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“You Gave Me The Strength I Didn’t Know I Had” Serena Williams Posts Message To Unborn Baby

April 24, 2017, 7:03 am
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Now that the cat is out of the bag regarding Serena Williams’ pregnancy, the tennis pro is feeling comfortable enough to share her baby with the world.

This morning, Serena posted a sweet message to her unborn child on her fiancé, Alexis Ohanian’s birthday. She wrote on Instagram:

My Dearest Baby,

You gave me the strength I didn’t know I had. You taught me the true meaning of serenity and peace. I can’t wait to meet you. I can’t wait for you to join the players box next year. But most importantly, I am so happy to share being number one in the world with you…. once again today. On @alexisohanian bday. 😉 from the world’s oldest number one to the world’s youngest number one. -Your Mommy

Instagram Photo

Last week we found out the world’s greatest athlete was expecting when she posted a pic to snapchat with a baby bump and the words “20 weeks.” The next day her publicist confirmed the news (and shut down any doubt she was pregnant with a food baby) to the New York Times and let fans know although Serena will miss the rest of the 2017 tennis season, she’ll be back next year — stronger than ever we presume.

The post “You Gave Me The Strength I Didn’t Know I Had” Serena Williams Posts Message To Unborn Baby appeared first on MadameNoire.

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What You Should Know About Antibiotics

April 24, 2017, 7:12 am
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[caption id="attachment_826868" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/injecting injection vaccine vaccination medicine flu man doctor insulin health drug influenza concept - stock image[/caption] If you have an infection, your doctor prescribes you antibiotics. You go to the pharmacy to pick them up, and the pharmacist gives you an unenthusiastic breakdown of how to take them, what not to take when you’re on them, and what they’ll do—as if she’s said this a thousand times (she has). Everyone is so casual about antibiotics, that it makes you feel at ease about taking them. And, for the most part, you should feel that way since in many cases, your health depends heavily on them. But any time we take something that greatly alters what’s happening inside of our bodies, from birth control pills to laxatives, we should know a little bit about them. Antibiotics are no different. Here are things you should know about antibiotics that your doctor probably won’t tell you. [caption id="attachment_710708" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Here’s who takes them the most

Animals actually take the most antibiotics, followed by children, then the elderly.         [caption id="attachment_612519" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

They can have adverse effects

Seventy percent of drugs that cause adverse drug effects (ADE) resulting in emergency room visits are antibiotics. Antibiotics cause the most ADE-related emergency room visits for children.         [caption id="attachment_720626" align="alignleft" width="490"] Shutterstock[/caption]

We often don’t need them at all

Nearly 30 percent of antibiotics prescribed are not necessary, particularly for things like upper respiratory infections, sinus and ear infections. These types of infections typically clear up on their own.   [caption id="attachment_708138" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

You may be on the wrong one

Doctors also often prescribe the wrong type of antibiotics, an incorrect dosage, or an incorrect time frame in which to take it. Studies suggest 20 percent of antibiotic use involves one of these scenarios.       [caption id="attachment_613832" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Drug resistance can be deadly

In some cases, prescribing an antibiotic to someone with a viral infection can cause that person to develop a resistance to the drug, which can, in turn, make their condition more severe. [caption id="attachment_707655" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Antibiotic resistance is contagious

If an antibiotic does not succeed in killing all infectious bacteria, the ones that survive may multiply, and actually manifest on the surface of one’s skin. This is how antibiotic resistance can jump from one person to another.       [caption id="attachment_711399" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

They can’t cure the common cold or flu

Antibiotics cannot kill the viruses that cause colds and flus—antibiotics only attack bacterial infections. Taking antibiotics for the common cold or flu will only strengthen resistant bacteria in your body, without helping you get better.     [caption id="attachment_616935" align="alignleft" width="405"] Shutterstock[/caption]

The economic breakdown

Antibiotic use appears to be more prevalent in lower-income countries. The spread of antibiotic resistance in lower-income countries has been rapid and quite problematic over the past couple of decades.       [caption id="attachment_714075" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

You may feel better, but the antibiotic isn’t finished

If you have a bacterial infection, you will likely begin to feel much better before you’ve finished taking the prescribed dosage of the antibiotic. You should not, however, stop taking it because the bacteria is likely still alive in your body.   [caption id="attachment_718756" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

For viral infections, stop as soon as possible

With a bacterial infection, you should take your entire prescribed dosage of antibiotic. However, if you’re suffering a viral infection and are on antibiotics, you can and should stop taking them when you begin to feel better since antibiotics should not necessarily be used in these types of infections.   [caption id="attachment_702710" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Expired antibiotics are dangerous

If you have some antibiotics remaining from an old sickness and you become sick again, do not take those; get a new prescription from your doctor. Expired antibiotics can increase bacteria resistance more than new ones.       [caption id="attachment_619773" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

You can develop resistance after one dose

Many people believe the misconception that you need to take several doses of antibiotics for years to build up a resistance to them. You can, in fact, develop a resistance after just one dosage.     [caption id="attachment_623973" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Patients pressure their doctors

It’s not entirely the medical industry’s fault for the over-prescription and wrongful-prescription of antibiotics. Patients often demand them of their doctors, insisting they need them immediately to feel better. Never pressure your doctor to prescribe you antibiotics; if he doesn’t think you need them, you don’t. [caption id="attachment_626809" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

These drug-resistant infections can be deadly

Drug-resistant clostridium difficile, drug-resistant E. coli and drug-resistant gonorrhea can be life-threatening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classify these as “urgent” threats to one’s health.

The post What You Should Know About Antibiotics appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Chicago Muralist Under Fire After Stealing A Michelle Obama Image From A Black Artist

April 24, 2017, 8:10 am
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If you’re a Black person on the internet, chances are you’ve stumbled across Geila Lila Mesfin’s work. You may not recognize her name but she’s an artist who, in addition to sketching, painting etc, digitally draws images of famous Black women and refashions them in traditional African or African-inspired garb.

Like this


or this

In October 2016, Mesfin, who goes by the name @thick_east_african_girl on Instagram, digitally re-imagined this image of our former First Lady, placing her in an Egyptian-inspired headpiece. And the result was stunning.


The series of posts garnered 68 thousand views and over 7,000 likes. But what Mesfin didn’t know was that her work would reach and entirely new audience when Chicago artist and urban planner Chris Devins not only found Mesfin’s work, he passed off as his own, and created a mural of the image in Chicago, just blocks away from the former First Lady’s childhood home.

