I can’t speak for y’all but I can tell you that personally, I am obsessed with discovering the former first couple’s vacation pictures. I mean, obsessed. Not only because I miss knowing that our country is in good and decent hands with them in the White House, but also because I just miss seeing them around. Plus, it’s nice to see them enjoying some much needed and well deserved rest and relaxation.

Not to mention the pictures are just adorable. From the first ones we saw with Barack Obama windsurfing, to the Valentine’s Day one Mrs. Obama shared on Twitter, to the natural hair flick that had us losing our mind, each picture show our forever first couple in a new and different light. And we love it.

Today, I found another vacation picture. And like the ones before it. It’s almost too cute to handle. Take a look below.

#BallerificCouples – #BarackObama making sure #MichelleObama is looking right for Instagram

A post shared by Baller Alert (@balleralert) on Apr 17, 2017 at 5:23am PDT

For those who are wondering where the Obamas are now, this picture was taken in Tahiti, on David Geffen’s superyacht. Prior to boarding that gigantic ship, the couple have been vacationing in the couple had spent a month in French Polynesia, where they stayed at the Brando (as in Marlon) resort.

This stop in Tahiti comes after spending time in Hawaii, Palm Springs and Necker Island with mogul Richard Branson.

Love them!

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post I Can Not Take This Picture Of Barack Snapping A Vacay Shot of Michelle appeared first on MadameNoire.

If we were to make a list of all of the misogynistic things Tyrese has said, tweeted or posted in the past few years, it would take a while. Before social media and the reemergence of TGT, he was just a singer who occasionally did a little acting. But once he discovered this new platform, he fashioned himself a relationship expert. And as Black men often do, all of his advice was directed toward women. And we can assume that because so much of his following is Black women, there’s no other conclusion to make than that he was speaking to us.

His comments have gone largely unchecked, aside from the disparaging articles we’ve published. But last week, when BET released a video of singer/actor speaking about hoes, sluts, skeezers, the internet responded with righteous ire. The backlash was so strong that perhaps Tyrese finally got the message. And in response, he issued a lenghty apology on his Instagram page.

My mother taught me better than this….. lesson learned in life you will learn that It’s not always “what” you say, it’s the “how” we choose to say it. For the record I’m far from a misogynist, a male chauvinist or flat out mean….. My intentions were there but my delivery fucking horrible…. And clearly all the way off…. And for that I sincerely apologize to all of the ladies… Even after this apology…. Some may likely decide to NOT forgive me…. Time and consistency heals all wounds…. Although I’ve been consistently for years speaking on these topics and some of the same words in my message, I have never experienced what I am experiencing right now. – I’ve been getting dragged and feel the heat from my poor choice of words and approach to my messages, trust me….. Please accept this as my sincere apology for my poor choice of words – Shit gets real when it goes from a social media dragging to my own wife giving me the side eye and coming at me, even she’s not happy with the way I’ve conducted myself…. it’s crazy how non-public figures can say and do some really dumb shit and it will stay amongst your family and friends or local in your hood…. When you have been an entertainer for 15+ years the whole WORLD is literally watching you grow up & learn, bump your head, make mistakes and evolve as the world watches…. This is a real lesson learned… This is not just a regular IG post for me. I want to truly say that I’m sorry, I’m not APOLOGIZING in an effort to be politically correct, I apologize as a man first for the things that I’ve recently said about choices women have the right to make, for the terms that I’ve used and the way I’ve come across. I was raised to think and feel certain ways, and I’m learning new things that combat those messages. I am not perfect or all knowing, nor am I the one to claim to be. I’ve learned things through experience which I share, and through these last couple of weeks, I’ve learned a lot through this well deserved internet dragging…… This is about a man owning up to his actions, taking responsibility, recognizing how to do better, and actually doing better. Ladies you deserve better…

A post shared by TYRESE (@tyrese) on Apr 14, 2017 at 2:34pm PDT

I have to admit, I started reading this apology with the assumption that it was going to be some bullsh*t. But even I have to admit that it seemed both well thought out and sincere. Still, I’m no fool. I’ll regard these words with caution and wait for Black Ty to show and prove.

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post “My Mother Taught Me Better Than This” Tyrese Apologizes For His Misogynistic Comments appeared first on MadameNoire.

