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In An American Marriage, Tayari Jones Gets to the Heart of Our Matter
“When love calls, you better answer”—at least, that’s what Atlantic Starr once told us. But what happens when Oprah calls? The Glow Up asked writer Tayari Jones, who got the call from the great and powerful O in October when her latest novel, An American Marriage, was chosen as the first Oprah’s Book Club selection…
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She Got That Glow: Danielle Herrington Is the 3rd Black Woman to Grace the Cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue!
We’re not crying, you’re crying! We’re not typically short on #BlackGirlMagic here at The Glow Up, but there was something extra special about watching Sport Illustrated’s first black Swimsuit-cover model—some relative unknown named Tyra Banks—pass the torch to the latest up-and-comer (and part of the 2017 Swimsuit issue’s “Rookie Class”) Danielle Herrington. The Compton, Calif.,…
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BNYFW: Ennyluap Brings Ladylike Style to Fall Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week is typically a flurry of edgy, ultraglamorous presentations from designers we love, daring us to push the envelope—and our imaginations—further. But rarely do the creations we admire on the runway translate to real life. At most, they are inspirational—at least, aspirational. That’s why there was something subtly refreshing about the low-key…
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Lupita Nyong’o Takes Us on Her Hair Journey in Allure
Lupita Nyong’o has undoubtedly been one of the pioneers of the rising popularity of natural hair on the red carpet. But as she tells Allure in its March issue, her own journey to choosing to wear her hair in its natural state was a very different one from the almost instantaneous success she enjoyed after…
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She Is Not Her Hair: Why We Love the Many Styles of Michaela Coel
Michaela Coel first came to our attention through her award-winning and unapologetically irreverent Netflix series Chewing Gum. Even as the chronically awkward yet hilarious shopgirl Tracey Gordon, the gorgeous and multitalented Anglo-Ghanaian actress and screenwriter proved herself a skilled shape-shifter, making the character of Tracey as elastic as a rubber band as she tries to…
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When the Appropriator Is Your Own: On Kendrick Lamar and Why Lina Iris Viktor’s Constellations Does Not Belong in ‘All the Stars’
They just had to ruin it. This was supposed to be an article about the many talents and looks involved in the making of “All the Stars.” Instead, we’re taking a different look behind the scenes of the video we collectively swooned over last week, when Kendrick Lamar’s lead single from the Black Panther soundtrack—featuring…
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She’s Grown-ish! Happy 18th Birthday, Yara Shahidi!
Here at The Glow Up, we hate to play favorites, but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have a very special place in our hearts for actress-activist-“it” girl Yara Shahidi. While Hollywood is thankfully steadily filling with more young, black female talent, few have shared a trajectory so relatably similar to The Glow…
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Our Sisters’ Keeper: Tarana Burke Keeps Us Focused
How do we count the ways we love Tarana Burke? The #MeToo founder has been rightfully getting her shine since the movement bearing the name she coined caught Hollywood’s attention last fall. In the months since, she has appeared on red carpets, been honored in Time magazine, and become a regular on the talk and…
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Nudes You Can Use: Nubian Skin Gets Inclusive by Expanding Its Size Range!
Color us happy! In 2014, lingerie brand Nubian Skin made waves in the undergarment industry, making its debut with a full range of nude shades for women of color. But for all the brand’s inclusivity, its beautifully hued bras weren’t initially available in an extensive range of sizes, much to the dismay of us fuller-busted…
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Bid on #BlackGirlMagic: EBay Partners With Black Girls Rock!
When Beverly Bond talks about the magic of black girls and women, her enthusiasm is contagious. The celebrity DJ-model-producer (and much more) shifted the paradigm in our favor in 2006 when she founded Black Girls Rock!, the award show and nonprofit organization that has since earned worldwide acclaim. Fittingly, Bond literally holds the trademark to…

