. She appears to love satin, gold jewelry, feminine shoes… to the extreme, but on the other hand doesn’t shave. That’s just weird to me.
By the way, I was just googling her and I found a hilarious photo from the Globes. It features a very pretty Monique and a bloodsucking Medusa played by Nicole Kidman. Honestly. You can see it if you type “resized_mo_nique” into Google images search.
I hate that women are expected to shave, wax and laser every single hair on their bodies. Honestly, if we weren’t wasting all that time, we could be president, CEO, or chairwoman of the board.
When men start having to shave all THEIR hair off, then we can talk. It’s a great way to keep women “in their place” and I don’t like it.
Good on her! I like her attitude.
The idea that women ought to be OBLIGED to shave/wax/nair their legs or armpits or anything else is offensive but so pervasive – it’s like people forget that hair is actually NATURAL for a woman. Nothing wrong with it, nothing obscene, and once you get used to it it can be very beautiful. (I like my legs epilated, and then when the hair grows back soft, even as dark and plentiful as mine is, it’s quite nice.)
If a shaved leg floats your boat and a hairy one doesn’t, then fine, but if a woman doesn’t want to conform to cultural beauty standards then she damn well doesn’t HAVE to.
Good on you Mo’Nique.
@Lucy2 – interesting point about the “too much effort” thing; I would suggest that some women have different ideas about what’s fun when getting dressed up. I like doing my makeup, but I find painting my nails tedious. So I never paint my nails. I love a long pampering bath, but a friend of mine gets bored in baths and never takes them.
Maybe Mo’Nique doesn’t mind the effort of hair, makeup, etc, because she also finds that to be pampering and fun, but just doesn’t get the same thing from leg-hair-maintenance, so can’t be bothered…
ALSO: Kudos to everyone here who says, one way or another, “meh, her legs, she can do as she wants, why should she feel obliged to live up to the beauty myth?” You give me hope that humanity isn’t totally doomed and you rule. 😀
All those saying “ew gross, if you’re gonna show your legs, shave them, yuck” – get over yourselves.
A few questions, if I may, for the ladies who don’t shave their legs: do you pluck your eyebrows or wax off the mustache (if you have it)? These are for me examples of painful, pain in the ass procedures which, when done right, make a face look a whole lot better. Do you shave your armpits? I do and so does my man, because it’s really less stinky that way. And then there are also some intimate zones which can be quite a mouthful when not groomed. I understand that some people find it sexy, but I’m still curious because I cannot imagine that there are very many who do.
life partner? WTF? THAT MAN IS HER HUSBAND. THEIR UNION IS LEGAL.
Whatever she likes, I guess!
She either does it for attention or she is too fat to reach below her knees. Hire a groomer in that case.
Hey and I thought that black people (men and women) were hairless. A lot of black men I`ve met have completely smooth and hairless legs. So I assumed that it was a black thing to have little body hair. I guess I was wrong. Her legs are very hairy. They look like a guy`s legs, not that I care. Just a tad surprised.
it is true, this is a special event and I think if she put the effort to do everything else then she could’ve shaved
What I would love to know though is if she has facial hair because if she removes that hair then I wouldn’t see the point of her not shaving her legs
I’m kind of stuck here with wanting to say that’s her problem but I always cringe when I see a man with a really hairy back
princess pea @ mamasnail – you girls KICK A**! couldnt’ have said it better myself, so I won’t. What I will say is this – the woman gives an amazing speech and all people want to talk about is her freaking leg hair, unreal.
As an ardent, red-feminist I solved this issue by telling my husband if he wanted my legs to be shaved he could do them himself…so he does…with much fun to be had after he’s done let me tell you…:)
Works for me….
That’s certainly individuality; not being afraid to be different and taking pride of the difference. It doesn’t make her less of an actress nor of a person just because she opted not to shave her legs.
It may be a little different but it’s her life anyway.
OMG! That is just disgusting! I don’t care if you’re black or not, american or european, you shave your legs when you put them on display!
And ladies, there ARE other options to wax: you have the razor, the shaving cream, the lady epilator. COME ON! I find it very disturbing that a woman doesn’t take care of her body. YUCK!
