Sherri Shepherd’s Simple Mindset Shift Could Be the Confidence Boost Every Woman Needs

3 min readIf you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt or imposter syndrome (let’s be real—who hasn’t at one point or another?!), pull up a chair and get ready for a master class in confidence from Sherri Shepherd.The 59-year-old multi-hyphenate (that’s actor, comedian, talk show host, and writer) joins Women’s Health editors Abigail Cuffey, Amanda Lucci, and Jacqueline Andriakos for the latest episode of The Huddle, in which she talks about embracing all the opportunities that have come her way over the past few years—whether she’s felt ready for them or not.“This season of life has taught me that life is short,” Sherri says. “Do things that you care about. Do things that scare the heck out of you. Do things that make you feel good.”Sherri shares how she embraced that ethos to take on her new Broadway role—and how she’s helping others advocate for what they deserve—below.Stomping Out the DoubtSherri is no stranger to performing, having earned dozens of acting credits over the course of her decades-long career, in addition to taking a spin on the ballroom floor as a contestant on the 14th season of Dancing With the Stars. But even Sherri was surprised when she was approached with the opportunity to play the Genie in Aladdin on Broadway (the first woman to star in the role).“It scared me,” she says of receiving the offer. “I had a mild panic attack, but anything that scares me, I go, ‘Yes, I will do it.’ To have that experience is just literally a dream come true because I've always loved the theater.”Despite her enthusiasm, Sherri admits to a level of self-consciousness over her singing voice, but one mindset shift made all the difference. She said to herself: “I'm not a singer, but I am now.”Reframing her thinking—and not allowing herself to make comparisons to others—has helped her embrace the role with a spirit of optimism and fun. Which is a good thing, as she’s been spending nearly eight hours each day in vocal and dance training to prepare for her debut in mid-October. “There's a lot—and I have four weeks to learn it,” she says.Tapping Into Inner StrengthAladdin is just one of the many projects Sherri has been juggling this year. Last month, she starred as 9/11 survivor Genelle Guzman-McMillan in the Lifetime movie Angel in the Rubble (based on the book of the same name). The film tells the story of transit worker Guzman-McMillan, who was buried under the collapsed North Tower for 27 hours before being rescued.“Genelle is such a woman of resilience and such a woman of joy,” Sherri says. “You can't tell that there are any scars, but there are, and she made peace with surviving because she wanted people to know you can get through devastation. As long as you can get up and you’re breathing, you’ve got another chance.”For Sherri, Genelle is a reminder of the inner strength we all have—even if we forget it’s there.“I love playing women who have a strength,” she says. “We all have strength—sometimes we just don't know it. Sometimes it hasn't come to the surface. In this stage of my life, I want to show women that the possibilities are endless.”Championing Your Worth Sherri’s mission to empower women extends behind the scenes too, as she works to bring others up in the industry alongside her. She’s a strong proponent for pay transparency and will readily share dollar figures with female colleagues to ensure a level playing field.“I want you to know what I'm making because so many times they try to pit us against one another,” she says. “You never know what you're supposed to be asking for. You don't know what the high or the low is. This is how we stay strong and get stronger—if we, as women, stick together.”Said with the confidence of a woman who knows her worth and isn’t afraid to shout it from the rooftops—or a Broadway stage.To hear more from Sherri, including a juicy sneak peek at her forthcoming romance novel(!), click play on the latest episode of The Huddle above.Video Executive Producer Dorenna NewtonVideo Director of Photography Derrick Saint PierreVideo Editor Josh ArcherAmy Wilkinson is a contributing entertainment editor at Women's Health, where she edits the magazine's celebrity cover stories and writes health features. She has previously held editor titles at Entertainment Weekly and MTV News. In 2021, Amy completed her 600-hour teacher-training at Core Pilates NYC to become a comprehensively trained Pilates instructor.