<a href="http://madamenoire.com/784746/awkward-assumption-about-keshia-knight-pulliam/keshia-knight-pulliam-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-784747"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/keshia-knight-pulliam-2.jpg" alt="awkward assumption about keshia knight pulliam" width="800" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-784747" /></a>
After <a href="http://madamenoire.com/783384/keshia-knight-pulliam-baby/">giving birth to baby Ella Grace</a> in January, actress Keshia Knight Pulliam is settling into new motherhood and recently returned to her <a href="http://www1.play.it/audio/kandidly-keshia/">Kandidly Keshia</a> podcast to express some thoughts on her birthing experience. The Newark, New Jersey native says her lactation consultant in the Atlanta hospital she delivered at may have made some assumptions about her financial status.
The former “Cosby kid” describes an “older little white lady — about 70” who approached her about programs she could access through government that might be helpful for new mothers:
<blockquote>“We have some great programs that you may want to take advantage of that you may need … um, WIC is a great program.”</blockquote>
Keshia goes on to explain how she thinks the lady came to the conclusion that she would need government assistance with she and her newborn’s nutritional needs:
<blockquote>“So I guess she saw this little black girl with the little baby by herself and on the door, I didn’t realize that they’d put like a faux last name and the last name was Brown.”
“So I guess she saw “Miss Brown” and was like, ‘She probably needs some WIC and insurance services.’”</blockquote>
The woman then gave Pulliam a paper with “about 30 different numbers and resources” for her to reach out to.
Pulliam says she cut the woman off and informed her she had excellent insurance and wouldn’t need any assistance before thanking her. She says the woman’s next move is what ultimately made her request a new lactation consultant:
<blockquote>“She didn’t want to touch me – [specialists will typically] guide your boob, show you how to hold it, put it in the baby’s mouth, [but] this lady was not trying to touch my little brown boobie – not at all.”</blockquote>
Is Keshia being extra-sensitive or did that old woman try it? Maybe this woman was just going through the motions and went through her WIC speech with all the new mothers that day or maybe she labeled “Rudy Huxtable” as just another young, single mother in need of the system. I had a nurse who barely wanted to get me ice water after my c-section, so I can attest that not everyone has the best bedside manner. But let’s not knock WIC either because the cost of formula and baby food is no joke. There’s nothing wrong with help for those that need it and maybe the woman was just covering all of her bases.
We’re glad that Keshia is home and can focus on her adorable baby girl and not worry about awkward assumptions by hospital staff.
<strong><em>Did you have any questionable encounters with hospital staff after giving birth?</em></strong>
Did Hospital Staff Make an Awkward Assumption About Keshia Knight Pulliam?
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Your Burrito Wrapper Might Be As Bad for Your Health as the Beef That’s in It
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/784753/fast-food-wrappers-just-as-harmful-to-health/fast-food-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-784754"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/fast-food.jpg" alt="fast food wrappers just as harmful to health" width="800" height="500" class="aligncenter wp-image-784754 size-full" /></a>
Admittedly I’ve been awaiting the right opportunity to get the Mac Jr., McDonald’s mini version of the classic Big Mac. It’s not that I expect it to taste any different, I’m just hype because c’mon y’all it’s a BABY Big Mac. But a recent report reveals that what my burger is wrapped in could be just as bad for my health as the smaller beef patty, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.
<a href="http://www.complex.com/life/2017/02/chemical-in-fast-food-wrappers-harmful">Complex</a> reports:
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">“Recent testing shows that most of these wrappers contain fluorine, which is reportedly used to ward off grease stains on the wrappers. There were 400 containers for food and drinks from restaurant chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, and more involved in the study. Researchers discovered fluorine chemical was found in about 40 percent of the samples taken. This broke down to fluorine being found in about 56 percent of the bread and dessert wrappers, 38 percent of the burger and sandwich wrappers, and 20 percent of paper containers, although that does not include paper cups.”</p>
Let me just say that you won’t find me tripping off of my wrapper being pretty and grease-free when my stomach is rumbling like Mike Tyson in his prime. But before some of you get on your high and mighty natural food pedestal, it might be helpful to know that in addition to fast-food wrappers fluorine can also be found in non-stick pots and pans, carpeting and other products.
So does this info mean we’re on the fast track to terminal illness? Not necessarily, but according to scientist Dr. Arlene Blum, there are no safe levels of fluorine that people should be ingesting:
<blockquote>"I think the prudent thing to do is to reduce your exposure when you can. You can’t get it to zero, but you can reduce it.”</blockquote>
There isn’t a day we don’t get some alarming info about the harmful happenings in the food we ingest, but I must confess the way the reward-center in my brain is set up, I am going to have to get my Mac Jr., fluorine wrapper and all. But we all could stand to take our health a little more seriously when it comes to what we put in our bodies.
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You Have to Come Better Than That, Beloved: Were Iyanla’s Tweets Insensitive?
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/273811/quit-being-messy-15-celebrities-who-cant-seem-to-mind-their-own-business/6th-annual-essence-black-women-in-hollywood-luncheon-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-273844"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/wenn201551281.jpg" alt="Iyanla Vanzant" width="420" height="420" class="size-full wp-image-273844 aligncenter" /></a>
You can usually depend on life guru Iyanla Vanzant to bring some serious healing whether she’s throwing a bunch of folks in a house to discuss their “daddy issues” or she’s spreading the positivity on Twitter. But she may have taken the self-help a tad bit too far when a series of what many are calling “insensitive” tweets. The tweets which the author posted Saturday seem to imply that suffering from injustices like homophobia and sexism were simply a matter of mindset. In other words, racism can’t hurt you if you remain positive and don’t allow it to:
https://twitter.com/IyanlaVanzant/status/827894510134841345
https://twitter.com/IyanlaVanzant/status/827924692841308164
Well of course the internet didn’t hesitate to tell Mother Vanzant that she may want to quit sipping the peace and love punch and get real about what’s happening in the world:
https://twitter.com/4truthnjustiz/status/827904875199500290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/JennMJack/status/827929636348821505
https://twitter.com/McBlaze718/status/827912479737053184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/bluekeyblade/status/827909825027678209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I’m willing to guess Iyanla wanted to give folks some sense of power in a world where it seems like the rules apply less and less with every executive order. But some things simply can’t be prayed away and just not believing in xenophobia didn’t help immigrants get into the country to be able to work, learn and live in a country that they had gone through the proper measures to be allowed entry to. Not believing in injustice won’t help people with pre-existing conditions pay for their medical care in the event that they cannot access health insurance coverage.
Sorry beloved, but we’re going to need more than some breathing exercises or boulders in a backpack to fight against the injustices were up against. Fighting against homophobia, xenophobia and sexism is actually going to require many of us to “do the work.”
