‘Grotesquerie’ Star Raven Goodwin Portrays The Scary Truth About Eating Disorders Through Her Character Merritt

“I’m always going to be an actress. I’m never retiring,” Raven Goodwin tells me with passion gleaming from her eyes. I can feel her infectious energy as I sit across the table from the seasoned actress. Her disposition is poised, confident, and welcoming—humbling qualities that illuminate her relatable nature. Goodwin mastered the art of storytelling through acting, a craft she’s been perfecting since her first movie role, Lovely & Amazing, in 2001. Throughout her career she’s shapeshifted int...

Kamie Crawford Shares Her Favorite Forms Of Self-Care And Her Strategies To Remaining Healthy During Cold And Flu Season

After one conversation with Kamie Crawford, it is evident that the former Miss Teen USA winner radiants beauty from the inside out. Her witty personality and relatable banter have a gravitational pull on the audience, making her a top television and podcast host over the last few years. With 1.1 million followers on TikTok and over 800K followers on Instagram, it is safe to say her fans are tuned into her take on the latest in pop culture, relationships, wellness, and more. Crawford has an act...

6 Ways To Prioritize Yourself On World Mental Health Day And Beyond, According To Therapists

If you ask me, every day should be World Mental Health Day. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to be an adult. Now that I’m here and have survived 40 years on a planet that has endured a couple of recessions, mass shootings, racial injustices, a buffoon in office for four years, a buffoon turned felon running for office again, and horrendous natural disasters, I can confirm that earth is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting. Between the bills, cost of living, and the overwhelming s...

Products your grandma used that are just as good today

From sneakers to vacuums, these products have been around for decades, and they're just as good today as they were back when. The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website. I feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia when I use cult classic products that my grandmother used back in her day. There’s a v

Best high school graduation gifts they'll actually use

Need to make the best ramen? Lose a backpack? We've got high school graduation gifts that can make your graduate's life a bit easier. The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website. Finding the best high school graduation gift can feel like you’re sitting in a pressure cooker. Your kid or loved one is

Women Making History: Dr. Maiysha D. Jones Encourages Women To Take Up Space In The STEM Field And Beyond

Dr. Maiysha D. Jones had a heightened interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math long before the mass call for Black women to join the STEM field. Earning a B.S. in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana, she later obtained an M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from The Gillings School of Global Public Health at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Memphis native combined her passion for helping others realize their full potential and love o

Women Making History: Johanne Brierre Builds Community And Empowers Small Businesses Through BKLYNcommons

Johanne Brierre used her decades of experience in the hospitality industry to ignite her passion for uniting creatives and small business owners together. Between her experience organizing networking events and passion for community building, she was prepared to enter the next chapter in her career: creator of BKLYNcommons, a co-working space run by entrepreneurs, and NYBeautySuites, a workspace for beauty businesses to service their clients. Brooklyn is the Mecca of creativity, birthing histor

Women Making History: When Camara AUnique Helps Fused Her Love For God And Makeup, Life Took On A Whole New Meaning

Camara AUnique Helps spent years in the beauty industry, establishing herself as an in-demand makeup artist to Hollywood’s most elite talent. Her journey took her down a winding road, visiting various career paths before working as a coveted makeup artist to the stars. The Brooklyn native started in retail while modeling and appearing in music videos. She also designed jewelry that was sold in local boutiques. Celebrities became interested in her pieces and began wearing them on TV and in magazi

Women Making History: Kyrina Mull’s Natural Ability To Curate Vibes Helped Birth Her Creative Agency ‘Loud Ideas’

Kyrina Mull’s innate talent for aligning brands with their audience began at a young age. The self-proclaimed southern girl’s fascination with brands and culture laid the foundation for her career as a branding and marketing consultant. As a child, Mull honed in on her power of persuasion to get what she wanted. “Growing up, I would create presentations convincing my parents to make purchases for shoes or bags,” she tells me in an exclusive interview. Little did she know that would be one of th

Mal Wright Discusses Her New Normal After Appearing On ‘The Ultimatum: Queer Love’

