black beauty
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It’s a Different Show: Grown-ish Isn’t A Different World—and I’m Cool With That
This week, Grown-ish premiered on Freeform to big fanfare. Everyone is loving it. I’m loving it. My inner queer squealed when Zoey was completely chill with her bisexual friend Nomi. I was thrilled to see bisexual visibility on the show, and hope there will be more queer visibility overall—not just for jokes or sensational provocation,…
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New Growth: Chicago Med’s Yaya DaCosta Talks Growing Up #TeamNatural and the Beauty of the ‘Big Chop’
You know, this is this woman’s hair, not a continuation of the girl that you thought you knew. Actress and model Yaya DaCosta is talking about her cropped locks, an unexpected move for the woman who first captured our attention in 2004 as the outspoken Afrocentric beauty on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model.…
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Defying Gravity: 5 Pole Dancing Athletes Debunk Stereotypes—and Dare You to Try Something New
Ballet dancer Misty Copeland once said: “You can do anything you want, even if you are being told negative things. Stay strong and find motivation.” Two years ago, I applied this same perspective to pole dancing. I transitioned from joking about having two left feet to signing up for a pole dancing course; I left…
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From Broadway to a Dynasty to a Legacy: All Hail Glow Up Goddess Diahann Carroll
Inspired by the growing number of black female leads on television and film? Thank trailblazing performer Diahann Carroll. Sixty years of striving and of stunning audiences have earned her a 1962 Tony for No Strings, the 1969 Golden Globe for the television series Julia (plus two subsequent nominations), a 1975 Oscar nomination for Best Actress…
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Queen Quinta: Why Quinta B. Is Everything—and Every Woman
Quinta Brunson—better known as Quinta B.—stole our hearts years ago as a video content creator for BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, with her dry wit and deadpan delivery. In the three years since, we haven’t been able to get enough of her reliably hilarious, always relatable videos. She hasn’t disappointed, inking deals with YouTube Red, among others,…
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Wish You Were Here: Afropunk Was the New Year’s Eve Party We All Wanted to Attend
#HolidayEnvy is real, y’all: While the mercury is barely cracking zero degrees in many American cities, it is summer in South Africa, and we can’t think of a better way to ring in 2018 than with the beautiful people at Afropunk Joberg! And the beauties did not disappoint, bringing unparalleled style and statement to Johannesburg,…
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Body Politics: Transforming Your #TransformationTuesday
#TransformationTuesday, a popular hashtag that encourages people to share their fitness success stories, has collected more than 11 million tags on social platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. Like many, I’ve indulged in my share of posts showcasing my weight-loss journey and muscle gains. But though visuals can be inspiring, they can also haunt like…
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5 Beauty Trends Black Women Should Leave in 2017
2017 has been a whirlwind for black beauty enthusiasts across the Diaspora. Rihanna came—ferociously—for all of our coins with the launch of Fenty Beauty. Flat-tummy teas were the rage of the year for Instagram celebrities. And we could not get enough of banana powder. However, there are a few beauty trends in 2017 that should…
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Indelible Beauty: Makeup Maven Cashmere Nicole Talks Success, Survival and Building a Brand Built to Last
Beauty Bakerie founder and CEO Cashmere Nicole knows about staying power. She’s built a successful and evolving brand that started on the strength of one product: her best-selling “Lip Whip.” Famed for smudge-free saturation in no fewer than 45 shades (and counting), the day-to-night finish is vegan, nontoxic and 100 percent cruelty-free … and so…
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Sizing Each Other Up: Why Do Other Women Try to Kill My Vibe?
In high school, I loved hanging out with other women, particularly those who exhibited a level of confidence in their stride. But cliques didn’t work well for me—I despised the thought of shadowing the queen bee of a pseudo girl group. Besides, even among my female friends, I felt different. It felt like puberty had…