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Wesley Jonathan Is Giving All of the #DadGoals While Doing Daughter’s Hair
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/784762/wesley-jonathan-tackles-twist-out/wesley-jonathan-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-784763"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/wesley-jonathan-2.jpg" alt="wesley jonathan tackles twist out" width="800" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-784763" /></a>
After two years of having a daughter, the only hairstyles I’ve managed are puff balls and a well picked out afro, so I can only imagine the challenges some fathers face when it comes to styling their daughter’s hair.
Actor Wesley Jonathan may have one up on me (as well as many parents) after displaying his hair styling skills in an Instagram vid starring his wife and daughter. The couple’s toddler, Faye seems to be having a ball as her parents tag-team each other in an attempt at a two-strand twist out. She even helps out by adding a bit of moisturizer.
The vid is also featured on wife and licensed hairstylist, Tamara Mitchell’s Youtube channel, “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4mA4uX7Auk">Textures By Tamara</a>” as a part of the series, “Hairstyles Even Daddy Can Do!”
Even if you don’t master the twist out, the vid is worth watching for the baby cheeks alone. Check out Wesley and his wife go to work below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP3204Xltzb/?hl=en
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Shooting for the Stars: At Age 22 Tiera Guinn is Already a NASA Engineer
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/784767/tiera-guinn/tiera-guinn-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-784769"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tiera-guinn-2.jpg" alt="tiera guinn" width="800" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-784769" /></a>
Some might say the success of the film “Hidden Figures” can be found in the display of the #BlackGirlMagic that can happen when women of color pursue STEM careers. The life of Tiera Guinn closely resembles that of Mary Jackson who was played by Janelle Monae in the award-winning film.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/this-22-year-old-is-already-an-engineer-at-nasa_us_5894c59be4b0c1284f25c913">Huffington Post</a> reports that at just age 22, Guinn works as a Rocket Structural Design and Analysis Engineer for the Space Launch System that aerospace company Boeing is building for NASA. In this position, Guinn designs and analyzes parts of a rocket that she said will be one of the biggest and most powerful in history.
Guinn’s childhood included aspirations to be an aerospace engineer at a very young age and a mother who constantly helped her keep her math skills sharp even if they had some grocery shopping to do at the same time:
<blockquote>“When [my mom and I] would go to the grocery store, she would get me to clip coupons [and] put it in my coupon organizer.”
“By the time we got to the register, I’d have to calculate the exact total, including tax. And I did that since I was six years old.”
“One day I saw a plane fly by and I just had this realization, ‘huh, I can design planes. I’m going to be an aerospace engineer.”</blockquote>
Once Guinn set a goal, she didn’t allow anything to get in the way of her progress, even commuting an hour to the high school that would best suit her career path.
Guinn is set to graduate from MIT with a 5.0 and won’t need any shooting stars to grant her success. She says she wants young women to follow in her footsteps, but also to be prepared that it may not be an easy journey at times:
<blockquote>“You have to look forward to your dream and you can’t let anybody get in the way of it. No matter how tough it may be, no matter how many tears you might cry, you have to keep pushing. And you have to understand that nothing comes easy. Keeping your eyes on the prize, you can succeed.”</blockquote>
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More Pain than Pleasure: 1 in 13 Women Say Sex Hurts
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/784774/painful-sex/painful-sex/" rel="attachment wp-att-784775"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/painful-sex.png" alt="painful sex" width="800" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-784775" /></a>
Forget about “the big O” that some women are still searching for in the bedroom, a new study reveals that 1 in 13 women find sex in general to be quite painful.
According to the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14518/full">British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology</a>, these women are in fact experiencing dyspareunia or painful penetration that can result from a variety of causes including STDs, anxiety, lack of arousal or previous trauma to the vaginal area.
For many women, painful sex can result from something as simple as lack of lubrication. Dr. Kirstin Mitchell, senior research fellow at the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at Glasgow University, and lead author of this latest paper lists several reasons that may explain why women are having such a difficult time enjoying sex:
<blockquote>“In the older age group, this is likely to be due to the hormonal changes in the menopause. In the case of the 16- to 24-year-olds, it may be about young women not feeling sufficiently aroused and therefore not lubricated enough, so that penetration is painful. Young women may then grow up thinking sex hurts.”</blockquote>
Working in sex education, I always try to stress to teenagers and adults alike that foreplay serves a purpose. The body needs time to prepare for sex and be aroused, and when you are only focusing on penetration you may miss the opportunity to bond with your partner and build anticipation. There’s a whole lot more to intercourse than penetration and orgasm. And let’s not knock a little extra lubrication. Lubricated sex not only enhances pleasure, but also keeps you safer by eliminating the opportunity for tears and cuts that can occur from dry sex and put partners at higher risk for transmitting STDs like HIV (if in fact the virus is present).
Dr. Mitchell also emphasizes that pleasure is just as much about healthy communication as it is about climax. Since dyspareunia can be attributed to so many different causes, it’s important that women be prepared to have honest conversations with medical providers about their sexual behaviors and be able to pinpoint when and where the pain is occurring. Clear communication with partners is key as well, according to Dr. Mitchell:
<blockquote>“Trust and respect are key foundations for good sex.”</blockquote>
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“I’ll Wear Ashlee’s Jeans Cause I Like the Real Skinny Fit.” Evan Ross Talks Fashion and Family in “Generation GAP” Campaign
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/784779/evan-ross-stars-in-generation-gap-campaign/evan-ross-2-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-784780"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Evan-Ross-2.jpg" alt="evan ross stars in generation gap" width="800" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-784780" /></a>
Evan Ross is taking on a family tradition from his mother, the iconic Diana Ross and sister, <em>Black-ish</em> star, Tracee Ellis-Ross in their love for denim. The mother/daughter duo sported “The Tank” in a 1991 ad and now 28-year-old Evan will join fashion icons like Naomi Campbell for some 90’s nostalgia in the new “Generation GAP” campaign.
The ad will also feature celebrity offspring such as Rumer Willis (daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis) and DJ TJ Mizell (son of the late Jam Master Jay of Run DMC.