According to Okayplayer, the project began in November of last year when Devins created a GoFundMe page in order to finance the project. His goal was to raise $,9,900 and he ended up earning $11,785.

When Devins originally pitched the project, he used a photograph of Michelle Obama. But by the time it actually came to fruition, it was Mesfin’s image. Problem is Devins never gave credit to her for her work. And he didn’t say, “I haven’t been able to locate the original artist,” he attempted to pass the work off as his own.

In an interview with DNA Info he said, “I wanted to present her as what I think she is, so she’s clothed as an Egyptian queen. I thought that was appropriate.”

I’m sure you see the problem here. What he should have said was, I liked the way this artist protrayed her. His use of “I” would lead anyone to believe that he was the original creator. And that’s a lie and a particularly heinous one for a fellow artist.

When Mesfin learned of the news, she responded with this note on Instagram.

How can you just steal someone’s artwork… someone’s hard work and claim it like it’s yours… how can you go on record and say you designed this… this is so disheartening and so disrespectful on so many levels… like this man seriously created a gofundme page, raised money and did this… it’s one thing to share or even profit from someone’s work but to claim it as yours is just wrong! Thank you to those who DM and messaged me to let me know what was going on @dnainfochi you guys should take this article down because this man stole this. I wouldn’t mind if he had given me credit or said he took the design from another artist but saying you designed it is just wrong! The man is a teacher for God’s sake and said he was doing this to create positivity for his students and community… but he didn’t think that stealing a young girl’s artwork and making a profit out of it does more damage than good.

A post shared by G🐼 (@thick_east_african_girl) on


After several people confronted Devins about his theft of Mesfin’s work, he issued a couple of responses on Twitter, which have since been deleted.

“Our non profit urban planning projects often include paintings inspired by found images. Thank you east african girl.”

“Thank you Geila Lila Mesfin As placemakers, we are truly inspired…”

“We only found out her name now. It was sloppy. Now people are just being mean.”

God only knows what people were saying to Chris. I know there were likely people who took it a bit too far. But I’m also sure he deserved some of it. Whatever was said, it obviously had him on the defensive because he added an update to the GoFundMe post:

“Um. People . If you want to go there, the so called “original” is “stolen” from photographer Collier Schorr.

[link to the original image]

The broader conversation is one about authorship in the re-mix culture we live in. and this hate coming from people who listen to music that is entirely sampled from other peoples original music.
All this hate on a broader effort at community improvement.”

Yes, Mesfin’s digital drawing is based on a photo taken by another artist, a photographer. But if you watch the videos on her Instagram page, it’s very clear that she is digitally altering an existing image. And that is drastically different than presenting a finished work as your own. Furthermore, as Devins is clearly the one in the wrong in this instance, his posture is a bit off. Instead of attempting to share the fault with Mesfin, he should be seeking to apologize and make amends. The comments he’s made since being exposed seem to speak more to his attitude of defense rather than remorse.

As for Mesfin, she’s taking the high road and encouraging her supporters not to attack Devins.


It’ll be interesting to see how they work this out.

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 Chicago Muralist Under Fire After Stealing A Michelle Obama Image From A Black Artist appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Oprah Responds To Henrietta Lacks’ Son Who Believes She Is Continuing To Exploit His Mother

April 24, 2017, 9:26 am
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Oprah Winfrey

We’ve reported about Oprah’s role in bringing Henrietta Lacks’ story to the screen. We posted the trailer. And the film and Oprah’s portrayal as Henrietta Lacks’ late daughter Deborah is being lauded as particularly stellar.

And while most of the family, including Henrietta’s children Zakariyya Bari Abdul Rahman, David Lacks Jr. and grandchildren Jeri Lacks Whye, Alfred Carter Jr., and La Tonya Carter  have been supportive and signed on as consultants for the project, there are a couple of family members who aren’t cool with it.

Henrietta’s eldest son Lawrence, who, naturally, was able to spend the most time with his mother, who was 31 when she died, feels like the project is exploitative.

According to The Ringer, in a press release from last month, Lawrence said, “It’s bad enough Johns Hopkins took advantage of us. Now Oprah, Rebecca, and HBO are doing the same thing. They’re no better than the people they say they hate.”

As his statement suggests, Lawrence takes issue with the fact that White people continue to be at the helm of benefiting from his mother’s life and death. Rebecca Skloot, the author of the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, for which the HBO movie is based, started the Henrietta Lacks foundation after the book was published. And Lawrence, now in his eighties, is not happy about that.

He’s never been a fan of Skloot’s and strongly resents the way his family was portrayed in the book. His father is portrayed as adulterous. The family history of child molestation, incest and abuse have also been made public, which would be hard for any family to stomach.

Lawrence told The Root, there were other things he wanted to keep secret. “There are things I wanted kept a secret,” he says. Those things, he says, are “about her personal life, about her body, what they did to her, how they did it and where they did it. These are the things that the doctor is supposed to get permission to do, and I don’t know how anybody can go in there, bring it out and publicize it of what they did to her, how they did it, what her family life was like. They exploited her very bad.”

But while Lawrence views it as exploitation, he told The Root, he can understand how his sister Deborah was grateful for Rebecca’s help in providing insight into her mother’s story.

“My sister. She don’t know my mother. Nobody know my mother but me. She would go around all the time to try to get me to tell her about her mother, but I just couldn’t talk about my mother,” he says with a tinge of sadness in his voice. Perhaps that’s how Skloot was able to win Deborah over. “I think she found out more about her mother in that book that I couldn’t tell her.”

In Lawrence’s opinion, in a perfect world, he would want Skloot to transfer control of the foundation she started in his mother’s name to him. He would also like for HBO and Oprah’s Harpo Films to each donate $10 million to the foundation to be started in his name.

It’s a wish Lawrence’s son Ron calls a stretch and one that Oprah resents. She told The New York Times: 

“I get really upset when I hear people complain [namely some members of the Lacks family] that Rebecca, or I, or HBO haven’t done anything. When one of the sons started a Henrietta Lacks Healing Center, I did make a six-figure donation to it. And we offered them to be consultants on the film, but a small portion of the family didn’t want to be a part of it. So I don’t know what they wanted other than the $10 million they wrote me asking for.

I don’t feel it’s my responsibility to now fulfill the role of the drug companies that have made billions off the cells. Do I think that her family should have benefited from that? Yes, I do. Do I think it’s my job or HBO’s job to make sure that happens? No, it’s our job to tell the story with as much integrity as possible.”

