Halle Bailey: How To Be Resilient At All Times

At just 25 years old, Halle Bailey has lived several lifetimes. She’s been a viral sensation. A Disney princess. A mother. A survivor.

Her journey is about resilience. About moving forward no matter what. About refusing to let life’s curveballs knock you off your path.

And if you’re going through something right now, Halle’s story is proof that you can make it through. I’ve done some videos about Halle over this past year and I believe she is someone to root for and believe in. I appreciate her journey.

The Beginning: Chloe x Halle

Halle gained fame as part of Chloe x Halle, the R&B duo she formed with her sister Chloe. Their harmonies were otherworldly. Their chemistry undeniable. Their talent impossible to ignore.

But talent doesn’t just appear fully formed. It’s built.

Their father taught them how to write songs when they were just 8 years old. Eight. Most kids that age are still figuring out multiplication. Halle and Chloe were crafting melodies and lyrics.

And they didn’t stop there. They taught themselves how to play instruments by watching YouTube videos.

Think about that for a moment. No expensive music lessons. No prestigious arts academy. Just two sisters, a computer, and an unshakeable belief that they could learn anything they set their minds to.

That’s the foundation of resilience right there. The willingness to teach yourself. To figure it out. To not wait for someone to hand you the tools.

Halle Bailey: Growing Up on Screen

From 2018 to 2022, Halle starred in Grown-ish. She wasn’t just a guest star or a recurring character. She was part of the fabric of the show.

Those formative years, from roughly ages 18 to 22, she spent growing up on screen. Learning her craft in front of millions of people.

That takes courage. To be vulnerable. To make mistakes. To find your footing while cameras are rolling and the internet is watching.

But Halle did it. She showed up. She learned. She evolved.

And all of that was preparing her for what came next.

The Little Mermaid: Making History and Facing Backlash

In 2023, Halle took on her first lead role as Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

A Black Ariel. A reimagining of a beloved character. A chance to be part of Disney history.

The casting caused backlash. Some people couldn’t handle seeing a Black woman as a mermaid. As if mermaids have a documented racial requirement. As if fantasy has to look one specific way.

The racism was ugly. Vocal. Relentless.

But Halle continued. She didn’t shrink. She didn’t apologize for existing. She did her job.

And she did it fantastically.

When The Little Mermaid was released in May 2023, Bailey received praise for her performance. Critics and audiences alike recognized her vocal talent, her emotional depth, her ability to carry a major motion picture.

She proved that she belonged in that role. Not despite being Black, but as a talented actress who happened to be Black and perfect for the part.

The backlash didn’t define her. Her performance did.

Solo Artistry: Love?… or something like it

While building her acting career, Halle also pursued her solo music. She released her studio album, Love?… or something like it which she released in late 2025.

This wasn’t just a side project. This was a statement.

The album is emotional. Beautifully executed. Vulnerable in ways that take real courage.

She wasn’t hiding behind the duo anymore. This was just Halle. Her voice. Her story. Her heart on every track.

The album title itself is telling. Love?… or something like it. That uncertainty. That questioning. That willingness to admit you don’t have all the answers.

That’s mature artistry. That’s someone unafraid to explore complicated emotions and put them into song.

Her father’s lessons when she was 8 years old had come full circle. She was writing her own story now. In her own way. On her own terms.

Love, Motherhood, and Heartbreak

In 2021, Halle began a relationship with rapper and YouTuber DDG. For a while, things seemed good. Young love. Two people building their careers. Navigating fame together.

About two years into the relationship, Halle gave birth to their son. A new chapter. A new identity as a mother on top of everything else she was managing.

But in 2024, DDG announced their split.

Breakups are hard for anyone. When you’re in the public eye, they’re excruciating. When you share a child, they’re even more complicated.

And then things got worse.

The Restraining Order and Public Battle

In May 2025, Halle was granted a restraining order against DDG following allegations of abuse.

Neither parent wanted the case played out in the media. This was about their safety. About their son. About protecting what mattered most.

But privacy is a luxury that public figures rarely get.

DDG’s fans attacked Halle on social media. Viciously. They questioned her character. Her motives. Her truth.

It was hurtful. It was unnecessary. And it was relentless.

Imagine going through one of the hardest moments of your life while strangers dissect every detail online. While people who don’t know you decide you’re lying. While your pain becomes entertainment.

That’s what Halle faced.

And somehow, she kept her chin up.

Choosing Grace Over Retaliation

Here’s what’s remarkable about how Halle handled everything: she didn’t retaliate.

She didn’t go online and attack DDG. She didn’t air dirty laundry for clicks. She didn’t weaponize her platform to turn fans against him.

She stayed away from being negative online. At all.

That takes incredible discipline. When people are attacking you, the instinct is to defend yourself. To fight back. To make sure everyone knows your side of the story.

Halle chose differently. She chose to protect her peace. To focus on her son. To keep working.

She shot a movie in Italy. She continued building her career. She showed up for herself even when it would have been so easy to collapse.