<a href="http://www.bet.com/lifestyle/2017/02/2/evan-ross-x-gap.html">BET</a> sat down with the <em>ATL</em> actor to talk fashion and family. When asked how the Ross women reacted to the campaign, he shared his mother’s response to the project:
<blockquote>“She was so excited. She was in the campaign with my sister Tracee in ’91. I even remember when they did that. You know I was young but I remember seeing the pictures and how excited my sister was. They were both super excited when I said I was doing the campaign. They were like, ‘GAP is huge!’ It’s one of those things that’s been a part of my life for, like, ever.”</blockquote>
Ross also shared that growing up with glamour goddess Diana Ross gave him an inevitable interest in fashion that has followed him all the way to how he prepares for a role:
<blockquote>“When you grow up with your mom being Diana Ross and sitting in the dressing rooms and looking at all the different pieces…I thought it was so cool that you could kind of play around and find you amongst different outfits and piecing pieces together that feel like you. Even when I do a movie, the first thing I do is tap into the character's clothing and how to make that feel how it’s supposed to feel.”</blockquote>
He also shared that fashion plays a big role in his household that he shares with wife, Ashlee Simpson and daughter, Jagger:
<blockquote>“Ashlee [Simpson] and my mom feel the same a lot about clothes too. They love the same stuff. We kind of all have a vibe that’s like each other. Sometimes, if I can fit in them, I’ll wear Ashlee’s jeans cause I like the real skinny fit. I’m pretty sure Jagger’s going to be a rock star from what I think 'cause she’s got her own vibe and is definitely strong about what she thinks.”</blockquote>
Ross even took the time to address the question we all want to know the answer to: What’s going on with a sequel to <em>ATL</em>?
<blockquote>“I don't know if they’re going to shoot <em>ATL 2</em>. I know they’re not shooting it right now. Me and T.I. are really close and Chris Robinson and Dallas Austin…I know they would like to be doing that at some point, which I think would just be really fun to work with that whole cast again. We had such good time.”</blockquote>
Doesn’t look like we’ll be getting any “New New” anytime soon, but you can check out the interview in its entirety <a href="http://www.bet.com/lifestyle/2017/02/2/evan-ross-x-gap.html">here</a> as well as the “Generation GAP” ads below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_QTBzk3nUo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYWxr-HFmiI
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Are You Here For This? Mr. Dalvin Confirms A Jodeci Biopic Is In The Works
After the success of the New Edition biopic on BET, I couldn’t have been the only one wondering which R&B super group from the 80s and 90s would be next. Turns out I didn’t have to wait too long.
In a recent interview, Mr. Dalvin said that movie about Jodeci’s story is one the way.
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7">
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<p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQG7KnqD3hA/" target="_blank">Me & Jojo up in the Bay Area..Yes the #jodecibiopic is coming!!!!! For all the casting inquiries, they will be announced soon... Thanks for the love and support 😎</a></p>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A video posted by Mr Dalvin Official (@mr.dalvin) on <time style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;" datetime="2017-02-04T23:31:00+00:00">Feb 4, 2017 at 3:31pm PST</time></p>
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<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
“It’s in the works already. Well, they actually started the process last September. We just finished the script and we go into production next month. So we’re looking at problem an end of the year release. VH1 bought the rights. They own the rights so far.”
He posted this bit of the interview on his Instagram page and said that information for casting inquiries would be coming out soon.
Shoot, from what we know about the Jodeci story, if the group members are honest and the production quality is high, there's a good chance this biopic will be a hit. They had more than their fair share of trials and triumph, with plenty of drama in the midst.
Are you here for this?
<span class="im"><i>Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bettah-Days-Veronica-R-Wells/dp/1535549866" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Bettah-Days-Veronica-R-Wells/dp/1535549866&source=gmail&ust=1486479648953000&usg=AFQjCNGOv0jbmLP_WlaFlcX323KsyBf7uw">“Bettah Days.”</a> You can follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/veronicarwells" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.facebook.com/veronicarwells&source=gmail&ust=1486479648953000&usg=AFQjCNFKISsiLBg-ZT8sRbW0pTlZslTw6A">Facebook</a> and Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/VDubShrug" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://twitter.com/VDubShrug&source=gmail&ust=1486479648953000&usg=AFQjCNFbDgeiWP2cJRo6uixFaiX1gZ9OoA"> @VDubShrug.</a></i> </span>
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Michael Ealy Posts Rare Photo Of Wife In Protest Of Muslim Ban
Michael Ealy is one of the most notoriously private men in Hollywood, a personality trait the actor says has been a way of life since high school. It's for that reason we always find out about major life events in the 43-year-old star's life after the fact -- like his marriage and the births of his children -- and we've never seen photos of his kids and rarely his wife. But the DC native made an exception to his privacy rule over the weekend, posting a rare photo of wife Khatira Rafiqzada, who's from Afghanistan, on Instagram in protest of Donald Trump's Muslim travel ban with the simple caption: #NoMuslimBan
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQENIr9jGeq/?taken-by=themichaelealy&hl=en
Ealy and Rafiqzada tied the knot in October 2012 after four years of dating, a marriage that was one of the best-kept secrets in Hollywood and a detrimental revelation for fans of the actor. A rep for Ealy told <a href="http://madamenoire.com/246734/sad-news-michael-ealy-is-officially-off-the-market-as-in-secretly-married/">People magazine</a> of the marriage in December of that year, explaining, “Michael has always been a private guy, and he wanted to enjoy his time as a newlywed with his wife privately. Now that some time has passed and the holidays are here, he wanted to share the news with his fans that he is married and very happy.”
A year-and-a-half later, Ealy begrudgingly revealed to Wendy Williams that he'd celebrated his first Father's Day in June 2014 and even shared the name of his newborn son, Elijah Rakim. And just this past November, the newest <em>Being Mary Jane</em> cast member <a href="http://madamenoire.com/725256/michael-ealy-reveals-his-wife-gave-birth-to-a-little-girl/">announced he and his wife welcomed a baby girl</a>. He told Steve Harvey of the experience of having a daughter, <em>“</em>I just discovered a whole new love. I’ve never ever felt this way before. I was wondering if I could love another child as much as I love my son. And what I realized, within hours of my daughter being born, not only do I love her just as much…if not more. It’s a special kind of protective love. Within two hours, I understood your emotions at your daughter’s wedding.”
Ealy and Rafiqzada are obviously personally affected by Trump's hasty travel ban, as are many other Americans. If there was ever a time when his wife's visibility mattered, it's now.
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“I’m Just Too Black And Fine!” Gabby Sidibe Shows Off Amazing Weight Loss And Confidence
If you've been keeping your eye on Gabourey Sidibe over the last few months, you may have noticed that the Academy Award-nominated actress has been slimming down.
<img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Gabourey-Sidibe-PF.jpeg" alt="Gabby Sidibe weight loss " width="1068" height="600" class="aligncenter wp-image-784840 size-full" />
Because of the obsession with her size since she stepped on the scene with her role in <em>Precious </em>(despite her constantly sunny demeanor, that hasn't stopped haters from consistently fat-shaming Sidibe), the <em>Empire </em>star didn't talk about any plans to lose weight. She's been very vocal about loving herself and learning to be content with whatever her body is doing.