Y’all know this is the part where I love to share my opinion but I honestly don’t know about this one. I can see how Lawrence, especially as an 80-something-year-old man, would feel that his mother has been taken from him a second time in all the attention her story is receiving, a story he has chosen not to be a part of. And I can certainly understand how Oprah, who is really telling Deborah’s story, Deborah’s search for her mother with this most recent film, doesn’t feel responsible to pay the family for the money drug companies have made off of Henrietta Lacks’ body.

It’s a tricky situation that honestly include so many moving parts at this point.

Do you think Lacks’ son is deserving of money, how much and who should pay?

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

The post Oprah Responds To Henrietta Lacks’ Son Who Believes She Is Continuing To Exploit His Mother appeared first on MadameNoire.

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The Best Cities To Visit Every Month Of The Year

April 24, 2017, 10:16 am
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Thinking about planning your next vacation? You might want to consult this website before you talk to your girls. Whentovisit.org ranks the top five cities to visit every month of the year based on weather, entertainment, romance, cultural opportunities, and, of course, cost. Though the site, created by Dubai Holidays, decides cost based on flights from London, the cities that make the final cut touch every corner of the globe and have a little something to offer everyone depending on what you're looking for when you go abroad. Here are all 60 cities chosen as the best to visit and the time of year you should book your flight. [caption id="attachment_828815" align="aligncenter" width="900"] MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA - FEBRUARY 11, 2015: Bamboo Rafting on the Martha Brae River in Jamaica.[/caption]

January

Best for Weather: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and Cancun Mexico Best for Entertainment: Montego Bay, Jamaica Best for Culture: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Best for Romance: Cape Town, South Africa [caption id="attachment_828814" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Gondola on canal in Venice[/caption]

February

Best for Outdoors: Aspen, Colorado Best for Entertainment: Orlando, Florida Best for Culture: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Venice, Italy Best for Romance: St. Lucia [caption id="attachment_828813" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Tajines in the market Marrakesh Morocco Afrika[/caption]

March

Best for Outdoors: Aspen, Colorado Best for Culture: Marrakesh, Morocco Best for Romance: Ocho Rios and Maldives Best for Weather: Las Palmas, Gran Canaria [caption id="attachment_828811" align="aligncenter" width="900"] MALTA - APRIL 20: The "Popeye village" and tourists on April 20 2015 in Malta. More then 16 mln tourists is expected to visit Malta in year 2015.[/caption]

April

Best for Culture: Lisbon, Portugal, Heraklion, Greece and Copenhagen, Denmark Best for Romance: Paphos, Cyprus Best for Weather: Malta [caption id="attachment_828810" align="aligncenter" width="900"] BALI INDONESIA JULY 02 2014: Traditional dance Legong is performed by local professional actors in Ubud Bali Indonesia[/caption]

May

Best for Culture: Barcelona, Spain, Shanghai, China, Amman, Jordan, and New York City Best for Weather: Bali, Indonesia [caption id="attachment_828809" align="aligncenter" width="900"] The building of the Parliament Budapest Hungary[/caption]

June

Best for Culture: Budapest, Hungary Best for Weather: Tel Aviv, Israel, Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Sofia, Bulgaria Best for Romance: Amalfi Coast, Italy [caption id="attachment_828808" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Cartagena de Indias Colombia - February 23 2014: Colombian woman wearing traditional clothes in Cartegena de Indias in Colombia.[/caption]

July

Best for Culture: Stockholm, Sweden, Helsinki, Finland, Antananarivo, Madagascar, and Krakow Powland Best for Weather: Cartegena, Colombia [caption id="attachment_828807" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Portrait of big lion crossing the road at Masai Mara National Reserve, tourist's jeeps on background[/caption]

August

Best for Culture: Portland, Oregon and Ljubljana, Slovenia Best for Weather: Portland, Maine Best for Entertainment: Edinburgh, Scotland Best for Outdoors: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya [caption id="attachment_828806" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Santorini Greece - August 28 2011: Amazing view of Oia village at Santorini island in Greece.[/caption]

September

Best for Culture: Tbilisi, Georgia, Beijing China, and Mexico City, Mexico Best for Romance: Santorini, Greece Best for Entertainment: Munich, Germany [caption id="attachment_828805" align="alignnone" width="900"] KATHMANDU, NEPAL - NOV 29, 2013: Unknown local people on one of the streets of Kathmandu. Largest city of Nepal, its historic center, a population of over 1 million people.[/caption]

October

Best for Culture: Kathmandu, Nepal, Istanbul, Turkey Best for Romance: Port-Louis, Mauritius Best for Entertainment: Las Vegas, Nevada Best for Weather: Lanzarote, Canaries [caption id="attachment_828804" align="aligncenter" width="900"] MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE - APRIL 29: Central Office of telecommunication company MCel in Maputo, Mozambique on April 29, 2012. MCel is the leading provider of phone and micro-payment services in Mozambique[/caption]

November

Best for Culture: Buenos Aires, Argentina and Bangkok, Thailand Best for Weather: Tenerife, Canaries and Mozambique, Africa Best for Outdoors: Adelaide, Australia [caption id="attachment_828803" align="alignnone" width="900"] HAVANA CUBA - JULY 18 : Rumba dancers in Havana Cuba on July 18 2016. Rumba is a secular genre of Cuban music involving dance percussion and song. It originated in the northern regions of Cuba[/caption]

December

Best for Culture: Havana, Cuba and Siem Reap, Cambodia Best for Weather: Phuket, Thailand Best for Entertainment: Prague, Czech Republic and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The post The Best Cities To Visit Every Month Of The Year appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Now That Rihanna and Lupita Are On Board, Let’s Make This Movie

April 24, 2017, 11:19 am
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A movie starring Rihanna and Lupita Nyong'o? Yes, please. I don't need to know what it's about. But Lupita's impeccable acting skills, Rihanna's allure and "no f*cks given" attitude are everything I need to sit and watch the both of them for two hours. But apparently, there is an idea on the table. And it started on Twitter. It began when this Twitter user reminisced on this iconic photograph. From there, another user wrote this: From there, it just spiraled into something the culture needs, with stars and eventually, Rihanna and Lupita themselves weighing in on the topic.See how it went down. Apparently though, the idea is even older than this past week. In 2014, someone drew this illustration. ' Then Lupita responded. Helen Estabrook, known for her production work on the Academy nominated film Whiplash, expressed her interest. Then Rihanna came through. So who would write the script? Issa Rae of course. And apparently, Issa is here for it too. And y'all Rih Rih was serious. And you already know who would direct. I hope our faves aren't playing because we're ready. Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and on Instagram and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post Now That Rihanna and Lupita Are On Board, Let’s Make This Movie appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Singer Meshell Ndegeocello’s Mom, Who Has Dementia, Has Been Missing For Two Weeks

April 24, 2017, 11:54 am
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Singer Meshell Ndegeocello, known for songs like “If That’s Your Boyfriend” and “Fool of Me,” is currently searching for her mother, Helen Johnson. The 72-year-old has reportedly been missing for two weeks.

