Dell Taps Actress Yara Shahidi For Ads, Creative Advisory Role

Dell XPS, Dell’s premium sub-brand, is putting Yara Shahidi, the actress and model from the ABC sitcom Black-ish in ads and other promotions to tout Dell’s new slogan, “Expand Your Youniverse.”

Dell has announced a multi-year collaboration with Shahidi. In addition to ads, she’ll advise the company on inclusive creative strategy. "Yara's advocacy and passion for technology deeply aligns with Dell's commitment to affect positive change in this world," said Liz Matthews, senior vice president of Global Brand and Creative at Dell Technologies.

Dell XPS, which premiered in 2020, is noted for its power and its battery life—with about 12 hours compared to about 10 hours for a MacBook. 

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Shahidi, 21, is also currently a student at Harvard University. 

In her debut ad for the brand, via VMLY&R, Shahidi talks about her own self-confidence and aspirations: “I believe in myself, my passions, my voice,” she says. “I believe with the right tools we can be everything we want to be and we can turn what we love into what we want to do.” As she speaks, the ad shows Shahidi on a movie set, in a classroom and at a fashion shoot. Finally, she’s on stage with a sign supporting climate action behind her. “Be all of who you are,” she finishes.

The campaign breaks amid evidence that COVID-19 has unleashed a wave of entrepreneurism. A 2020 survey by Girls With Impact found that 53% of Gen Z men and women expect to be running their own companies — up from 46% in 2019.

 

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