"It's something I had to work on," <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/videos/2009/11/21/gabby-sidibe-talks-about-weight-on-oprah.html" target="_blank">Sidibe told Oprah Winfrey</a> while visiting her talk show in 2009. "My first diet started when I was six years old. And so, I've never been a small girl. One day, I had to sit down with myself and decide that I loved myself no matter what my body looked like and no matter what other people thought of my body. I had to love myself...I just got tired of feeling bad all the time. I got tired of hating myself. And so, I really, really had to have a conversation with myself and find what I love about myself."
And while she's kept any weight loss plans and goals to herself, Sidibe has showed off healthy snacks she's taken to work to munch on between takes:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJBGe80gU2_/
Whatever she's been doing has been working well because Sidibe has lost quite a bit of weight. Just this past weekend, she snapped a picture of her slimmer figure in the mirror and celebrated the fact that she's more comfortable than ever taking pictures of herself: "I'm just too Black and fine!"
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQBnTpUAkxC/?taken-by=gabby3shabby&hl=en
She's always been confident, but Sidibe is showing off a new side of that confidence these days with her increased selfies. Check out a few images of her weight loss transformation from the star's Instagram account and get inspired!
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Patriots Star Martellus Bennett Won’t Celebrate Super Bowl Win At Trump’s White House
While New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and star quarterback Tom Brady have all supported Donald Trump and call him friend, that doesn't mean the rest of the team, which does have a wealth of Black men on it, necessarily feel the same way.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQKLXtTgqOq/?tagged=martellusbennett
In particular, tight end Martellus Bennett has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump. Bennett is a Black Lives Matter supporter who at the beginning of the season, stood in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick by raising his fist during the national anthem (alongside teammate Devin McCourty). He also called out Kanye West for not voting and then meeting with Trump.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So Kanye didn't take the time to vote. And now he holding on to Trump's coattail like Peter Pettigrew to Lord Voldemort. Kanye Pettigrew</p>
— Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/809373768506363904">December 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Following the Patriots' monumental comeback at Super Bowl LI, it wasn't too long into the post-game celebration when someone asked Bennett if he would take part in a possible visit to the White House to celebrate the win. The team, for the aforementioned reasons, was Trump's team of choice to win the Super Bowl. Sports teams who win championships usually visit the White House months after to be honored for their victory. <a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/04/23/president-obama-honors-2015-super-bowl-champions-new-england-patriots" target="_blank">President Obama celebrated with the team in 2015</a>. However, Bennett told reporters that he doesn't plan on going and isn't too worried about how Kraft, Belichick or Brady might feel about that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQKmar0hD6H/?taken-by=martellusb
"I haven't thought about it. I am not going to go," Bennett said, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/06/politics/martellus-bennett-super-bowl-white-house-donald-trump/" target="_blank">according to CNN</a>. "I can elaborate later on in life; right now I am just trying to enjoy this ... People know how I feel about it, just follow me on Twitter."
Bennett said that as for what his teammates choose to do and who they support, that's their business.
"You just don't bring that to work," he said. "We all have our beliefs. We accept people for who they are."
But Bennett does not accept Trump. In response to news of the travel ban in January, Bennett said this on Twitter:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">America was built on inclusiveness not exclusiveness.</p>
— Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/826049312580894720">January 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And his stance on giving a visit to Trump's White House a hard pass following his team's Super Bowl win is in line with his response to questions initially received about the idea during media day last Monday. As Bennett said then, "I don’t support the guy that’s in the house."
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We Tried The Entire New Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick Collection
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vicecollage.jpg"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vicecollage.jpg" alt="Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick" width="1068" height="600" class="aligncenter wp-image-784846 size-full" /></a>
Clockwise from left to right: Tilt, 714, Studded, and 1993
Last Monday, my version of the best Christmas ever happened one month after December 25: I received every single <a href="http://www.urbandecay.com/vice-liquid-lipstick-by-urban-decay/ud812.html">Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick</a> in the new collection. It was one of those "Oh my God, is this real -- and do I have to share" -- moments and, of course, the answer was yes and yes.
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vice-collection.jpg"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/vice-collection.jpg" alt="Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick" width="900" height="779" class="aligncenter wp-image-784848 size-full" /></a>
Just to give you a little history, Urban Decay already has the eyeshadow world on lock, with makeup lovers waiting with baited breath for each new Naked palette release. And the brand is easily about to take over the lipstick realm as well. Last year, Urban Decay completely revamped its entire lipstick line, <a href="http://madamenoire.com/695815/urban-decay-drop-100-new-lipsticks-damn-time/">dropping 100 new shades</a> known as Vice Lipstick at the same damn time. Now they're back with another release just as wicked: 30 new liquid lipsticks in matte and metallized finishes.
Why are liquid lipsticks everywhere these days you ask? Without referring to Kylie Jenner pandemonium, I will tell you if you believe in having the best of both worlds in all aspects of life, liquid lipstick is that thing when it comes to makeup. It has more pigment than your best lipstick, more staying power than your best lipstick, the smooth application you love in a lipgloss, but none of the sticky, icky, gummy, this is gross feel of most glosses.
I wore the shade Amulet the day after I received this gift-wrapped blessing from on high because I'm basically a big kid when it comes to new makeup and have to try everything immediately. I remember applying the brick rose color thinking, <em>This isn't really matte</em>, but within minutes of me putting on my clothes to head out the door, the lipstick completely dried to a silky, non-shiny texture. The next day -- again, big kid with new toys -- I wore 714 purposely to see how a bright red color would hold up to...basically, life. After a breakfast of yogurt, granola, and honey and a pre-lunch snack of shelled edamame (easily 50-plus bites), that red lip had not moved one bit. And I could still move my lips across one another without the color cracking or crumbling.