That’s resilience in action.

Postpartum Depression and Being Honest

Through news surrounding the custody case and Halle’s own interviews, she opened up about struggling with post-partum depression.

She was trying to be the best mom she could be while her brain chemistry was working against her. While her relationship was falling apart. While strangers online were calling her names.

Post-partum depression is brutal. It’s isolating. It makes you doubt everything about yourself as a mother and as a person.

And Halle experienced it all while under a microscope.

Her honesty about this is so important. Too many women suffer in silence because they’re afraid of being judged. Afraid of being seen as weak. Afraid that admitting struggle means admitting failure.

Halle said: I’m struggling. And I’m still here. And I’m still trying.

That’s not weakness. That’s strength.

The Custody Case Resolution

The custody case appears to be resolved now. The details are private, as they should be.

What matters is that Halle fought for what she needed. She protected herself and her son. She didn’t let fear keep her in an unsafe situation.

She used the legal system. She got the restraining order. She did what was necessary even though it meant public scrutiny.

And on the other side of it, she’s still standing.

Still working. Still creating. Still being a mother. Still being Halle.

Life’s Curveballs Don’t Define You

This is what I want readers to understand from Halle’s journey. Life will throw you curveballs.

You might face racism when you’re just trying to do your job. You might experience heartbreak when you thought you’d found love. You might struggle with mental health while trying to be strong for others. You might be attacked by people who don’t know you but hate you anyway.

The curveballs will come. That’s not optional.

But how you respond? That’s everything.

Halle could have quit acting after the Little Mermaid backlash. She could have stopped making music. She could have retreated from public life entirely after the custody battle.

She didn’t. She kept going.

Not because it was easy. But because she remembered who she was and who she wanted to be.

Don’t Forget Who You Are

When life gets hard, it’s easy to lose yourself. To let circumstances redefine you. To become the trauma instead of the person who survived it.

Halle Bailey didn’t let that happen. Through everything, she remained herself.

She’s still the girl who learned to write songs at 8. Still the artist who taught herself instruments from YouTube videos. Still the actress who earned her role through talent. Still the mother who loves her son. Still the woman who chose grace over bitterness.

The circumstances changed. She didn’t.

That’s the key. You have to hold onto your core self even when everything around you is chaos.

Don’t Forget Who You Want to Be

But it’s not just about remembering who you are. It’s about remembering who you want to be.

Halle wanted to be a successful actress. She became one. She wanted to be a solo artist. She became one. She wanted to be a good mother. She’s fighting every day to be one.

When you’re in the middle of a storm, it’s hard to think about the future. Survival mode takes over. You just try to get through the day.

But Halle kept her eyes on who she wanted to become. She shot a movie in Italy. She continued her career. She didn’t let the worst season of her life become her entire story.

That’s forward motion. That’s refusing to be defined by a moment, however painful.

The Lessons We Can Take

Halle Bailey’s journey teaches us several things:

First, resilience is built, not born. She learned it early through music. She practiced it through acting. She embodied it through motherhood and heartbreak.

Second, you don’t have to respond to every attack. Silence can be more powerful than retaliation. Grace can be more impactful than anger.

Third, honesty about struggle helps others. Halle’s openness about post-partum depression gives permission for other women to speak their truth.

Fourth, your worth isn’t determined by public opinion. People will love you. People will hate you. Your job is to keep being who you are regardless.

And fifth, you can keep moving forward even when it feels impossible. Especially when it feels impossible.

Still Standing at 25

Halle Bailey is 25 years old. She’s already been through more than many people experience in a lifetime.

And she’s still here. Still creating. Still evolving. Still choosing herself even when it’s hard.

Her story isn’t over. This is just the beginning of what she’ll accomplish. Because resilience doesn’t just help you survive. It positions you to thrive.

The curveballs will keep coming. For Halle. For all of us. That’s life.

But we get to decide if we let them knock us down permanently or if we get back up. If we let them define us or if we define ourselves.

Halle chose to get back up. Every single time.

And if she can do it while the world is watching, while dealing with racism, heartbreak, abuse allegations, custody battles, mental health struggles, and relentless online attacks, then we can do it too.

Your Curveball Doesn’t Have to Be Your End

Whatever you’re going through right now, remember Halle’s story. Remember that resilience is possible. That grace is powerful. That forward motion matters more than perfection.

Don’t forget who you are. That person who had dreams before life got complicated. That person who had hope before heartbreak hit. That person who knew they were capable before circumstances made them doubt.

That person is still there. Don’t abandon them.

And don’t forget who you want to be. The version of yourself on the other side of this struggle. The one who made it through. The one who kept going despite everything.

You can get there. Halle is proof. At 25, with everything she’s faced, she’s proof.

Life throws curveballs. But you decide if they knock you out or make you stronger.

Halle Bailey chose stronger. So can you.

To read about Meghan Markle giving us a master class on living your best life, click here.