Earlier today, I saw theGrio’s headline Black feminist’s ‘educated h*e’ graduation cap goes viral. I chuckled. I assumed that it would just be the words written across her cap. But I should have known that the words alone wouldn’t have gone viral, it had to be more than that. And when I clicked the link, I found that there was a pictorial representation of what an “educated h*e” might look like.

And it was glorious.

Not only was there the image of Black woman twerking, there was a quote from Audre Lorde: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” A warning against adopting respectability politics, the hashtags #SayHerName #YouOkSis and a reminder that Trans Lives Matter. And then in the corner, “Body Count Same As Your Grandma’s.”

Boop.

DeAnn, the creator of the cap, is a soon-to-be college graduate, double majoring in women and gender studies and psychology. She told the Huffington Post, “We are not a monolith and there is not only one right way to be a Black ‘Queen.’”

We reached out to Dee to see what inspired her to create the cap. This is what she had to say.

“I was inspired to make my cap because I’ve been called a hoe or fast since I was younger just because of the body type I have, even before I became the sexually liberated woman I am now. And I experience how society views women who are like me. We are told we have nothing else to offer besides our bodies, no man will ever want us, we aren’t deserving of respect or love, based on the way we dress or talk. Women who don’t subscribe to a conservative, “classy”, virginal depiction aren’t regarded as intelligent. Even dancing, twerking especially, gives people the okay to start assuming we don’t have goals, dreams, or aspirations and I’m annoyed by it. Black women who are categorized under the Jezebel archetype get treated like they can’t make contributions to society, cant graduate, aren’t smart. We aren’t allowed to be multifaceted. I like sex, twerking AND I’m graduating with honors because I ALSO like reading, learning and being informed. I don’t exist as a one dimensional woman, none of us do!”

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post Why This Feminist Wrote “Educated H*e” On Her Graduation Cap appeared first on MadameNoire.

If you’re looking to lock in moisture for your hair after months of it being dry and brittle, then you’ve likely tried a whole host of natural oils for relief. We all know and can appreciate some Jamaican black castor oil, avocado oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil and the well-known others for the way they make our hair feel and smell. But one oil that you shouldn’t take a nap on is macadamia oil. A brand called Macadamia Professional is selling it, along with with some amazing moisture, via salon-quality products for beauty supply prices.

We here at MadameNoire had the chance to try the new ultra rich moisture line. We specifically tried the shampoo and conditioner ($22 each), as well as the oil treatment ($19.95-39.95) and masque ($36). The ultra rich moisture collection blends macadamia, olive fruit, sweet almond, argan, as well as mongongo oil, that infuses all textures, from deputy editor Brande’s curls to my locs.

Brande used the masque and said that it not only penetrated her curls, but gave them even more shape.

“I really loved this product,” she said. “It was thick like a masque should be and I felt like the masque was really coating and penetrating my hair rather than just sitting on top of it. I left the masque for about an hour with a conditioning cap and I could tell the difference in softness, especially on the ends of my hair. My curls started to take shape, even after combing through them with the masque on, instead of the ends of my hair being stringy and matted.”

As for my experience with the oil treatment and shampoo and conditioner, I was pleasantly surprised at the way my hair felt after using both this past weekend. While I’m used to my locs feeling hard after sitting in the dryer, the moisture rich products actually left my hair feeling a lot softer and smelling amazing. Not only that, but my scalp was cleansed without any buildup. I used the oil treatment, rich in antioxidants, on my scalp and strands to prepare it for the 45 minutes to an hour I spent under the dryer.

While I was initially skeptical, as I am with any product not made specifically for my type of hair, I was impressed with the enhanced shine and replenished moisture my hair ended up with. You can check out the entire collection, along with the other products Macadamia Professional has to offer, over at the brand’s website and through Ulta.

The post She Tried It! Macadamia Professional’s Ultra Rich Moisture Collection appeared first on MadameNoire.

Which singing celebrity mom still has it? Is it Melanie Fiona or Christina Milian? Well we love both! Make sure you check out our next episode of Moms on the Move, where we get a chance to spend a day in the life of Erica Campbell to see how she balances work and being a mom of three! Be sure to tune in on May 1st for the full episode.

Check out our past episodes of Moms on the Move with Tichina Arnold , Christina Milian, Kyla Pratt and Melanie Fiona.

Erica’s family photos were taken by Toni Estes Photography.