Because I did share my belated Christmas blessing with the other ladies on my team, I also got their impression of the new Vice Liquid Lipsticks and here's what they had to say:
<blockquote><em>"The color went on smoothly and didn't dry out my lips. it stayed on the whole day without a need for reapplication." -- Vanessa Wells, sister of culture editor Veronica Wells</em>
<em>"The lip colors are vibrant and fun. I want to dress up every day just to match the mood and the color of my lips." --Raven Carter, video producer wearing Tilt above</em>
<em>"These liquid lipsticks are fun; I enjoyed the application with a wand instead of the actual lipstick. It was smooth!" -- Quindara Lazenbury, Editorial Intern wearing Studded above</em>
<div><em>"1993 is my favorite, but what I love most about the lipsticks is that with a few coats, the color stays on and stays vivid, despite eating and drinking. The colors are very deep and rich and they look very luscious on full lips. Oh, and I love that they don't have a sticky feel because that's what I loathe about lip glosses with color and why I usually opt for lipstick." -- Victoria Uwumarogie, Senior Editor wearing 1993 above</em></div>
<div></div></blockquote>
<div>So far, my favorite colors from the launch are 714; Firebird, a deep fuschia shade that looks great on Raven; Pandemonium, a bright purple that I plan to wear tomorrow; Trivial, a pink-nude that doesn't look like any other lipstick I've tried before in either color family; and Brat, a warm baby pink I can't wait to wear this Spring. You know my motto about this time when it comes to new beauty products...get you some.</div>
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Women Of Black History: 5 Things To Know About Actress Nina Mae McKinney
When you think of iconic Black women actresses of the past, you probably think of Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge, Diahann Carroll and Hattie McDaniel. But one of the first major Black female actresses you should know more about is Nina Mae McKinney. The screen siren may not have received many accolades or even made many films over the course of her career, but her work still paved the way for Black actresses and singers who came after her. Check out five things you should know about legendary entertainer Nina Mae McKinney.
https://www.instagram.com/p/9dlyESp8sH/?tagged=ninamaemckinney
<h2>She Left School at Age 15 to Pursue an Acting Career</h2>
Nina always had a passion for performing. While living in South Carolina with her aunt after her parents migrated to New York for work, she was at one point performing stunts on bikes to get applause. After starring in school plays and catching the acting bug, Nina decided to ditch school at 15 and go to New York where she ended up back with her parents. From there, the beauty worked on Broadway, namely the musical <em>Blackbirds </em>in 1928 with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. It was in that show that Nina caught the eye of director King Vidor.
<h2>She Was the Lead Actress in One of the First All-Black Musicals, <em>Hallelujah </em></h2>
King Vidor was putting together his first sound film, a musical featuring an all-Black cast, which was one of the first of its kind. <em>Hallelujah </em>was about a struggling sharecropper and his complicated relationship with a woman named Chick. After seeing Nina in <em>Blackbirds</em>, Vidor cast her as Chick, a role the <a href="http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/black-garbo-nina-mckinney" target="_blank">African American Registry</a> said was seen as the original Black Temptress, "half woman, half child." Still, Nina gained a lot of acclaim for her work in the film as well as praise from Vidor, who garnered an Oscar nomination for directing the picture.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQD3Z5wlB-z/?tagged=ninamaemckinney
<h2>She Was the First Woman to Get a Major Studio Contract</h2>
Following the success of <em>Hallelujah</em>, McKinney was offered a five-year contract with Metro-Golden-Mayer (MGM) in 1929. Unfortunately, it seemed as though roles were few and far between for the star once her deal was signed. The only ones sent her way seemed to be bit parts and her work in the film <em>Reckless, </em>in 1935, was almost entirely cut. After that, Nina was discouraged and wanted to be done with Hollywood. While she may have been the first Black woman to sign a major studio deal, as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/arts/music/10horne.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank"><em>the</em> <em>New York Times</em></a> pointed out, it wasn't until the likes of Lena Horne that a Black woman was able to really make moves and have an impact with such a contract.
<h2>She Left Hollywood for Europe</h2>
Over playing small roles, Nina hit the road and toured Europe, particularly France and the U.K. She not only was able to get a few more acting roles (making her one of the first Black women to be featured in a British film), but billed as the Black Greta Garbo due to her beauty, Nina also ended up being a popular cabaret singer. She even had her own TV special on BBC. However, as World War II approached and Germany invaded Poland, Nina decided it was the safest bet to head back to the States.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJvt5R7A7VH/?tagged=ninamaemckinney
<h2>She Reportedly Ended up Working as a Maid</h2>
When she returned to the U.S., Nina found herself only really obtaining stereotypical roles, including playing maids and prostitutes. She tried to get back to singing, even taking part in a jazz band after marrying musician Jimmy Monroe. Unfortunately, they divorced in 1938, her last film was <em>Pinky </em>in 1949, and after trying to return to Europe to live in Athens, Greece, she came back to New York. Nina died there in 1967 of a heart attack to little fuss in the press.
According to <a href="http://www.coffeerhetoric.com/2013/02/history-of-black-pinup-black-history.html" target="_blank"><em>Coffee Rhetoric</em></a>, via the book <em>African American Actresses: The Struggle for Visibility 1900-1960</em>, McKinney ended up spending the last years of her life working as a "domestic," or maid, for "private families."
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How This Flight Attendant Saved A Young Girl From Human Trafficking
<iframe style="border-width: 0;" src="http://interactive.tegna-media.com/video/embed/embed.html?id=2500444&type=video&title=Flight attendants fighting human trafficking&site=67&playerid=6918249996581&dfpid=32805352&dfpposition=Video_prestream_external§ion=home" width="640" height="360"></iframe>
Many of us like to think and believe that slavery is over. But for so many girls and young women that is not the case. Human trafficking is an ongoing issue in this country and sadly, the demand for the girls and women forced into this sex trade increases during the Super Bowl.
With that in mind, one flight attendant spoke about the signs of a human trafficking victim based on the time she found a young woman who was acting strangely on her flight.
In 2011, Sheila Frederick, 49, told <a href="http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/flight-attendants-training-to-spot-human-trafficking/398871979"><strong>WTSP</strong></a>, she was working for Alaska Airlines, flying from Seattle to San Francisco when she noticed a young girl, who appeared to be about 14-15-years-old. She was sitting in the window seat next to a well-dressed older man.
Frederick said the young girl’s hair was greasy and it looked like she “had been through pure hell.” Frederick suspected that something was amiss because of their attire. “He was well dressed, that’s what kind of got me because why is he well dressed and she is looking dissolved and out of sorts.”
Frederick knew that she had to do something. She was able to tell the girl to go to the bathroom. The flight attendant put a note on the mirror for the girl. When Frederick went in the bathroom behind her, she found that the girl wrote on the note saying she needed help.
Frederick notified the pilot who alerted police who were there to meet the plane when it landed. Frederick’s quick thinking helped save this young lady from an uncertain but likely dangerous and soul-crushing fate.
Frederick wondered if this young girl was the only victim of human trafficking she had stumbled upon in her career.
“I’ve been a flight attendant for ten years and it’s like I am going all the way back to when I was in training and I was like I could have seen these young girls and young boys and didn’t even know.”
These days, flight attendants are being trained to spot signs of human trafficking like someone who appears to be controlled, someone who is bruised or battered or someone who won’t answer questions or make eye contact.
Frederick said, “If you see something, say something.”
According to WTSP, the additional training seems to be making a difference. The Florida Department of Children and Families reports that Florida received 1,892 reports of human trafficking, a 54 percent increase from last year.