I had zero interest in watching The Ultimatum: Queer Love until I saw their statuesque contestant, Mal Wright, on my television screen. Suddenly, I, along with the rest of the world, was heavily invested in a love story that would eventually fizzle, launching Wright into a new normal that she never expected. Dating shows have become a guilty pleasure of our generation. Whether you’re looking for love or attempting to repair a strained relationship, folks have defaulted to reality TV to explore

The Color Purple: Rediscovering Joy, Forgiveness, and Healing

The Color Purple is an influential and iconic film derived from the 1982 Pulitzer-winning novel written by Alice Walker. The story explores 40 vital years of Celie’s life as she evolves from a bashful, timid girl to a resilient, powerful woman who eventually finds her voice. When the film was released in 1985, it highlighted the oppression of the early 1900s. Celie wasn’t enslaved, but she wasn’t a free woman either. She was a teenager when she birthed two children, bred by her father, that wer

From Stonewall to Global Celebration: The Evolution Of LGBTQ+ Pride

Every June, Queer superheroes from across the nation gather to celebrate their lifestyles unapologetically; this is known as Pride Month. I’ve been celebrating pride since I was a curious 18-year-old teen. Now at 39, I am proud to be part of a diverse community that is changing how we see the world today. June is an important month for members of the LGBTQ+ community. For some, it symbolizes liberation. Many have been forced to live in the closet due to unsupportive friends and family. But when

Mary J. Blige Honors Sisterhood With Her First-Ever Strength Of A Woman Festival

That’s the best way to accurately describe Mary J.Blige’s first annual Strength of a Woman festival held in Atlanta, GA, on Mother’s Day weekend. Women from all over the country gathered in the name of sisterhood, with a common goal to be fed mentally, spiritually, and musically. The weekend was jam-packed with a comedy show, concerts, and empowering summit that included veterans of the entertainment industry, and a Mother’s Day brunch that concluded the festivities on Sunday. Sisterhood is pow

My Trip To Charlottesville, Virginia Taught Me The Importance Of Black Ownership In America

As a native New Yorker, I always felt removed from the history of the South. Sure, books and the internet can educate you, but experience has always been my best teacher. When I was invited to visit Virginia for the launch of “Discover Black Charlottesville,” I had no idea what to expect. As I began to tell my friends about my upcoming trip, they reminded me of the incident that happened five years prior. In August of 2017, white nationalists gathered for the “Unite the Right” rally to protest

The End Of An Era: 5 Times Insecure Was The Revolutionary Art Our Generation Needed

Season 5 came at us fast, didn’t it? The final stretch of Insecure took us through a worldwind of emotions, but it also taught us so much about life, love, friendships, careers, family and more. Season 1, episode 1 begins on Issa Dee’s birthday. As she’s at work dodging insulting questions from inquisitively rude teenagers, she realizes that age 29, she’s not doing what she loves, she’s in a 5 year potentially dead end relationship, and she’s ready for something to change. She’s completely inse

Mental Health Professionals Discuss The Importance Of Detaching From Black Trauma

The history of Black people is complex, intriguing, triggering, and traumatizing. It began when we were transplanted from our native land and forced to build America from the ground up. From slavery to segregation to our now "free" world, we've endured so much pain that's been transmuted into resilience. Despite our long, tumultuous history, we're still striving for the ability to exist in the same way that our Caucasian counterparts do.

Meagan Good: True Power Lies In Authenticity

Meagan Good has a clear definition of power that she learned — through years of public scrutiny — to harness with masterful control. With unshakable faith and an uncracked foundation built on ideals she inherited from her mother, Meagan is good at keeping the haters at bay. The beloved Black actress, with film credits like The Intruder, Think Like A Man, and the most recent Death Saved My Life, has built up a skin of armor, albeit a dewy one, and an impenetrable layer of confidence throughout her 26-year career.

How Issa Rae’s Character on Awkward Black Girl Changed The Game, 10 Years Later

I’ll never forget the first time I watched The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl on YouTube. Up until that moment, I never witnessed another quirky Black woman with the same unique approach to life’s situations. My entire life, I grew up feeling like a social misfit that laughed at the wrong punch lines of a joke. It wasn’t until I saw Issa Rae’s character J on YouTube that I felt seen and understood. I am a die-hard fan of Issa Rae’s work, but I also admire her drive and hustle. From YouTub
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