Instagram: @toniestes

The post Which Singing Celebrity Mom Still Has It? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Add berries to your breakfast

Switch up your water temperature

Use apple cider vinegar on your salad

Scrub-a-dub

Sip on this

Hydrate

Clean your mouth thoroughly

Workout

Sweat

Spice things up with super foods

Choose organic food when possible

Buy a trampoline

Take probiotics

Eat kimchi

Get upside down

Go to the bathroom immediately

Invest in a blender

Sleep during regular hours

Ease up on the tuna sandwiches

Cleanse your home

The post 20 Ways To Detox Every Day appeared first on MadameNoire.

Joi Light is a full-time marketing executive and mom who is showing women “you can still have a life after creating one.” Joi To MyWorld is a lifestyle blog she created, inspired by her journey as a working mom determined not to lose herself. She knows the hustle and bustle of a working mommy is never easy, especially when it comes to taking care of your child’s hair. Caring for natural tresses requires more time and attention and your child’s hair can be left damaged if you don’t treat it properly and begin a healthy regimen early on. Joi shared the tried and true tips that keep her daughter’s hair looking lovely.

Madame Noire (MN):  When it comes to natural hair, one product doesn’t fit all! What detanglers would you suggest for each hair type?
Joi: I’ve tried TONS of different detangling products. So far, my favorite for my daughter’s type 4a natural hair are products from the Mane Choice kid’s line. I really mean this because they didn’t pay me to say it ha! I typically mix their moisturizer with a little bit of olive oil from the grocery store. I also recommend using a “Denman brush” and parting the hair into sections with a wide tooth comb. This makes it easier to detangle and less painful for [your daughter].

MN: How often should you trim your child’s ends?
Joi: I typically get my daughter’s ends clipped about as often as I use heat in her hair, which is about every 4 months.

MN: Some parents opt for a texturizer to “loosen the curl pattern.” What precautions should moms take when putting a texturizer on a kid’s hair?
Joi: I think that people try to sugar coat the word “texturizer” versus saying a “relaxer/perm.”  It’s still a chemical and still requires an extra amount of maintenance to prevent the hair from drying out or breaking off. I would say that if you are wavering between using one and not using one, don’t. However, if you have made your mind up and have committed to maintaining [a relaxer or texturizer], then take your child to a professional to get it done and watch for any warning signs of breakage.

MN: What are some tips for the days you are running late and don’t have time to comb their hair?
Joi: Ninety-nine percent of the time, I do my daughter’s hair the night before or keep it braided up. I barely have time to do my own hair in the morning, let alone her’s. My child’s hair requires tons of time that we just don’t have in the morning. I created a video about this with several cute hairstyles moms can do in no time.

MN: Moms know that natural hair is best for kids because it’s a lot healthier, but girls don’t always understand that and want perm-straight hair like some of their friends. How can moms get their daughters to embrace being natural?
Joi: Change their friends. Just, kidding! I think it’s important to instill self-love and a sense of self at an early age. I would explain that what works for someone else, might not work for her hair. I would also give the typical mom response, “ If so and so jumped off a building, would you?”

Visit Joi to My World, for more of Joi’s  mane taming tips and styles for natural hair kids.

The post In The Thick Of It: Quick Tips For Caring For Your Child’s Natural Hair appeared first on MadameNoire.

By most standards, Charlene Dance had a coveted executive position. Up until recently, she was the Global Marketing Director for Strength of Nature Global LLC, where she oversaw a portfolio of some 14 hair brands, including all the ones you love such as African Pride, Pro-Life, Elasta QP, and Soft & Beautiful.

With more than 15 years of experience under her belt, Dance recently leaped into entrepreneurship, launching her own marketing agency, The Montage Agency. The agency is dedicated to the multicultural space and is already off to a big start –Dance’s old employer is now her client.

Dance started her career in another sector. She had been a Social Worker, working with disenfranchised African-American women who were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Her career switch has proven fruitful, and now out on her own, she’s ready to rise even higher. She told MadameNoire how she plans to make this happen.

MadameNoire (MN): What prompted your leap into entrepreneurship?

Charlene Dance (CD): I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit so when my former company began restructuring, I thought it was the perfect time to take a leap and put into action all of the ideas I had been contemplating for years.

MN: What was the most challenging part about making this decision?