The teen Frederick saved is doing well these days. Frederick has spoken to her a few times over the years.
“I put my phone number on the note that I left for her and I guess she memorized it, so a few weeks later, she called me.”
Frederick says the young girl is now enrolled in college.
<span class="im"><i>Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bettah-Days-Veronica-R-Wells/dp/1535549866" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.amazon.com/Bettah-Days-Veronica-R-Wells/dp/1535549866&source=gmail&ust=1486479648953000&usg=AFQjCNGOv0jbmLP_WlaFlcX323KsyBf7uw">“Bettah Days.”</a> You can follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/veronicarwells" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.facebook.com/veronicarwells&source=gmail&ust=1486479648953000&usg=AFQjCNFKISsiLBg-ZT8sRbW0pTlZslTw6A">Facebook</a> and Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/VDubShrug" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://twitter.com/VDubShrug&source=gmail&ust=1486479648953000&usg=AFQjCNFbDgeiWP2cJRo6uixFaiX1gZ9OoA"> @VDubShrug.</a></i> </span>
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Kanye West Deletes All Past Mentions Of Donald Trump From His Twitter
<img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/kanye-west-feat.jpg" alt="Kanye West Donald Trump" width="1068" height="600" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-743485" />
Maybe it was the travel ban. Maybe it was the terrible Black History Month event. Maybe it was an epiphany that yes, Donald Trump is a terrible person. Or maybe it was the time Trump's staffer coordinating events for inauguration day said they wanted to keep things "<a href="http://madamenoire.com/783025/kanye-west-trump-inauguration/" target="_blank">traditionally American</a>" when it came to chosen performers. Whatever it was, it caused Kanye West to delete all mentions of Trump from his infamous Twitter account.
<img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Kanye-West-PF.jpg" alt="Kanye West Donald Trump" width="1068" height="600" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-736452" />
In the past, West had tried to defend his decision to meet with the president in December on Twitter. According to the rapper, he wanted to meet "to discuss multicultural issues." Those issues included violence in Chicago, bullying, supporting teachers and more.
"I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change."
He also followed those tweets up by posting a picture of a signed copy of Trump's <em>TIME</em> "Person of the Year" issue. And we know that even before that controversial meeting, West said that while he didn't vote, if he had, he would have voted for Trump. But out of nowhere, it seems that West has either seen the light of day and had a change of heart, or at least just been advised to take all of that sh-t down.
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/06/politics/kanye-west-deletes-donald-trump-tweets/" target="_blank">According to different reports</a>, the catalyst for change could have been a track West produced for new G.O.O.D. music rapper King Myers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ATKG6K77Q
Myers, out of Long Island, released the song "Propaganda" where he calls for the impeachment of Trump while showing his support for immigrants and Muslims.
But <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2017/02/06/kanye-west-donald-trump-tweets/" target="_blank">TMZ</a> claims the Trump scrubbing has more to do with West's disappointment in the things Trump has chosen to focus on and execute within his first weeks in office. They said that sources close to the rapper say the choice to remove the tweets was all West.
While no one is probably sitting back waiting for "George Bush doesn't care about Black people" Kanye to make a comeback, it's good that he saw how problematic his meeting was and the tweets that followed really were. They may have come down months later, but we guess it's better late than never...
<em>Images via Splash, WENN</em>
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Could You Have The Sickle Cell Trait? An Expert Breaks Down What You Should Know About The Disease
Sickle cell disease researcher and advocate <a href="http://fscdr.org/" target="_blank">Lanetta Bronté</a>, MD, MPH, MSPH, was working in a hospital for years when she realized that she didn't like what she saw in terms of the treatment of those with sickle cell disease. According to her, there weren't regular physicians who wanted to take care of them and some were looked at as drug abusers, continuing to take medicine for a disease some felt was improving.
[caption id="attachment_727659" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]<img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/shutterstock_416126614.jpg" alt="" width="1068" height="600" class="size-full wp-image-727659" /> Shutterstock[/caption]
"This wouldn't happen with any other disease. This would not occur," she told me in an interview. "I had to go to the community and have a center in the community that addresses the entire family. It doesn't just affect that person, it affects the entire family."
Bronté went ahead and created the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fscdr/" target="_blank">Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research</a> in Florida to help those with sickle cell get better treatment and to make the disease a household name so it is heavily promoted.
"There is a lack research related to sickle cell disease," she said. "With no registry of population data you're never going to create policies and inform policymakers or politicians of what the issues are in terms of costs and what social resources are needed."
Bronté is hoping to change that with her work and center, which is the only comprehensive sickle cell disease research and treatment center in the country. She filled us in with answers for all the questions we had about sickle cell disease that you should know about:
<h2>How You Get Sickle Cell Disease</h2>
There are lots of different types of hemoglobins. Hemoglobin A is the normal hemoglobin and we have two copies of those. Hemoglobin S is the sickle hemoglobin. If you have S, that means you have sickle cell disease. If you have A with S, then you have sickle cell traits. You can have hemoglobin with C, and that's also sickle cell disease. So there are actually a lot of variants. It really depends on what parts of the world you're from, that's where we see the different variants.
<h2>How Sickle Cell Works</h2>
Because the cells are sickle due to mutations in the gene, they don't live as long. A normal red blood cell lives 120 days. A sickle cell lives 12 days, so the person is anemic because that red blood cell is constantly dying and the bone marrow is working hard trying to put out cells.
<h2>The Importance of Knowing Your Status</h2>
Everyone should be aware of their sickle cell trait status. Now in the United States, all babies are screened at birth for the sickle cell gene. If they have two copies of the gene, there is a process through a federal mandate that babies identified as having sickle cell disease have to be placed into care within three months on penicillin prophylaxis. We have about four million individuals in the U.S. who have sickle cell traits as carriers, but most of them do not know. Some of it is because newborn screening is relatively new, starting around the mid-80s. The letters used to say that you have nothing to worry about, your baby has sickle cell traits, there life will be normal. We're finding out now that that's not necessarily true. There are very specific issues related to sickle cell traits. For instance, flying and diving. Those are some of the risks of having a child with sickle cell disease. So everything we do at my foundation is screening to do something about it.
<h2>The Prominence of the Sickle Gene and Its Origins</h2>
Parents are really shocked when they have a child with sickle cell disease, but the sickle gene is very prominent. About one out of 12 of us have the gene. It is a gene that originated in Africa, secondary to survival of the malaria parasite. It got over here to the United States and to the Caribbean and to Brazil because of the slave trade. That's why African Americans have more sickle cell and you actually see the largest population of those with sickle cell in the South. That's where African Americans were introduced to the United States. We have about 100,000 individuals with sickle cell in the U.S. and about 42,000 of those are in the Southeast.