Meshell Ndegeocello

According to D.C.’s NBC affiliate, Johnson has dementia and went missing from her Prince George’s County home on April 10. Ndegeocello said that Johnson drove away from her home around 4 p.m. on that day, wearing a long denim skirt and light top, and hasn’t been seen since.

Instagram Photo

She was seen driving her gray 2004 Ford Taurus, which has a Maryland license plate with the number 4ALD25. The 72-year-old is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds.

On Monday, Ndegeocello updated people by saying that her mother’s car was ticketed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, so she asked that everyone near that area keep an eye out for Johnson.

Instagram Photo

Ndegeocello has talked briefly about her in the past, stating that Johnson had an eighth-grade education and was a stay-at-home mother who was also pretty religious. This is clearly a very tough time for the singer and her family. It’s been especially tough as Ndegeocello has attempted to try and complete touring obligations while also trying to track down her mother.

Instagram Photo

Those who may have seen or have any information on Johnson’s whereabouts should call 301-749-5064, or message Ndegeocello at @officialmeshell on Instagram.

 

Image via WENN 

The post Singer Meshell Ndegeocello’s Mom, Who Has Dementia, Has Been Missing For Two Weeks appeared first on MadameNoire.

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“So Guys, Listen, We Really F-ed This One Up:” SheaMoisture Pulls Ad, Promises To Do Better

April 25, 2017, 6:12 am
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So you knew this was coming right? After SheaMoisture became a trending topic for its #HairHate ad yesterday which failed to include any women who look like the individuals who actually buy their products — i.e. Black women with coarse hair — the brand is now feigning ignorance.

Last night, in an Instagram post SheaMoisture admitted they “f-ed this one up,” explaining in a roundabout way, “we should know better,” but the lack of an actual apology or explanation for why no one knew better leaves me less than moved. The post read:

Wow, okay – so guys, listen, we really f-ed this one up. Please know that our intention was not – and would never be – to disrespect our community, and as such, we are pulling this piece immediately because it does not represent what we intended to communicate. You guys know that we have always stood for inclusion in beauty and have always fought for our community and given them credit for not just building our business but for shifting the beauty landscape. So, the feedback we are seeing here brings to light a very important point. While this campaign included several different videos showing different ethnicities and hair types to demonstrate the breadth and depth of each individual’s hair journey, we must absolutely ensure moving forward that our community is well-represented in each one so that the women who have led this movement never feel that their hair journey is minimized in any way. We are keenly aware of the journey that WOC face – and our work will continue to serve as the inspiration for work like the Perception Institute’s Good Hair Study/Implicit Association Test that suggests that a majority of people, regardless of race and gender, hold some bias towards women of color based on their textured or natural hair. So, you’re right. We are different – and we should know better.
Thank you all, as always, for the honest and candid feedback. We hear you. We’re listening. We appreciate you. We count on you. And we’re always here for you. Thank you, #SheaFam, for being there for us, even when we make mistakes. Here’s to growing and building together…

Instagram Photo

To be honest, after reading this “explanation” (read: non-apology) I’m more inclined to side with the commenter below:

There’s no way SheaMoisture didn’t know what they were doing. And, though I hate to say it, there’s no way they care about their customers to pull this stunt. After all of the issues the brand has had in the past as they’ve tried to diversify their consumer base, they should have a damn focus group before anything goes out to the public if the individuals in charge still can’t manage to see how they’re alienating their core buyer more and more as the years go by. No one who understands or respects the fact that Black women built this brand would’ve been okay giving this ad the okay. Only time will tell if SheaMoisture is really listening as they say they are. Will you give them another chance?

The post “So Guys, Listen, We Really F-ed This One Up:” SheaMoisture Pulls Ad, Promises To Do Better appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Am I Sending My Daughters The Wrong Message About Body Image By Using A Waist Trainer?

April 25, 2017, 6:17 am
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My morning routine consists of the following: I nurse my infant daughter, change her diaper, wash my face, get my toddler ready for school and begin my process of getting dressed. I work from home, so I put minimal thought into my clothing as I’m only dropping off my daughter and coming back home. However, there’s one piece of attire that is on my “must-wear list” on a daily basis — my waist trainer.

body image, waist trainer, overweight woman

I had my second child six months ago, and while I’ve lost some weight, I haven’t reached my weight-loss goals, which include a much flatter stomach. I’m sure most people would tell me I look just fine after having two kids in 20 months, but the truth is that I gained a little weight before having my first child and haven’t been able to get back down since. I don’t think I look bad at all, but a little fine-tuning wouldn’t hurt.

I normally don’t think twice about my waist trainer, but I started feeling weird about it when I received a particular comment from my husband. He gave me a look of bewilderment as I let out a huge sigh of relief upon taking the uncomfortable contraption off one night. After noticing his face, I said, “What?!” in embarrassment. He replied, “I just don’t understand what it’s for.”

My husband is very literal and he really didn’t get my use of the trainer. To this day, he still doesn’t understand how it works or why people use them. It took me a few seconds to answer his question, but I eventually told him that I use it to help my stomach get smaller and that “I’m just trying to get fine!” Although I laughed at the last comment, being questioned about the trainer made me slightly question my own reasoning behind using it. I say “slightly” because I continued to wear it.

It only took a few more weeks of wear and my six-month-old infant to really make me analyze my daily habit. My daughter has always been one to look around to absorb the world around her, but recently she’s become more aware of her surroundings and stares at certain things as if to fully comprehend what’s going on.

Since my daughter can’t talk just yet, she just gave me a hard stare as I put on my waist trainer one morning. It wasn’t a look of disapproval, but more of a look of one attempting to learn a process. At the time, I tried to ignore it and divert her focus elsewhere (while still wearing the trainer), but I kept thinking about that look and how even at an early age, kids soak up almost everything.