CD: The most challenging part about becoming an entrepreneur is the switch from being in-house to becoming an outside entity–it comes with a new pathway of obstacles and hurdles to achieve the end goal. Also, I now have a full set of team members and employees who are relying on me to make it work.

MN: What makes your agency stand out from the rest?

CD: The Montage Agency has completely innovated the way traditional agencies operate. We work with talented contract employees based on their laser focused skills and experience. Often times in agencies, one account executive works on any project or client the agency brings onto the roster without regard to that executive’s skill, talent, or interest which can lead to lackluster results. Therefore, The Montage Agency partners with the best and brightest marketers and strategists for each and every client and campaign.

MN: How did you land your old employer as your first client?

CD: My former employer was restructuring and I knew I was ready to shift roles a bit, so I took the opportunity to pitch them as a client. Thankfully, I had a strong track record of success working with and creating their brands for almost a decade which gave me a strong case to pitch my services as an outside contractor. I made sure they knew it would be a win-win for all.

MN: What has been your most important business lesson?

CD: My most important business lesson is that it’s all about relationships. The stronger your relationships are in any field, the wider your pathway to success will be. Keep in touch, follow up, and always strive to maintain relationships with people in your industry.

MN:  How do you find new clients?

CD: Many of my clients knew me while I was still with my former employer so they were excited to hear that I was starting an agency. Going back to having strong relationships, these connections I forged along the way helped me have clients knocking on my door before even having a website.

MN: What has been the most surprising thing about being a business owner?

CD: There are so many steps to starting a legitimate business and many things that are unforeseen. I’ve been most surprised at how many different aspects of the business that you have to maintain all at once–from our company’s social media, payroll, taxes, all the way to proposal creation. It’s safe to say we have our hands full!

MN: What are your goals for 2017?

CD: My goal for this year is to make The Montage Agency a household name when it comes to targeted marketing. I want us to create as many partnerships with all the agencies, media, and influencers I have worked with in the past. We want to be the go-to agency for any company looking to reach the African-American audience!

The post How Charlene Dance Launched Her Own Marketing Agency And Made Her Employer Her First Client appeared first on MadameNoire.

Get up and leave/hang up

Try to beat you to the punch

Accuse you of cheating

Date someone else immediately

Ask about your friend

Ask for his gifts back

Dump your gifts on your lawn

Become litigious

Confess that they wanted to cheat

Criticize something petty

Tell you that you were bad in bed

Slander you

Post a rant about you on Facebook

Text you a string of nasty messages

Text you a string of sad, desperate messages

Go on a bender

Try to recruit your family’s sympathy

Follow you

Try to message you on Tinder

Take out a restraining order

The post Things Men Do Post-Breakup That Make You Glad You Ended It appeared first on MadameNoire.

Ever since more and more women started going natural, plenty of beauty brands have tried to step it up to offer more products that cater to curls and kinks. However, when there was a void, women were trying and still try to quench the thirst of not only their hair, but also their skin and faces by making their own beauty concoctions at home. From mixing shea butter and avocado to throwing essential oils in coconut oil, many women have been getting creative for years. That’s why SheaMoisture is stepping in with a new line of products that you can mix and match to create your own interchangeable beauty system.

But the products aren’t just any old thing that you can mix and match. The bases for the face, hair and skin products include Aztec bentonite clay ($9.99), Moroccan rhassoul clay ($9.99), a sugar scrub ($12.99), body & hair cleanser ($8.99), body moisturizer ($12.99) and body oil ($8.99). The oils that are party of the beauty hack line, which are all 100 percent pure, include coconut ($3.99), avocado ($9.99), grapeseed ($9.99), macadamia ($9.99), sunflower ($9.99) and raw shea butter ($3.99). Lastly, aromatherapeutic fragrances that are offered to create beauty concoctions from scratch include frankincense & myrrh ($3.99), lavender & wild orchid ($3.99), lemongrass ($3.99), olive & green tea ($3.99) and rose ($3.99). All of the things mentioned do no contain sulfates, parabens, mineral oils, petroleum, phthalates or any of those things you have spent years making your own products to avoid.