<h2>How You Can Find Out Your Status</h2>
There is an easy spot test you can do. We offer free testing through the foundation. You can know if you're a carrier, you and the person you want to have children with. It doesn't mean you shouldn't have a child together, but you want to know what your risk is of having a child with sickle cell disease and what your other options are. That includes pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. So you can select the egg or sperm that doesn't have the mutation. There are ways to prevent having a child with sickle cell. However, that procedure, IVF, is expensive and insurance usually doesn't cover it.
<h2>Where Things Stand With Possible Cures</h2>
Most of the gene therapy or stem cell transplants you hear about are clinical trials. We are seeing some success there. But the criteria to qualify for the trials are very tight. Again, there is a deficit in research dollars to increase the research to improve gene therapy and stem cell transplants. So what we have mostly now is palliative care: blood transfusions, IV fluids, pain medication. It's really unacceptable. There is one FDA-approved drug for the disease, and it's actually a cancer drug. It can improve quality of life but it doesn't touch the mortality rate or age of death. Men typically don't make it to age 50, women may live a little longer, 55 or so, and I have a patient who is 66, but it's a disease where there's a shortened lifespan. But we could do much, much better than we're doing now.
If you live in Florida, you can help. On February 13, Bronté's foundation is holding an event with Deepak Chopra to raise money for research. You can obtain more information about it <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/175888556130916/" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a>.
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3 Deliciously Scandalous Books From Kensington Publishing
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ken.png"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ken.png" alt="" width="300" height="252" class="size-full wp-image-783714 aligncenter" /></a>
Do you love edgy street fiction with an extra dose of suspense? If so, check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Score-Kiki-Swinson/dp/1617739707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941939&sr=8-1&keywords=9781617739705" target="_blank"><em>The Mark</em></a> by <a href="http://www.kikiswinson.net/" target="_blank">Kiki Swinson</a>. What about soap operas packed with drama and over-the-top fabulousness? Then pick up <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fianc%C3%A9es-Side-Chicks-Hotlanta-Sheree-Whitfield/dp/149670987X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941929&sr=8-1&keywords=9781496709875" target="_blank"><em>Wives, Fiancées</em><em>, and Side-Chicks of Hotlanta</em></a>, the first novel from <em>The Real Housewives of Atlanta</em> star <a href="http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/34270" target="_blank">Shereé Whitfield</a>. Want a dark, yet dreamy tale about love packed with unbelievable twists and turns? If so, tap into the pages of <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Mistress-Love-cydney-Rax/dp/1496701429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941969&sr=8-1&keywords=9781496701428" target="_blank">Revenge of the Mistress</a>,</em> by <a href="http://cydneyrax.com/" target="_blank">Cydney Rax</a>. Whatever your reading preference, this season Kensington Publishing brings three books to the marketplace worth swooning over. All we can say is - get ready for your latest literary fix.
<a href="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kiki.jpg"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kiki.jpg" alt="" width="489" height="700" class="size-full wp-image-783715 aligncenter" /></a>
<strong>Release Date: January 31, 2017</strong>
For MadameNoire loyalists with an addiction to street stories, <a href="http://www.kikiswinson.net/" target="_blank">Kiki Swinson</a>'s latest book, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Score-Kiki-Swinson/dp/1617739707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941939&sr=8-1&keywords=9781617739705" target="_blank">The Mark</a>,</em> is a strong follow-up to her much talked about novel, <em>The Score.</em> <a href="http://www.kikiswinson.net/" target="_blank">Swinson</a> has raised the bar with <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Score-Kiki-Swinson/dp/1617739707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941939&sr=8-1&keywords=9781617739705" target="_blank">The Mark</a>,</em> not only because of the cat and mouse theme that sits between the pages, but also because of the ocean-deep suspense that runs all through it.
<strong><em>About: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Score-Kiki-Swinson/dp/1617739707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941939&sr=8-1&keywords=9781617739705" target="_blank">The Mark by Kiki Swinson</a></em></strong>
Identity thief Lauren Kelly thought she was safe. The millions she stole from her double-crossing accomplice and ex-lover Matt Connors bought a quiet upscale life for her, her unsuspecting new husband Drake, and their precious baby. But betrayal was just the beginning. When both Drake and the baby go missing, it’s courtesy of a vengeful Matt. Lauren has less than twenty-four hours to give him back the money. She’s prepared for any payback—but nothing can keep this exchange from going all-the-way wrong.
<strong> <a href="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/wives.jpg"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/wives.jpg" alt="" width="467" height="700" class="size-full wp-image-783716 aligncenter" /></a></strong>
<strong>Release Date: January 31, 2017</strong>
Next up for our readers who can't get enough of the reality TV rollercoaster that usually involves <a href="http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/34270" target="_blank">Shereé Whitfield</a>. Step onto the scene fabulously with <a href="http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/34270" target="_blank">Whitfield</a>'s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fianc%C3%A9es-Side-Chicks-Hotlanta-Sheree-Whitfield/dp/149670987X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941929&sr=8-1&keywords=9781496709875" target="_blank"><em>Wives, Fiancées</em></a><em>, and Side-Chicks of Hotlanta.</em> Taken straight from the pages of her own life, the book blurs the lines between reality and fiction. What makes this novel a sweet treat is a juicy plot that touches upon capturing dreams while becoming prey to love and Atlanta's flashing lights scenery.
<strong><em>About: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fianc%C3%A9es-Side-Chicks-Hotlanta-Sheree-Whitfield/dp/149670987X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941929&sr=8-1&keywords=9781496709875" target="_blank">Wives, Fiancées, and Side-Chicks of Hotlanta</a></em></strong>
Fresh out of college, Sasha Wellington’s got her career as a fashion designer and entrepreneur all planned out. Her only wild card is choosing which city to launch from. When fate points her to Atlanta, she sets out to make her dreams come true.
Before she knows it, Sasha’s befriended by two rival BFFs. First there’s Norman, savvy stylist to Atlanta’s stars. Then there’s Paris, an outrageous personality with a questionable nightlife. Between their antics, Sasha’s beyond grateful for her coworker, Casey. Married to an NBA player, Casey’s got class.
But the more time Sasha spends among the movers and shakers, the clearer it gets that just like on reality TV, the truth lies behind-the-scenes. Still, she’s not worried about getting caught up in the drama—until she’s romanced by a baller of her own. Can she stick to her game plan, or will Hotlanta derail her future—and reveal a side of herself even she didn’t know existed?
