Tracee Ellis Ross—a celebrated actress, entrepreneur, and advocate—is opening up about the transformative power of solo travel. Best known for her iconic roles in Girlfriends and Black-ish, she’s discovered that venturing out alone offers a rare chance to simply be.
Now, Ross is producing Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross, a Roku docuseries exploring her solo journeys—flawless and messy moments alike—as she charts paths to self-discovery around the globe. Her travel diaries include breathtaking places like Morocco, Mexico, and Spain.
For Ross, solo travel isn’t about ticking boxes on a map. It’s about honoring herself, cultivating courage, and deepening presence in a world that moves at relentless speed. In her own words: “It’s an opportunity for me to be myself in the world.” The new docuseries premieres on Roku on July 25.
Ross first experienced solo travel on her own in 1997, fresh off her early success with Lifetime’s The Dish. She treated herself to a four-day escape at Pink Sands Resort in the Bahamas—where she lounged by the resort pool, tried her first cocktail in a Ralph Lauren bandeau bikini, and relished the freedom to follow her whims. That trip taught her the joy of being in one’s own company, embracing spontaneity like taking late-night swims or naps whenever she pleased.
Since then, Ross has returned annually—or regularly—to that same island heaven, turning it into a personal ritual. She describes luxury as the ability to obey her heart’s impulses: “Today, I want to sleep in… I’m going night swimming,” she explains.
Born in Los Angeles in 1972 to music legend Diana Ross and music manager Robert Ellis Silberstein, Tracee graduated from Brown University in 1994 with a degree in theater arts. She began her career in fashion editorial before transitioning to acting. Her breakout role as Joan Clayton on Girlfriends (2000–2008) earned her two NAACP Image Awards and widespread acclaim.
Her defining performance as Dr. Rainbow “Bow” Johnson on ABC’s Black‑ish further cemented her status in entertainment—with multiple Image Award wins, a Golden Globe, and critical praise for bringing nuance and humor to Black identity and family life.