Since I’m raising two Black girls, how I carry myself is very important. I want to ensure that they have a healthy array of positive images of African-American women and girls to look up to. I want to make sure that they understand that they are worthy and more than enough, and that their skin and bodies are beautiful.

How can I efficiently do that if I’m constantly concerned about my own shape? At such a young age, how do they perceive the attitude that I have toward my body? I want these little girls, who will grow up to be women, to understand that their mom loves her body but wants to simply get back to a place that’s comfortable for her. I’m not sure if I’m sending that exact message by wearing an item that seems to suck the life out of me, literally.

Working out and eating healthy are behaviors that I would love for my girls to inherit. I want them to truly grasp why it’s important to take care of your body while ignoring some of the more superficial reasons behind doing so. I hope that the love that I do have for my body, coupled with healthier eating and working out as opposed to wearing a trainer will provide examples of how they should appreciate what they have and do what they can to take care of themselves.

I often think about the day my girls might complain to me about the way they look. While I see myself providing words of encouragement, I’ll be heartbroken on the inside wondering if all the wrapping, tucking and covering to feel good about myself may have contributed to any of their body image disapproval.

Image via Bigstock 

The post Am I Sending My Daughters The Wrong Message About Body Image By Using A Waist Trainer? appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Travel Trials: My Friend Invited People I Don’t Know On My Birthday Trip

April 25, 2017, 6:51 am
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“You should go to Colombia for your birthday this year.”

That’s the text my friend Ashley sent a few weeks ago that planted the seed for me to spend my next birthday exploring the streets of Cartagena. I quickly began planning, sharing the idea with my sister and two mutual friends of Ashley and I’s to get the ball rolling. All four ladies were in and I felt good about spending my born day with the women closest to me.

About a week later, Ashley asked if it was okay if she invited two other girls on the trip. I knew one of them but I told her I just wanted my closest girls around to celebrate my b-day and that was the end of the discussion. Fast forward another week later, and one of the women Ashley mentioned to me and some other stranger have purchased tickets to go to Cartagena during my birthday week.

“I know it seems like I did the same thing I always complain about,” Ashley said while explaining why these other women had suddenly become a part of my festivities, despite my wishes to the contrary. Ashley, ironically, is always the one who gets upset when one of the other women in our circle invites randoms on our planned vacations which is why it didn’t just “seem” like she did the same thing she complains about, she actually did.

To make matters worse, Ashley claimed she didn’t know the trip to Cartagena was my birthday trip, despite the fact that the dates coincide with the day I came into this world. Oh, and that text she sent telling me I should go to Colombia for my birthday. (You know I still had the message in my phone so I kindly sent her a screenshot and got to the real heart of the matter.)

“You just don’t care about my feelings,” I told Ashley. At this point, the issue was much bigger than having to accommodate strangers on a trip. It was about Ashley asking me how I felt about something and then going and doing the exact opposite of what I wanted. And, yes, there was still the issue of two more bodies having to be considered for lodging and even activities where, again, I only wanted my closest friends and my sister.

There’s still a little over a month before the trip, but tickets have been purchased so there’s no going back. I told Ashley on my actual birthday her guests aren’t welcome for the activities I have planned. I also let her know she’s welcome to join us, but it would be her responsibility to explain to her friends why they aren’t included. How that will all play out, I have no idea. Any advice for getting through this trip?

The post Travel Trials: My Friend Invited People I Don’t Know On My Birthday Trip appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Is Your Best Friend Actually Toxic?

April 25, 2017, 7:00 am
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[caption id="attachment_828216" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/Young attractive African woman with short haircut talking on cell phone to her friend looking cheerful joyful and happy sitting at the window touching her chin. Human emotions and feelings[/caption] Toxic friends are a lot like another toxin—alcohol. Like a stiff drink, a toxic friend at first makes you feel relaxed and at ease. She may make you feel more confident than usual and hotter than usual. Like booze, a toxic friend can make you feel (at first) like you can do anything—when you’re around her, there is this giddiness that’s not unlike the buzz you feel after a gin and tonic. But, also like alcohol, toxic friends can leave you feeling a little dirty, depressed, drained of energy, and all around blue (hangover depression is a real thing). That’s how toxic friends make their way into your life in the first place; by creating an illusion that they’re going to make things better, and they’re the answer to all of your problems! They sound like alcohol more and more, don’t they? So, is your best friend actually toxic? Here are some signs. [caption id="attachment_700481" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

She tells you you’re always right

Even when you know you’re wrong. You could cheat on a boyfriend, and your toxic friend would tell you it was all his fault. She never encourages you to self-reflect or look for the lessons in pain and mistakes (because she doesn’t do that herself).           [caption id="attachment_695505" align="alignleft" width="500"]woman upset, staring, angry Shutterstock[/caption]

She never takes responsibility for her actions

Speaking of not looking for the lessons in mistakes, your toxic friend is somehow never wrong. If her boss fires her for not doing her work, all she can say is that her boss is just cranky because she hasn’t been laid in a while. It doesn’t cross her mind that maybe she should have just done her work.           [caption id="attachment_694315" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

She causes you to impulse buy

You find yourself making large purchases you shouldn’t around this friend. But she tells you that you need that $500 jacket for this or that reason, and that the designer chair is an “investment.” (An investment in what? Certainly not in a Roth IRA, stock or bond.)           [caption id="attachment_617560" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

You like people less after talking to her

When you leave this friend, you find yourself feeling generally dark and discouraged about humans. This is because this friend is usually just sh*t-talking people, and dwelling in her negative experiences.             [caption id="attachment_622021" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

You like yourself a little less after talking to her

Even though your toxic friend pays a lot of attention to you, you leave her feeling worse about yourself. That’s because toxic friends are very manipulative and intelligent, and have a way of weaving negative ideas into a conversation.     [caption id="attachment_608142" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

You can’t tell if she just insulted or complimented you

Speaking of negativity, your friend often says things that could be taken as a compliment and/or an insult. You’re really not sure. Something like, “That dress looks surprisingly good considering your figure.”           [caption id="attachment_699419" align="alignleft" width="469"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

You feel safe and scared around her at the same time

Your toxic friend feels at once like a safe harbor and the rocky seas. That’s because she says things like, “I just want what’s best for you” before saying things like, “Maybe you should quit your job and just move back home.”               [caption id="attachment_716483" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

