When you take a look back at 90’s Black films, there are certain starts the come to mind that left their mark on that particular point in time. Vivica A. Fox is one of those starts.
From the cult classics, “Two Can Play that Game” and “Soul Food,” to the blockbuster hits like “Independence Day” and “Kill Bill,” Vivica had the body, the style and the attitude that made the men want her and women want to be her.
Now, as Fox just turned 60 years old, some fans have gotten pretty vocal about how her look has changed and some say she’s had too much cosmetic surgery. But, we’ve decided to look back at what she’s done to keep herself in shape-physically and mentally–and what she’s doing now to enjoy this journey called life.
How She Feels about Getting Older
“The older that I’ve gotten, one of the main things I’ve learned to keep myself healthy and happy is that it’s got to come from the inside. A desire to be healthy and beautiful starts with your spirituality. Your spirit has got to want to be happy and healthy, which means you have to make the effort to be a healthy and happy person.” But that’s only the beginning.
Vivica makes an effort to stay healthy and happy by working out with a trainer, watching her diet, and making sure to get plenty of rest and by keeping good people around her. Vivica kills two birds with one stone when she gets trained by Basheerah Ahmad, both a professional trainer and a good friend.
“We do light weights, cardio and floor exercises. There are hills where I live so sometimes we get out and walk and jog the hills. The one thing that I love about Basheerah is that she also implements my diet. We do low sodium, low sugar, low carb and eat a lot of tuna, a lot of vegetables, lots of seafood, chicken. I take a multi-vitamin. But I do allow myself a cheat day when I eat whatever I want, which is pasta and pizza.” The reason pasta and pizza is a “cheat day” for Vivica is because these two foods are empty carbs, which give little to no nutritional value.
As a child, Vivica was tall and skinny with a fast metabolism. With a fast metabolism, fat is burned quicker and easier than that of a slow metabolism. Vivica was involved in physical activities such as basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, and track for school. “I was burning calories on a continuous basis, so I surely loved burgers, tacos and pizza.”
But as we all know, aging is accompanied with the slowing of metabolism. So with aging, Vivica’s attitude towards food has changed. When referring to soul food, she said, “We all have to learn to cook healthier. You can still eat the same kind of food but instead of cooking the greens with pork you cook it with turkey. Learn to just enjoy the natural. You don’t have to load up a lot of butter in your greens. Instead of lard or heavy grease fry your fish in something lighter or grill your fish. You just have to learn healthier ways that are more calorie-efficient. Learn to taste your food. Don’t drown your food in all that stuff.”
What She’s Doing to Her Skin
Vivica understands that in order to be healthy, we have to keep the biggest organ in our body healthy: the skin. “For my skin care I’ve lately discovered micro-dermabrasion because I have to wear so much makeup onscreen. I do that once a month, and I hydrate, take steam showers and drink plenty of water.”
Fox also shared that she uses a jade roller on her skin. For those who don’t know what that is (like me!), it’s a facial roller made from jade stone that was created to provide de-puffing and increase circulation to the face. It’s designed to help break down stuck facia and increase collagen production, to help smooth out your wrinkles and fine lines.
“From Aloisia, the Rose Gold Quartz Facial Roller,” explains Fox. “Look at this little, bitty thing, it’s so cute! You can rub underneath the eyes and the forehead, and all that.”
“I like to start off the day with Aloisa. They’ve got an excellent Purifying Cleanser that you put on and then they have these great little masks [for] every day, seven days a week. There are different masks that serve different needs for the day. Some are very hydrating and moisturizing. I just love these so I start off my day with a cup of coffee and my little mask.”
“I love a good humidifier because I put my essential oils in there. I start with my mask, my cup of coffee, and my humidifier. I love essential oils—eucalyptus and lemongrass—because it just opens everything up, and it seems like it’s like really good energy for me.”
What Vivica Is Up to Now
The Independence Day actress is actually busier than ever now.
“I had no idea that this chapter of my life that I would be this booked, busy and blessed. And I’m grateful,” she says.
“I’m so busy I don’t even know what to do with myself. I’m acting, directing, producing, got a hairline, got to work on a clothing line,” she adds. “I do have a lot of options to be honest with you.”
As for what she has planned for her milestone birthday, Fox teases that she has “several celebrations” in the works.
“I’m gonna be in my hometown with my brother who’s born on the same day as me. We’re going to do a party with my mom, my mom’s getting older. So usually we go to Jamaica. And I just decided hey, let’s stay home this year,” she tells PEOPLE. “Then I’m gonna go to the US Open and go to fashion week with my BFF BJ, can probably do a party in Beverly Hills with my girls.”
“It’s gonna last for a while!” she adds of the celebrations. “So if you see me in New York in September, just say happy birthday Viv.”
Here’s A Look Back Down Memory Lane (Vivica’s Old Pics)
