Source: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty
Jackée Harry has always been that girl. Before social media had timelines, before “it girl” was even a term, and before we had entire aesthetics created around confidence, soft girl life, and glamour—we had Jackée.
She was the blueprint for the original “it girl.” Her fits slayed, her hair and makeup were flawless – and her body was tea.
And in case anyone forgot, Jackée gave us the perfect reminder this weekend.
‘Body Was Tea’: Jackée Harry Reminds Fans On Social Media Why She Is The Original It Girl
On March 14, the Emmy-winning actress dropped a Flashback Friday (#FBF) post that had the internet collectively snapping. In the black-and-white portrait, Jackée rocked a fitted dress that hugged every curve, one hand resting lightly on her shoulder, eyes locked on the camera with her signature playful yet seductive smile.
Everything about the moment exudes grown woman energy—every hair, every accessory, and every detail is perfectly in place. Jackee captioned her post, “As the young people say, the body was tea!!!”
While she didn’t specify the exact year the photo was taken, the high-volume hair, effortless glamour, and hourglass-hugging dress all point to her 227 era. And if you know, you know—Jackée’s portrayal of “Sandra Clark” on 227 was nothing short of iconic.
Jackée Harry, 227, and the Making of an Icon
Jackée’s portrayal of Sandra made her a cultural phenomenon. With her signature mix of confidence, humor, and undeniable style, she embodied a character in which Black women saw themselves—sexy, determined, and effortlessly fly. As the fashion-forward neighbor, Jackée was that girl who took up space unapologetically.
In a 2020 interview with Essence, the Sister, Sister star reflected on how much of herself she poured into Sandra, including her unmistakable style.
“She [was] man-hungry, so she had to be sexually visible—curvy. They always altered my clothing, it was never off the rack, but I liked having my skirt pegged, everything—my dresses,” Jackée said.
“And they would always sew them down so they were shapely. Everybody can’t wear that look. I wasn’t even thinking about being a style icon or even being sexy, I was just trying to be funny. Of course, I knew I was sexy, but that’s not what I was looking at first in terms of style; I was looking at being attractive so that when she was coming, she looked good and walking away too.”
That attention to detail is clear in her #FBF post. The cinched waist, the off-the-shoulder design, the flawless makeup and hair—it’s a masterclass in curated glamour. And the love in her comments proves that fans still see her as a legend.
“Everything and that hair ate down too!” one fan wrote. Another chimed in, “Left no crumbs THEN and NOW! 
.” And, of course, someone had to let her know, “You still got it, Auntie! 
.”
Even Jackée knows she’s still got it, joking in 2024 on Instagram, “I was kinda THAT GIRL, huh?”
Let’s Give Her Flowers Now: 10 Times Jackée Harry’s Body Was Tea
Posts like this are why we need to continue celebrating our Black TV icons – and give them their flowers now. Jackée Harry broke barriers in entertainment, gave us a character we could see ourselves in, and remains an inspiration today.
Yes, sis, the body was tea—but so was the attitude, the talent, and the legacy. Sometimes, you have to pop out and remind folks that you are, and always will be, the original “it girl.”
Let’s look at some of Jackée’s top fashion moments.