She finds fault with everyone else in your life

She doesn’t like anyone else in your life. Toxic people don’t like themselves so, as a result, they usually don’t like other people. Rather than face their flaws and insecurities, they turn those outwards and find fault with everybody else.           [caption id="attachment_620944" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

She finds a way to turn your good news into bad news

You find yourself hesitating to share good news with her because she’ll find some way to put a dark cloud over it. For example, if you say you got a promotion, she may say something like, “Then those low-plunging dresses you wear around your boss paid off!”     [caption id="attachment_701574" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

She might be jealous when you get something good

You get the sense your friend is actually jealous when something good happens to you. She doesn’t give you the genuinely-happy-for-you reply you’d expect from someone who allegedly “wants the best for you.”           [caption id="attachment_614438" align="alignleft" width="378"] Corbis Images[/caption]

She is always gossiping about somebody

Toxic people are always gossiping. They usually don’t like their own lives and are messing up left and right. Rather than admit that, they just talk about how everyone else is screwing up.               [caption id="attachment_626166" align="alignleft" width="453"] Corbis[/caption]

She encourages your destructive behavior

She encourages you to quit your job, to sleep with random men, to make large purchases, to slash an ex-boyfriend’s tire, to stalk the new girlfriend of an ex-boyfriend, to eat the whole pint of ice cream…           [caption id="attachment_621190" align="alignleft" width="479"] Shutterstock[/caption]

She reveals private information about you (“for your own good”)

She’ll tell men you’re dating that you’ve been cheated on a lot, or that you have issues with your father. Then she’ll tell you, “I just told them for your own good—they should know what you’re about and decide if they can handle it.”         [caption id="attachment_610668" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

She makes you feel guilty a lot

She makes you feel guilty for things you’re not sure you should feel guilty about. For example, you won’t go out on a bender with her because you have a very important meeting in the morning, but she claims she could, “Really use your friendship right now…” Maybe you could use her friendship, and she could encourage you to get a good night’s rest.           [caption id="attachment_620621" align="alignleft" width="425"] Corbis[/caption]

Her personal relationships are in shambles

She rarely has a romantic relationship that lasts more than a month, she has a lot of friendships that have gone up in flames, and most of her relationships end turbulently and abruptly.             [caption id="attachment_697920" align="alignleft" width="468"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Her job/finances are in shambles

She is somehow always broke, even though she seems to make enough money. This is because she is an impulse buyer, and doesn’t manager her finances well. Rather than admit that and seek counseling, she accuses people of not being understanding of her circumstances.             [caption id="attachment_617897" align="alignleft" width="451"] Shutterstock[/caption]

She does you large favors you didn’t ask for

She’ll do enormous favors you didn’t ask for, that actually make you a bit uncomfortable (like buy you a very expensive designer bag).               [caption id="attachment_622103" align="alignleft" width="410"] Shutterstock[/caption]

She throws those favors in your face later

Later, when this friend wants something from you that you can’t do for her, she’ll say something like, ‘This is how you treat me after I bought you that nice bag!”               [caption id="attachment_611081" align="alignleft" width="423"] Corbis Images[/caption]

She can be very petty

She handles arguments like a toddler, just spewing nasty, pointless insults that do not move the conversation forward. She is the type of person who hangs up in the middle of phone conversations and slams doors if she is mad.             [caption id="attachment_706777" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Everything is about her

She talks a lot. She somehow makes every conversation about her, even on your birthday or a friend’s wedding anniversary.

The post Is Your Best Friend Actually Toxic? appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Meshell Ndegeocello’s Mother Found Safe In Virginia After Two Weeks Missing

April 25, 2017, 7:11 am
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Yesterday we told you that singer Meshell Ndegeocello’s mother, Helen Johnson, had been missing for a whopping two weeks. The 72-year-old has dementia and was last seen leaving her home in Prince George’s County, which is in Washington D.C., on April 10.

Meshell Ndegeocello

The singer shared multiple posts on social media in the hopes of tracking down her mom. Thankfully, after word was spread far and wide, Johnson was found unharmed in Virginia. Ndegeocello said that her mother’s safe recovery is proof of “love and luck.”

Instagram Photo

According to the D.C. ABC affiliate, Ndegeocello received the news while in Europe touring. As we told you previously, she had to fulfill her concert obligations abroad while also trying to figure out the whereabouts of Johnson. The singer’s brother, Jacques Johnson, informed her yesterday that she was found alive. He told ABC that Helen is currently being evaluated at a hospital in Virginia. They stated that an “EZ pass clue” of Helen’s car, which had also been ticketed at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia, helped them track her down.

Thank goodness that Helen has been found safe and sound. When people use their Internet powers for good, as you can see, it can make all of the difference.

Image via WENN 

The post Meshell Ndegeocello’s Mother Found Safe In Virginia After Two Weeks Missing appeared first on MadameNoire.

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10 Black Hair Care Ads That Got It Right Over The Years

April 25, 2017, 8:18 am
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While I know we're all still seething from SheaMoisture's Hair Hate ad, let's not forget that there have been some great moments in Black hair care advertising over the years. While a lot of the Black-owned brands we love haven't necessarily been able to afford TV ad spots, even some mainstream companies have managed to get the product and the message about the product right for the consumer that matters most: Black women. So before you say to hell with every hair care brand on the market and, unrealistically, promise to start making your own conditioners and oil treatments at home, take a look back at the moments brands actually got it right and celebrated Black hair and Black women. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmNt5zDOUd8

Afro Sheen

Can you imagine turning on the TV today and hearing an ad say "Out of the midst of 3,000 years emerges today's beautiful Black queen, naturally beautiful, radiant, she is Black essence, and her beautiful natural hair is her crowning glory?" Afro Sheen laid the groundwork more brands should've followed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59-HuZjh4UI

Sulfur 8

Sulfur 8 covered men, women, naturals, and relaxed in this ad spot with a catchy jingle -- by '70s standards -- to match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbWU9eIcNoE

Ultra Sheen

This piece of marketing genius almost makes you forget it's an ad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if42Rhi6ChE

Creme of Nature

Back in '89, Creme of Nature was demystifying the myth Black women don't -- or can't -- work out because of their hair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou7CyPtkpng&spfreload=1

Dove

If you're going to talk about curly hair hate across races and ethnicities, this is the way to do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovqyki3ex2s

Carol's Daughter

Today's commercials from the brand have us longing for the days their advertising truly spoke to their consumer -- and included natural beauties like Solange. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwc4s8nVba4

Pantene

On top of the beautiful, diverse hairstyles on the brown women in this ad, did you catch the line, "To think that only beauty is slick or wavy is crazy"? #NailedIt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2OyThSw1nk

Luster's Pink

Luster's knew they couldn't keep pushing perms in the midst of the natural hair movement, so they appealed to natural's who still like to rock straight strands from time to time with their glosser. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkqengVMQXA

African Pride

While a little deep, this African Pride commercial shows how you evolve as a brand and showcase the fact that you have products that appeal to every generation, every hair type, and every style preference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP4A6r34Vd8

Dark & Lovely

You see all the healthy curls, coils, and kinks in this hair color ad? I love that it started with a chocolate beauty with bright red coils.

