"I don't like things like little sandals that look fragile. I like to look strong and commanding"
About this Quote
The specificity is what makes it land. Sandals are mundane, even trivial, which is exactly the point: power gets rehearsed in the tiniest choices long before it shows up in speeches or awards. Saldana’s career context matters here. She’s spent years in blockbuster franchises where physical competence is literal job description, yet press cycles still obsess over red-carpet femininity. The quote pushes back on that split: she wants her public image to align with the competence she’s paid to embody onscreen.
There’s also a canny awareness of the camera. “Strong and commanding” is a read, an image that travels instantly in photos and headlines. It’s not about rejecting beauty; it’s about choosing intimidation over invitation, armor over ornament. In a culture that still treats “likable” as a requirement for women, she’s staking out a different brand: don’t just notice me; take me seriously.
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Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Saldana, Zoe. (2026, January 15). I don't like things like little sandals that look fragile. I like to look strong and commanding. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-like-things-like-little-sandals-that-look-135354/
Chicago Style
Saldana, Zoe. "I don't like things like little sandals that look fragile. I like to look strong and commanding." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-like-things-like-little-sandals-that-look-135354/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I don't like things like little sandals that look fragile. I like to look strong and commanding." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-like-things-like-little-sandals-that-look-135354/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.