<strong><a href="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/revenge.jpg"><img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/revenge.jpg" alt="" width="511" height="771" class="size-full wp-image-783717 aligncenter" /></a></strong>
<strong>Release Date: January 31, 2017</strong>
What's a good love story without a bit of deceit and revenge? In this dark tale about expectations and changes of heart, readers will be stunned by how far one would go for love. Another great Kensington Publishing product hits the book market just in times for Valentine's Day.
<strong><em>About: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Mistress-Love-cydney-Rax/dp/1496701429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484941969&sr=8-1&keywords=9781496701428" target="_blank">Revenge of the Mistress by Cydney Rax</a></em></strong>
From the moment Nicole Green realized that she loved Rashad Eason, she knew she wanted to be with him. Of course, the fact that he was already married didn’t keep her from letting him know how much she wanted him. They commenced a relationship and when she eventually gets pregnant, it seemed her dreams were coming true. The day that Nicole and Rashad get married, with their baby daughter Eminence by their side, is the happiest day of Nicole’s life. Even though Rashad is wasted and slurring his words, it doesn’t matter to Nicole. Once she and Rashad say “I do”, she feels that nothing on earth can steal her dream.
But only thirty days into the marriage, Rashad has a change of heart. He can’t get his ex-wife off of his mind. He constantly calls Nicole “Kiara”. Nicole is spending money like it’s going out of style, and she’s changed from the woman he first met. He consults an attorney behind his new wife’s back, and one day, out of the blue, serves Nicole divorce papers.
Nicole is stunned. After all her planning, bragging and scheming, her fairy tale marriage is now a big joke around town. When all else fails, she turns to her ex-boyfriend and together, they plot the ultimate revenge.
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Remy Ma Explains Ectopic Pregnancy & Papoose Shares His Feelings On Losing A Child
Last month, we reported the terribly sad news that <a href="http://madamenoire.com/783406/remy-ma-suffers-heartbreaking-miscarriage-ectopic-pregnancy/">Remy Ma and Papoose lost the child she was carrying</a>, their first together. In the video, she posted on her Instagram and later on an episode of “Love and Hip Hop” Remy Ma explained that she had an ectopic pregnancy but recently on “The Real” she gave a more thorough description of what she experienced. In fact, she said this was not the first time this has happened. She also explained how she and her husband will move forward. Loni started the interview asking Papoose to share his thoughts and feelings on the ordeal.
<img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/remy-ma-feat.jpg" alt="" width="1068" height="600" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-784935" />
<b>Papoose</b>: I mean, that was the saddest day of my life. Um, when she told me the news, I was extremely happy, we was thinking of names. I mean, I would wake up in the morning and the first thing I would see is my future child, you know? And um, for it to take a turn like that, it was just like a rollercoaster and it went down. But um, honestly, when I got the news, she had to go into emergency surgery. So I was devastated about my child, but I was just like praying you know, “I hope my wife is going to be okay.” I just wanted her to be okay.
<b>Remy Ma</b>: The bad thing with me is that this happened to me before when I was a kid. I was a teenager the first time I got pregnant. And I had an ectopic pregnancy then. So they removed… I literally passed out. Like I thought I just had bad cramps and I passed out. My friends…
<b>Adrienne</b>: As a teenager?
<b>Remy</b>: … As a teenager. My friends you know, they called the ambulance. I went to the hospital, they did a sonogram and it was black. I literally was bleeding internally. They rushed me to surgery and when I came out they was like, “It was an ectopic, you know, we removed the tube.” But I was a kid, I didn’t know what that meant I was like, “Okay.”…
<b>Adrienne</b>: “We removed the tube,” what does that mean?
<b>Remy</b>: … They removed one… As a female you have two fallopian tubes. This is where the egg that gets you pregnant comes from. It comes down the fallopian tube and it plants in the uterus to grow. But it’s an ectopic pregnancy when the egg connects with you know… it starts to fertilize in the tube. So your tube, it expands until the point that it can’t expand anymore and then that’s when the internal bleeding and things like that happen.
<b>Adrienne</b>: Does it burst?
<b>Remy</b>: Yeah!
<b>Loni</b>: So she lost the tube.
<b>Remy</b>: Yeah, both times. That’s what happens, so the second time… I didn’t know and when I see the doctors whispering and you know, everyone’s trying to keep it hush. I knew it was something bad and I was like, “that’s probably what it is.” But I wasn’t in like as much pain as I was the first time, so I thought maybe you know, they could do something to fix it. But… it was pretty much the same procedure, rushed into surgery and took out my other fallopian tube. So now, you know, I can only have children in vitro.
You can watch this portion of their interview in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufkl3FBzLhU
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Is He A F-ck Boy Or For Real? Tony Rock Breaks It Down
[dotstudio id="5899f0be97f8154c2b7b23c7"]
Tony Rock isn't the first person you think of when it comes to relationship advice, but after the way he read Steve Harvey's mess we figured, why not? Well, there's also the fact that Rock is the host of TV One's new show, "The Game of Dating." The hilarious dating show just premiered last Tuesday and features three teams of friends and/or family members watching real dates in a "hidden camera" style with viewers acting as judges.
Since Rock is all things love and dating right now, we reached out for a little guidance of our own. We asked the comedian to help us decide between a man that's for real and one that's a f-ck boy. See what he said when we put these scenarios in front of him.
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Jump To It: Bodysuits You Never Knew You Needed To Work Out
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to keep yourself covered, in the heat of an intense workout, you find yourself exposed. Your back is out. The crack of your behind might make an appearance due to slipping and sliding bottoms. Your sports shows up and shows out during burpees. When you're trying to focus on the exercises expected of you, the last thing you want to be doing is pulling up your pants or trying to find a way to tuck your shirt in to avoid unwanted attention. Who knew that the answer to your troubles could be a one-piece bodysuit?
Jumpsuits are great for workouts and just so happen to be making a big splash in terms of activewear. Whether you're trying to hold a pose in yoga or keep up with the steps in your samba class, you don't have to worry about whether or not your outfit is betraying you. Not to mention, many are made to make you aerodynamic in terms of speed, provide comfort while riding bicycles or just keep you looking chic in Zumba. From jumpsuits for dance classes to bodysuits for training, here are 11 styles we're hoping to covet.
<img src="http://madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Adidas.jpg" alt="fitness jumpsuits " width="881" height="495" class="aligncenter wp-image-784940" />
<h2><a href="https://www.probikekit.com/sports-clothing/adidas-women-s-adistar-bodysuit-black/red/11247570.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=USD&shippingcountry=US&gclid=CNqC3o-y_tECFZqLswodAcQBog&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CKG174-y_tECFVYONwodDSoHhw&variation=11247573" target="_blank">Adidas Women's Adistar Bodysuit</a> - $74.99</h2>
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