The post 10 Black Hair Care Ads That Got It Right Over The Years appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Despite Being Around Before Fame, Jesse Williams Doesn’t Want To Pay Estranged Wife Spousal Support

April 25, 2017, 8:40 am
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We were hoping that someone was going to issue a statement akin to, “Psych! We’re just kidding, y’all” about this whole divorce business between Jesse Williams and wife of nearly five years, Aryn Drake-Lee. But it looks like everything is in motion to really put an end to this marriage, including child custody and spousal support requests that have been revealed in divorce documents.

Jesse Williams wife, Jesse Williams divorce

According to TMZ, Williams is the one who decided to file, and did so on April 11. He is requesting joint legal and physical custody of their kids, including 3-year-old Sadie and 2-year-old Maceo. He’s also requesting that the court deny Drake-Lee, a real estate broker, spousal support. TMZ says sources close to the situation don’t believe that the couple had a prenuptial agreement in place.

You’re probably thinking, why wouldn’t they have a prenup? Probably because they’ve been in each other’s lives for a really long time. They were together for reportedly 13 years and married for almost five years after tying the knot in 2012. The divorce documents don’t state a date of separation, and as we told you previously, just last November he had nothing but great things to say about Drake-Lee — and her cooking skills. TMZ says a source close to the couple told them that Drake-Lee actually doesn’t want to divorce, but for Jesse, their relationship has “played itself out.”

We hate to see these two call it quits, as they’ve always seemed like such a down-to-earth couple. Not to mention that she’s been by his side before the fame and way before everyone tried to make Williams their imaginary bae. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for reconciliation, but whatever is meant to be will be.

 

Images via Getty and Splash

The post Despite Being Around Before Fame, Jesse Williams Doesn’t Want To Pay Estranged Wife Spousal Support appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Beyoncé Launches Formation Scholarship On Lemonade’s 1 Year Anniversary

April 25, 2017, 9:41 am
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In honor of the one year anniversary of her game-changing Lemonade, Beyoncé has launched a new scholarship program.

According to her website, the Formation Scholars award will be given to four women who are “unafraid to think outside the box and are bold, creative, conscious and confident.”

The scholarships will be awarded to one woman from each of the following institutions: Berklee College of Music, Parsons School of Design, Howard University and Spelman College. In order to be eligible for the scholarship the women need to be studying creative arts, music, literature or African American studies.

The scholarship will be applied to the 2017-2018 school year. Any further information will be available at the schools themselves.

Perfect.

In a world where Black celebrities put their money behind people and institutions that couldn’t care less about the interests of Black people, and particularly Black women, this is a refreshing change of pace.

The post Beyoncé Launches Formation Scholarship On Lemonade’s 1 Year Anniversary appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Sorry Powder Foundation Lovers, Solange’s Makeup Artist Says Put The Compact Away For Summer

April 25, 2017, 10:52 am
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The type of foundation a woman uses is often as much about preference as it is what works for her skin type and tone. While some enjoy the sheerness of liquid foundations and its buildable properties, others can’t be bothered with the mess and opt for pressed powders. And still some enjoy just a light dusting of loose powder to set their foundation or concealer. Regardless of why you like to use powder on your face, when you use it is what matters. According to Solange’s makeup artist, when the warm weather hits you need to put the compact away.

“When powder mixes with sweat, it starts to separate, and it doesn’t look as smooth and clean,” Dana Delaney told NY Mag’s The Cut. “I’d rather use a mattifying gel — that works better and feels a lot lighter on the skin in the summertime.

“With sweat you want to remove it, not mask it. Blotting with either blotting papers or a paper towel will always be better than putting makeup on top of sweat. You’re essentially making the problem worse and making a breeding ground for bacteria. Obviously Solange has really great skin. I’m not going to lie and say: ‘No one needs to use foundation.’ Obviously people have things they’d like to mask, but I say that less is more. Just spot conceal where you need it. Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage concealer is really great because it doesn’t move.

So what should you do if you don’t have “really great skin” and want more coverage than concealer provides for the summer season? Don’t worry, Delaney has a tip for you too.

“For the girls who like to wear makeup, I’d say that wearing a matte foundation is probably the best move. I love Marc Jacobs’s matte foundation. That can be heavy though, so just be careful with the way you apply it. I also like the makeup drops where you can control your coverage — I have to say that the NYX one is really good. It’s like $14. You can add more drops for more coverage, but it doesn’t feel heavy on skin at all.”

Photos: Getty/Bigstock

The post Sorry Powder Foundation Lovers, Solange’s Makeup Artist Says Put The Compact Away For Summer appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Serena Announced Her Pregnancy Five Minutes Ago And Someone Is Already Coming For Her Unborn Child

April 25, 2017, 12:04 pm
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You probably haven’t heard of him, but tennis Hall of Famer Ilie Nastase has crossed way too many people in the span of a few days, including our beloved mom-to-be Serena Williams.

Serena Williams Ilie Nastase

The retired Romanian player who was ranked no. 1 in the ’70s is currently the captain of the Romanian Fed Cup team. During events for a Fed Cup tennis competition over the weekend, the 70-year-old made some very disrespectful comments that drew quite a bit of ire. According to Deadspin, on Friday he asked a married and pregnant Anne Keothavong, the captain for Great Britain, for her hotel room number.

During competition on Saturday in a match between Romania’s Sorana Cirstea and Great Britain’s Johanna Konta, Nastase was accused of verbally “abusing” Konta and Keothavong. When both women complained to officials about noise from the crowd, Nastase went toe to toe with them, cursing and even calling them “f–king b—hes.” He was removed from the court for his comments and caused play to be suspended.

