Fresh off an eventful summer season of her hit series, the actress Antonia Gentry—who prefers to be called Toni—is stepping into a new spotlight as the face of Jared Jewelers’s latest campaign. Beyond her celebrated performance as Ginny, Gentry is leveraging her platform to champion transparency and meaningful connection in the luxury space. The new Storied Diamond initiative, which traces each stone’s journey from its origin in Botswana, perfectly aligns with the star’s belief in grounding one’s choices in awareness. Caught in a brief window between New York Fashion Week and boarding a plane for filming the show’s highly anticipated fourth season, Gentry offered a revealing look into her evolving personal style, the profound responsibility of portraying mental health on screen, and why the diamond remains a meaningful symbol of life’s most significant milestones.
The New Narrative of the Natural Diamond
Antonia Gentry’s collaboration with Jared highlights a crucial shift in the luxury market: the growing demand for transparency and traceability. The new campaign centers on the “Storied Diamond,” a concept that allows the customer to precisely track the journey of the specific stone they purchase, from its origin in Botswana to its final placement in a piece of jewelry. This unique approach is more than marketing; it is a response to a global appetite for ethical consumption and deeper connection to the items we own.
This initiative is further underscored by the release of the documentary A Diamond Is Born, a film that explores the intricate, hand-by-hand process through which natural diamonds undergo their transformation. Gentry spoke passionately about this journey, noting that many consumers are unaware of the incredible work and global passage a stone undertakes. By providing bespoke technology to trace each step, the campaign allows the purchaser to feel a unique closeness to a diamond that represents a personal, often significant, moment in their life, whether it marks an engagement, a graduation, or a meaningful self-purchase.
Style Evolution: From Maximalist Stacks to Minimalist Statements
Gentry’s personal jewelry philosophy is one defined by both sentimentality and a conscious evolution toward streamlining. Initially, her style was rooted firmly in maximalism, driven by a deep affection for vintage pieces and the creative freedom of stacking every ring and bracelet she owned. However, the realities of a demanding, travel-heavy career necessitated a practical shift toward a more minimalist approach, one that still allows for self-expression through carefully selected, signature pieces.
Despite the move toward simplicity in her daily wear, the actress retains a profound appreciation for sentimental items. She counts a pair of diamond earrings, the first ones her grandmother ever owned, as one of her most cherished possessions. This legacy piece, gifted to her as a young girl, symbolizes the enduring value and preciousness of diamonds beyond their monetary worth. Today, her contemporary style focuses on subtle, elegant statements, with a preference for stacking rings and an eagerness to incorporate current trends like the anklet, proving that even a minimalist approach leaves room for personality and flair.
The Cosmopolitan Aesthetic: Defining Modern Street Style
When asked to define her everyday look, Gentry adopted the term her friends often use: “cosmopolitan.” This aesthetic is the perfect encapsulation of modern celebrity street style, prioritizing comfort and personal expression while maintaining a level of polish that is always “camera-ready.” Her style is an intentional, balanced exercise in playing with volume and silhouette, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of proportion.
A typical outfit might feature the contrast of baggy, comfortable jeans paired with a significantly tighter top, a dynamic interplay that highlights shape without sacrificing ease of movement. She also expressed a deep interest in Japanese styles, demonstrating a nuanced approach to clothing that transcends fleeting trends. This focus on silhouette and architecture ensures that every ensemble feels deliberate, allowing her to move seamlessly from a quiet coffee run to an unexpected public appearance. It is a true working woman’s wardrobe: thoughtful, comfortable, and always impeccably chic.
A Privilege of Purpose: Storytelling and Mental Wellness
Gentry’s reflections on her three seasons starring in the globally popular series Ginny & Georgia reveal a profound commitment to the craft of acting and its potential for impact. Moving beyond the immediate learning curve of her first major job, she articulated a deep appreciation for the blood, sweat, and tears that define true filmmaking and storytelling. This understanding of the process fuels her excitement for roles that connect and ground people, a sentiment that resonated with her decision to join the Jared campaign.
Crucially, Gentry spoke to the show’s serious responsibility in addressing complex issues like mental health. She emphasized that the showrunners and production team were committed to collaborating with experts, including Mental Health America, to ensure the portrayal of Ginny’s struggles was authentic and real, never sensationalized. She noted the overwhelming and moving response from fans, many of whom shared that the character and the storyline prompted them to seek help, attend therapy, or simply open up to loved ones. For Gentry, this privilege of continuing to do this work—and reaching people globally—is the most significant reward of her career
Front Row Reflections: Community and the Future of Fashion
Gentry’s participation in New York Fashion Week offered her a unique perspective on the intersection of high fashion and community. Attending the Off-White show proved to be a particularly memorable experience, not just for the stunning clothes but for the unconventional venue choice: a high school. This setting brought a vibrant, immediate energy to the runway, allowing students to be involved in the production and even attend the show.
She recalled the genuine excitement and the palpable energy of the students, noting that some were even involved in the event’s production. This integration of the local community into the exclusive world of high fashion made a lasting impression, showcasing a thoughtful approach to creativity and inclusion. As Gentry prepares to depart for a new season of filming—a season she says is being kept tightly under wraps—she is excited to embody a version of her character that audiences have yet to see, carrying with her the appreciation for storytelling she gained from her time on set and her appreciation for meaningful connection affirmed by her campaign work.