A pretty and confident lady…I love u.
I’m so glad she isn’t conforming and doesn’t give a damn what anyone thinks – more power to her! It’s a pity everyone is talking about her legs instead of her speech.
I hate shaving my legs with a passion. Years ago my sister “suggested” that I shave my arms otherwise all the boys would call me gorilla woman, so I did. And they weren’t even that hairy. I wish we didn’t have to shave, wax, pluck or laser anything. Ugh!
Waxing or silk-epil isn’t really painful if that is your standard modus. But people do look at you funny in the inbetween moments – I could never shave my legs or ‘intimate zones’, I know it gives you a momentary smoother skin but ‘momentary’ and ‘thicker regrowth’ are the key words. I was at the beach today and I was a little underdone in the waxing department (standard line, you try holding down a job, household, etc, no time) and I think people did judge – but then it could have been my preconceptions. And why should I care? I don’t know them or anything .. But I did care, sigh, womanhood!
Let’s face it, she has the bravery I wish more women would have (including myself). Don’t you see? She’s making a statement… and I commend her for having the audacity to so publicly contradict the norm… not many of you would put yourselves out there like that… especially in a society that sounds much like the posts here do… and much worse probably because Celebitchy posters tend to be semi-civilized…
and for those of you who say it only takes 2 mins or is easy as pie are again sounding really ignorant… this isn’t the case for everyone… some people have sensitive skin, an unsteady hand, coarse hair, a demanding job, whatever and what have you… shaving isn’t exactly all butterflies and daisies for them… how about trying to expand your horizons a little to encompass experiences beyond your small and shallow frame of reference… YEESH…
I agree with one of the above posters… if we women weren’t spending so much time chasing after such trivialities maybe we could put a female in the white house… :/
I agree with mamasnail, the sooner we just accept how we look naturally, the happier everyone will be. For pity’s sake, women are the ones most critical! It’s a little leg hair…not the end of the world. And it doesn’t make her a disgusting person.
I had a boyfriend who called me gross AFTER sleeping with me, because I don’t shave my light blond leg hair and I don’t trim “down there”. Like he wanted me to be waxed like some little girl. Disgusting.
I was never happier than when I realized my current man truly liked things more natural (requested I stop shaving and trimming) and really does think women look funny tottering around on high heels in push-up bras. Real women are beautiful! Don’t fight it!
FizxGirl
While I appreciate the stabs you’re taking at me, you’re missing my point.
I’m just stating how long it takes me. Nowhere did I imply that’s how long it takes everyone.
My point is, SHE describes shaving as something it’s really not.
While you state it’s not the case for everyone, it seems like you’re splitting hairs (no pun intended). If someone wants to shave their legs, they will.
She just doesn’t want to, and that’s fine!
For the of all that is good in this world, WAX WOMAN WAX!!!!!
Also, she gave a great speech and I wish there was more attention focused in this story on that instead of rehashing old news about her insisting to get paid to promote her film. Why is that still relevant? And if she doesn’t win best supporting actress at the Oscars, big deal. What’s important is that she won a Golden Globe which is just as important as an Oscar. The Oscars are overrated and way too political, anyway.
Meh, whatever.
@ LolaBella
Co-sign….hairy legs are much less offensive than inflammable faces.
I AGREE WITH @SASA AND @BROWN SUGAR- SHE DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ME AS A BLACK WOMAN AND IF SHE CAN POP FOR THE HAIR, MANI-PEDI AND GOLD DRESS, SHE CAN CERTAINLY GET RID OF THAT SCARY LOOK OF THOSE HAIRY LEGS. COME ON MO’NIQUE!
Look at this site hairytrade.com , there are a lot of pictures
Half inch hair or more on her legs is NASTY! She can do whatever she wants of course and I can state my opinion about it. It is so gross, makes me want to puke. Why paint your toenails, put on pretty shoes, wear a beautiful dress, and not shave her hairy nasty legs. Watching her on some comedy show she is hosting and all you can notice is her ugly hairy legs. She is saying nigger every other word and talking like she is from the ghetto. I guess that makes her cool in front of the other black people or niggers as she calls them.