But if that wasn’t bad enough, when Romanian player Simona Halep was asked a question about Williams on Friday, Nastase interrupted to comment on her pregnancy saying, “Let’s see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?” When a journalist named Eleanor Crooks reported his comments, Nastase is said to have asked her “Why did you write that?” and called her “stupid” while ranting for two minutes. The International Tennis Federation decided to suspend him from all events for the time being while he is investigated for all the hell he raised over the weekend.

As for Williams, she caught wind of Nastase’s comments and decided to respond yesterday with a note on Instagram, calling his statements toward her and her unborn child racist as well as his commentary about her colleagues sexist:

 

Instagram Photo

But Nastase contends that the “chocolate milk” comment wasn’t racist. He tried to defend himself earlier today in an interview with a Romanian news website.

“If I said she would have an ugly, black baby, that would have been racist.”

I guess Nastase just doesn’t know when to close his mouth.

 

Images via WENN 

The post Serena Announced Her Pregnancy Five Minutes Ago And Someone Is Already Coming For Her Unborn Child appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Melanin Goddess Khoudia Diop Stars In MAKE UP FOR EVER’s New Campaign

April 26, 2017, 6:31 am
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There was a time Khoudia Diop didn’t want to stand out. After moving to New York City from her native of Senegal, Khoudia found herself teased by other teens because of her dark complexion and starting to retreat. But after a while, Khoudia began to embrace her gorgeous skin tone, giving birth to her identity as the “melanin goddess” and also pursuing her dream of becoming a model. Now the 19 year old has absolutely no problem standing out from the crowd, especially as part of a national beauty campaign.

Khoudia is one of the stars of MAKE UP FOR EVER’s new #BlendInStandOut campaign in which individuals of all ethnicities and walks of life discuss how they use the brand’s Ultra HD Invisible Cover Liquid Foundation to “blend in” while also sharing how they have the confidence to stand out from the crowd.

“I was bullied a lot being a kid so I feel like I’m standing out because I realize who I really am,” Khoudia says in the campaign. “I feel beautiful when my makeup looks great.”

Repped by The Colored Girl, the creative agency whose work aims to “celebrate, empower and unite women by bringing awareness to the myriad of experiences of all women using creative outlets,” extended the #BlendInStandOut movement with their own version of the campaign which also stars Khoudia and other women of color who are advocates for diverse beauty.

Check out Khoudia in the campaign below, glowing in MAKE UP FOR EVER’s Ultra HD Invisible Cover Liquid Foundation in #R540.

The post Melanin Goddess Khoudia Diop Stars In MAKE UP FOR EVER’s New Campaign appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Serena Says Pregnancy Reveal Was An Accident + Talks Winning With A Baby

April 26, 2017, 6:46 am
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I’ve been wondering who was going to be the first person to sit down and chat with Serena Williams ever since she revealed her pregnancy.

And it turns out, that person was Gayle King. At the TED Talks conference the two sat down to chat about a number of things and of course, the baby she’s carrying and the way we learned about said baby was at the top of the list.

“It was an accident.” Serena said. “I was on vacation just taking some time for myself and I have this thing where I’ve been checking my status and taking pictures every week to see how far along I’m going.”

Williams deleted the picture shortly after but not before people had a chance to capture it with a screenshot.

“I didn’t tell a lot of people, to be quite honest, and I’d been saving it. On social media, you press the wrong button and [it’s done]. Thirty minutes later I missed four calls and I’m like, ‘That’s weird.'”

Williams did say that the timing of this accident was pretty fortuitous though as she and her fiance, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian were planning to reveal the news in the following 5-6 days.

Since Williams revealed how far along she was in her pregnancy, people were able to count back and determine that she was carrying her child when she won the Australian Open. She said she had just learned she was expecting a couple of days prior and playing while carrying another life made her nervous.

“I wasn’t quite sure what to think, but I knew that at that moment, it was really important for me to just focus,” she told King. “Pregnant or not, no one knew and I was supposed to win that tournament. Every time I play, I’m expected to win. If I don’t win, it’s actually much bigger news.”

As far as her future in the sport, Serena said she’s not finished.

“I definitely plan on coming back. I’m not done yet,” Williams said. “This [motherhood] is just a new part of my life. My baby’s going to be in the stands and hopefully cheering for me.”

After this child’s mother made him/her a champion, he or she should totally root for mommy.

This story is just too precious and too incredible.

Congratulations again to Serena and Alexis!

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

The post Serena Says Pregnancy Reveal Was An Accident + Talks Winning With A Baby appeared first on MadameNoire.

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All The Beautiful Brown People On The Time 100 Red Carpet

April 26, 2017, 7:54 am
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Time 100 Last night the annual Time 100 Gala was held in New York City and brought out some of the usuals we expect to stun on the red carpet, like Viola Davis, as well as welcome fresh faces like Muslim American sabre fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. Though we hate we didn't see some of our favorites who made the list like Chance the Rapper and Tamika Mallory on the red carpet, we were thrilled to catch Ava DuVernay, Janet Mock, and Colin Kaepernik in a silk dashiki. Check out photos of all the beautiful brown people on the Time 100 red carpet on the next few pages. Photo: Getty Images [caption id="attachment_829082" align="aligncenter" width="681"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Director Ana DuVernay attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

Ava DuVernay

[caption id="attachment_829083" align="aligncenter" width="701"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Naomi Campbell attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

Naomi Campbell

[caption id="attachment_829084" align="aligncenter" width="716"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Athlete Ibtihaj Muhammad attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

Ibtihaj Muhammad

[caption id="attachment_829085" align="aligncenter" width="681"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Nessa attend the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

Colin Kaepernick

[caption id="attachment_829086" align="aligncenter" width="681"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: RuPaul attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

RuPaul

[caption id="attachment_829087" align="aligncenter" width="719"] attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City.[/caption]

Viola Davis

[caption id="attachment_829088" align="aligncenter" width="681"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Comedian and actress Leslie Jones attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

Leslie Jones

[caption id="attachment_829089" align="aligncenter" width="681"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Janet Mock attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

Janet Mock

[caption id="attachment_829092" align="aligncenter" width="682"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Film director and writer Barry Jenkins attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

Barry Jenkins

[caption id="attachment_829093" align="aligncenter" width="680"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Entertainment reporter A.J. Calloway attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

A.J. Calloway

[caption id="attachment_829094" align="aligncenter" width="703"] NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: TV personality Trevor Noah attends the Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)[/caption]

Trevor Noah

The post All The Beautiful Brown People On The Time 100 Red Carpet appeared first on MadameNoire.

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