For years, the conversation around women’s health — especially Black women’s health — has been kept in the shadows. But Lupita Nyong’o is bringing it into the light. And not just with her platform, but with her pain.
In a quiet yet bold revelation, the Oscar-winning actress recently opened up about her battle with uterine fibroids. This condition affects millions of women worldwide, disproportionately impacting Black women. She described her experience as one that left her drained, in pain, and often confused.“In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered that I had uterine fibroids,” she wrote. “30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them. I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring. She said: ‘You can’t. It’s only a matter of time until they grow again.’”
Yet in true Lupita fashion, she didn’t just stop at telling her story; she decided to do something with it.
Lupita is now at the forefront of a growing movement to fund fibroid research and push for better treatment options. She recently testified before the U.S. Congress, passionately advocating for more attention, funding, and empathy around this issue. In her words, “The silence surrounding fibroids needs to end — it’s costing women their peace, their bodies, and their futures.”
But she’s not just asking others to do the work; Lupita is investing in it. The Black Panther actress has teamed up with the Foundation for Women’s Health to launch the FWH x Lupita Nyong’o Uterine Fibroid Research Grant, which will focus on developing minimally or non-invasive treatments for fibroids to help improve the quality of life for millions of women worldwide.
She announced this research grant designed to support scientists and innovators focused on fibroid treatment, particularly in ways that prioritize women’s quality of life, not just surgery as the only option.
It’s the kind of leadership that goes beyond red carpets. A woman using her voice not just to speak, but to create change. And for so many women, the ones who’ve bled silently for years, who’ve had their pain dismissed, who’ve felt unseen in hospital rooms, her advocacy feels like a balm.
In a world where women are often expected to suffer quietly, Lupita is choosing something different: to speak loudly, love intentionally, and lead boldly. And as she said herself, “I want this to be more than my story. I want it to be our solution.”
And honestly? We’re with her. View her post here