That’s probably why all of the pieces to whatever puzzle you want to create are top of the line. The shea butter is some of the lightest, richest, almost fluffiest butter I’ve ever used. I mixed it with a rose oil for a calming body butter that not only left me moisturized to the nines, but left behind a light scent. The Aztec bentonite clay is a must-have as well. I combined it with some grapeseed oil and the lavender and wild orchid aromatherapeutic oil to make a face mask that I applied after a day of wearing heavy Easter makeup. I was pleased with how much cleaner, but also softer my skin felt following the usage of my homemade facial remedy, which I kept on for upwards of 10 minutes. The blend I put together is still soft and waiting for my next use in a plastic container in my bathroom. And as for the body moisturizer, it’s just right. It’s not too greasy, not too light, and is great when combined with the olive and green tea-scented fragrance and the pure body oil. Other recipe options include a body and hair cleanser that is amazing with the grapeseed oil and rose fragrance, a body scrub hack using the sugar scrab, macadamia oil, and olive and green tea fragrance,  as well as a bath and body oil using the body oil base, the pure avocado and the frankincense & myrrh scent. Truly, whatever the imagination can put together can be yours with the help of a dropper and a few measuring spoons.

The coolest things about this line is that whatever you put on your skin can also be applied to your hair, and whatever you want to put on your face could also be a great hair mask. Not only that, but you are 100 percent aware of whatever ingredients are being applied to your hair and skin. You can experiment with new products without worrying about how your body might react. If you can’t use coconut oil because you’re allergic, then you opt for the many other options. And just because they have certain product offerings doesn’t mean you can’t add other home goodies to your beauty blends, including basil leaves, banana and green tea leaves.

All in all, I think it’s a very smart idea for a line of products, and thankfully, this new at-home system actually helps to create some pretty impressive cleansers, moisturizers, masks and scrubs. Who doesn’t enjoy being their own mad beauty scientist?

Check out all of the beauty hack product offerings at SheaMoisture.com as well as at Ulta and Ulta.com.

The post She Tried It! SheaMoisture Is Helping You Personalize Your Beauty Collection With New “Beauty Hack” Line appeared first on MadameNoire.

There isn't a summer that's gone by in recent years that I haven't said a personal prayer of thanksgiving for the evolution of the plus-size swimsuit. I have vivid memories of being a full-figured teen and in my young 20s walking dauntingly over to the Women's section of JC Penny or some store like it to find just one one-piece without old lady flowers on it. Nothing about bathing suit shopping or even swimming was exciting for me when I had to dress like a granny, but nowadays the sky's the limit when it comes to full-figured swimwear.

Not only have plus-size bikinis become a staple offering among popular brands like Monif C and Swimsuits for All, other lines are regularly expanding their options to include curvy swimwear -- the latest of which is Eloquii. And these aren't even your sexy aunty's swimwear, these risqué pieces have young, bad, and boujee written all over them. If you're ready to really show 'em what you're working with this summer, take a look at these options for full-figured ladies who aren't afraid to show their curves.

River Island Plus Mismatch Scallop Trim Bikini Top-$25

Ashley Graham x swimsuits for all Guapa Bikini-$88

No-wire String Bikini Top With Crochet Trim -$52.50 and

GabiFresh Hera Bikini-$98

Rue 107 Vega Bikini Top-$78 and Vega Bikini Bottom-$68

Raisins Curve Plus Size Maharani Macramé-Back Bikini Top  & Cutout Bottoms -$44 each

Illusion Tie Front One-Piece Swimsuit-$110.90

Marina Rashguard Plus Size Bikini Top - $88 and Curacao Plus Size Bikini Bottom-$78

Rebdolls Over the Shoulder Two-Piece Swimsuit-$39.99

Lace-Up Racerback Bikini Top-$32.70 and Striped High Waist Bikini Bottom-$26.70

The post Full-Figured Swimsuits For Women Who Aren’t Afraid To Let Their Curves Show appeared first on MadameNoire.

You feel uneasy at night, and you don’t know why

You try to make your humdrum life exciting

You’re fascinated with the one bad girl you know

You’ve never peed anywhere besides the women’s restroom

You’ve only slept with guys you could marry

You’re all about adventure movies/books right now

You want to shove the hot barista into a closet

You marvel at women who wear provocative clothing

You have clothes like that, but they’ve never been out

Your mom would wear your clothes

Actually, your mom approves of every part of your life

You’ve barely traveled

You’re acting out in strange ways

You think Lena Dunham’s life in “Girls” looks “quirky” and “fun”

You’re daydreaming/distracted/living on travel blogs

The post Do You Need To Let Your Bad Girl Out? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Gabrielle Union is just a dipping her toe in a little bit of everything these days. Just recently she launched a hair care line called Flawless, partnered with New York & Company to launch her own collection of clothing this summer, and now, she’s preparing to put out a book of short stories about her life.

