The woman who refuses to take a bad picture is covering the October 2012 issue of EBONY magazine.   Check out Gabrielle Union's casually sexy & beachy cover shot, plus what she says in a letter to her younger self...

With beach waves in her hair and an oversized sweater perfect for fall, actress Gabrielle Union is EBONY's October 2012 cover girl.  In her 6-page feature, the 40-year-old gorgeous gal who has let us in on her previous years of esteem issues lets readers in on what she would tell her younger self, plus her advice to women who just never feel good enough. 

Notes of Wisdom To Her Younger Self
Your deep Mahogany skin may not resemble that of the others in your family, but it's just as gorgeous and you're just as worthy....One day you'll appreciate how much your brown skin shines in the moonlight, glistens in the sun and ages ever so slowly.

Her advice to women with low self-esteem

Don’t let that pesky low self-esteem creep in and fool you into believing that you don't have value…don’t allow it to crush your will or dampen your spirit…Never worry about LOVE....real love will find you....an incredible love with an incredible man....there is a beautiful rainbow at the end of your storm.

Don't let other people's needs, wants, desires, fantasies, hopes or dreams dictate your choices and decisions. Follow your own path, and don't worry that you’re being selfish or disloyal.

The issue hits stands September 10th.

Meanwhile, while Gabby takes in all the Fashion Week festivities in NYC with her man Dwyane Wade, her new BET show, "Being Mary Jane" just got some more good news.

The 16th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (presented by BET Networks) announced today that the show-- an original made for television movie that will also be a pilot for a series (from the powerhouse Akil couple behind "Sparkle" and "The Game") will serve as the festival's Opening Night film on Thursday, September 20.