“Throughout my life, I’ve often wondered aloud ‘How the hell did I end up here? Why me?'” she told PEOPLE. “Not sure I’ve ever found all the answers to those questions, but in this book I share my journey … the good, the bad, and the WTF. You will definitely need more wine for this one.”

Set to be released on October 17, the upcoming book is called We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True. It’s a book of essays on what she’s learned from a wealth of experiences over her 44 years of life. Topics include her reflections on sexuality, friendship, race, being a woman in today’s society, beauty and marriage. While it will broach serious topics, the book will reportedly feature moments of humor as well as Union keeps it all the way real about the ups and downs of all those aforementioned subjects. This is what else you can expect via imprint Dey Street Books‘s overview of the short story book:

In this moving collection of thought provoking essays infused with her unique wisdom and deep humor, Union uses that same fearlessness to tell astonishingly personal and true stories about power, color, gender, feminism, and fame. Union tackles a range of experiences, including bullying, beauty standards, and competition between women in Hollywood, growing up in white California suburbia and then spending summers with her black relatives in Nebraska, coping with crushes, puberty, and the divorce of her parents. Genuine and perceptive, Union bravely lays herself bare, uncovering a complex and courageous life of self-doubt and self-discovery with incredible poise and brutal honesty. Throughout, she compels us to be ethical and empathetic, and reminds us of the importance of confidence, self-awareness, and the power of sharing truth, laughter, and support.

While her foray into storytelling through books may be surprising to some of us, Union has often spoken about her love of books and even wrote the foreword for Hill Harper’s Letters to a Young Sister. She has also been in a book club and recommends different novels to her fans on Twitter. Now she’s going to get the chance to tell her own stories.

The post Gabrielle Union’s Telling “Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, And True” With We’re Going To Need More Wine appeared first on MadameNoire.

Anytime I see a Black face–even though it’s an illustration, a part of me lights up. And if it’s a Black woman? Giddy. I feel this excitement, not only because our stories and contributions have gone mostly unrecognized. But also because I tend to learn something from the information the presented.

That was certainly the case today. Today’s Doodle celebrates the late Esther Afua Ocloo. Ocloo was a Ghanaian businesswoman who changed the game both as an entrepreneur, advocate for microlending and helping to found the Women’s World Bank. Today, would have been Ocloo’s 98th birthday.

According to Google, Ocloo, affectionately known as “Auntie Ocloo” started her business as a teenager in the 1930s selling marmalade when she only had six shillings (less than a dollar) to her name. Esther was determined to expand her business and needed a loan to do so. Credit was hard to come by for women, particularly with few economic resources. But Ocloo found a way and secured a supply contract that eventually allowed her to launch her own company Nkulenu Industries.

From there, she traveled to England to learn the latest technologies in food processing. When she returned to Ghana, she shared those skills with other Ghanaian women and also taught them what she knew about starting and operating a business. The knowledge she shared helped put more money in their pockets. Her work made such an impact that she was invited to the first U.N. World Conference on Women.

Esther understood the importance lending to women could make in improving prosperity and health for women so, in 1979, she helped found and became the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Women’s World Banking, a program that provides million of low-income women with small loans to help reach their financial goals.

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post Esther Afua Ocloo: The Ghanaian Woman Who Inspired Today’s Google Doodle appeared first on MadameNoire.

You move in very fast

You travel together almost immediately

You fight with someone on one of the first dates

Actually, all of your relationships involve a lot of fights

You call two-month things “relationships”

You’re all in, very fast

And when you’re out, you hate the person

You’ve been engaged several times

You end up working with all of your partners

You always have a lifeboat

You’ve been divorced more than once…and you’re young

You consider having babies with someone soon

You’ve tried having babies with someone soon

You buy property with somebody after a few months

All your relationships are on-again-off-again

Your friends have stopped listening to you

Your friends have stopped getting excited for you

Your friends have stopped feeling sorry for you

You lie about your relationship past

You see happy couples as "boring"

The post Are You Reckless In Relationships? appeared first on MadameNoire.

“Can I get $300 for my cable bill?”

Translation: Are you dumb enough to pay for my foolish financial mistakes by handing me the hard-earned fruits of your labor?

This type of shamelessness reminds me of a high school classmate I had back in the day – I called her the serpentine swindler.

She slithered around the cafeteria, putting on her best Oscar-winning “Help me! I’m poor” performance and swayed a slew of suckers to surrender their lunch money. She did this every day, collecting cash from chump to chump, ‘til she got $4.50 to buy herself a ham and cheese sandwich, fries, and Pepsi.

Little did these victims know that this serpentine swindler received a $500 allowance – every damn month – from her wealthy father. One day, this spoiled brat forgot she told me this little tidbit of info and asked me for money.

 “You’ve got a $500 monthly allowance! Use that,” I exclaimed.

“Girl! Don’t you know that you’re never supposed to spend your own money?” she replied nonchalantly.

To this day, this shameless statement still echoes in the back of my mind, and seems to be the motto many money-askers follow.

Every single dollar I have sitting pretty in my bank account was earned through my own blood, sweat, and tears. They are the fruits borne from grueling hours of exhaustion, stress, and drudgery that I’ve endured to pay the bills.

Knowing the true essence of money – a currency that often represents our valuable, precious time in exchange for a salary – there is no way in hell that I could ever have the heart to ask someone for their money.

And yet there are people – able-bodied, healthy, employed people – shamelessly asking us to lend them our hard-earned cash for things they don’t even need. In my case, it was a friend asking me to shell out $300 for an outstanding cable bill.

What?

So let me get this straight. You want me to give you my hard-won earnings so you can kick your feet up to indulge your Game of Thrones pleasures? I wouldn’t spare a penny – not a red cent – to fund a budget-averse couch potato!

I can’t even ask someone for a favor – even if there’s no monetary expense required – without growing hot with embarrassment in feeling like a beggar. And here we have people asking for money without batting an eye.

Where is the shame?

If one wants to pay their bills on “CP time” and drown in late fees, why should I have to pay for it? What ever happened to being accountable for your own financial flubs and accept that maybe – just maybe – you can’t afford that FiOS package and it’s time for a downgrade?

Sink your feet into financial quicksand all you want, but to put the onus on me is absurd. You are the one who has to make the sacrifice. You are the one that has to swap Netflix for HBO. You are the one who has to tighten your expenses.

Handing over $300 isn’t going to fix the source of the problem, which is your financial negligence. The next person who dares ask me for money, I’m going say, “First, let me see that monthly budget.”

Watch ’em scurry away real quick ‘cause – in my DJ Khaled voice – they don’t want you see that they splurge on QVC shopping and UberEats!

It’s that serpentine swindler’s mentality – they don’t want to spend their own money. But they’d love to spend yours.

How do you feel about people shamelessly asking you to lend them money for luxuries like cable?

Kimberly Gedeon is a content creator with nearly 2,000 professional articles published online about everything from beauty and business to social issues and pop culture. Say hello to her on Twitter @sweetenedcafe or Instagram @kimmiexsweetie. She doesn’t bite.

The post Have They No Shame? What’s Up With Friends Asking To Borrow Our Hard-Earned Money? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Going international is pricey

It takes around three years to be approved

Only heterosexual couples can adopt here

No Americans can adopt here

Single parents struggle to adopt here

It’s getting more expensive for a reason

Sometimes there is no medical history available

You may not be totally accepted by the parenting community

If you adopt outside your race, you may face judgment

People ask too many questions

Educate yourself on your child’s country of origin

Your child may demand her “real” parents

Some kids run away to try to find their parents

You may feel you missed out by not having the child

Meet other adoptive parents

The post Things Nobody Tells You About Adoption appeared first on MadameNoire.

While People may have gone the pretty conventional route in naming Julia Robert’s the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” for 2017 — her fifth time receiving the honor — the magazine stepped outside the box in other ways with the remaining stars on the annual list.

For starters, all three female leads from “This is Us” have made the list, with the magazine making a statement about beauty coming in all sizes with the inclusion of Chrissy Metz alongside Mandy Moore and one of our personal faves, Susan Kelechi Watson.

Other brown beauties recognized in the issue which hits newsstands Friday are Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, and Oprah Winfrey.

As part of her feature, Watson wrote a letter to her younger self acknowledging the inspiring women in her life whom she’s lost over the years. Of her aunt Saskea who died from lupus, she wrote:

“Oh man, she was a beauty. I mean it would take my breath away. The caramel of her skin, the almond shape of her eyes, her perfect figure and raspy voice was everything you looked up to. She was a presence — a resilient, defiant presence. She was beautiful. And even near the end, when the disease had so ravaged her body that no part of her looked as it had before, you’ll sit with her for a while, hear her speak of love and life and she’ll ask you how you’re doing with no thought of herself, and you’ll learn that beauty resonates from the inside out. Nothing can steal your beauty if you don’t let it. You’ll take this with you always.”

Check out her full letter and the rest of the World’s Most Beautiful People features here.

The post Oprah, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Susan Kelechi Watson Named People’s Most Beautiful appeared first on MadameNoire.

Is there such thing as having too much sex?

What’s the most alcohol I can drink?

How do I treat hangovers?

What’s the most fast food I can eat?

Can I be addicted to laxatives?

Why can’t I poop?

Why can’t I stop pooping?

Why does my vagina smell?

Why aren’t I horny?

Why do I smell?

Is anal dangerous?

Why am I so gassy?

Is there a safe way to grow my breasts?

Could I be allergic to semen?

What’s the best lube for women?

My partner has herpes; how do I not get herpes?

How bad is it if I miss a pill?

Why do I pee so much?

Is it okay that I don’t wear underwear?

Why do I feel depressed?

The post The Questions You’re Embarrassed To Ask Your Doctor, Answered appeared first on MadameNoire.

I'm sure we'll be talking about Lala, Carmelo and the details behind their now-infamous split for weeks, if not months. I mean everyday there's a new development. Yesterday, the news was that he fathered a child with a stripper. Today, the woman is a teacher or social worker with her masters. Other reports claim Carmelo rationalized his cheating by saying "She's married, I'm not," referring to his estranged wife. :Then there were the pictures of Lala from yesterday stepping out without her ring on. It's hard to keep up. But in the midst of all of this, real, over-dramatized or completely fabricated situation, one thing is true, the streets are talking. And they have plenty to say about this particular split.

Carmelo hitting up D. Wade like, "How'd you do it?"@breakfastclubam#CarmeloAnthony#Lalapic.twitter.com/VcUoChiqEp

— Jesse Williams (@JKWills25) April 18, 2017

Just when I thought I said all I can say my chick on the side said she got one on the way these are my confessions #CarmeloAnthony #lals pic.twitter.com/PKSVBrzYbZ

— JAY⚾ (@amjay718) April 18, 2017

Phil texting La La like "What did you find to be the best methods for escaping a binding contract with Carmelo Anthony? Asking for a friend"

— Knicks Memes (@KnicksMemes) April 17, 2017

career dead. marriage dead. welcome to your tape: #CarmeloAnthony

— △⃒⃘LLYSON WONDERLAND (@ack_wonderland) April 18, 2017

When I heard Melo and Lala broke up. #melo #CarmeloAnthony #carmelo #lala pic.twitter.com/n8YyNPzBTd

— Papi Champu (@Mtoussaint123) April 18, 2017

#CarmeloAnthony done lost the only ring he had!

— DwightDaGreat® (@DwightDaGreat81) April 19, 2017

When I heard Carmelo & La La broke up. #La La CarmeloAnthony #LaLaAnthony #NewYorkKnicks #NBA  #Marriage #Divorce #Money pic.twitter.com/Q4oIRXLnOx

— Yung Dub (@YungDubDBzENT) April 19, 2017

Carmelo Anthony fucked up, someone tell lala I might be broke but I won't cheat

— t.v. (@Dazeofthunder08) April 19, 2017

Carmelo Anthony & Kirk must be friends

— Nique (@Lil_Nique_) April 19, 2017

@carmeloanthony no ring on .. she already done left you Bruh ♀️ smh look at her eyes can't believe you man pic.twitter.com/T3nUw8jXP2

— king jay ✨ (@_kingmejay_) April 19, 2017

Im still laughing that Carmelo Anthony's separation news brought his bad outfits all over the TL

— KANYE ASADA (@Shyeezy_) April 19, 2017

Lala & Carmelo Anthony split up??? There is no hope for love I swear.

— Chiquita (@xolexiixo) April 19, 2017

The post “There Is No Hope For Love” Dramatic, Outraged & Comical Reactions To The Lala And Carmelo Anthony News appeared first on MadameNoire.