If you’re a blogger, writer, or a content creator of any sort, you likely do it because, well, you love it. But, from the highest paid to those who are typing from their college’s computer lab, there is not a blogger alive who enjoys the misconceptions and unwarranted “career suggestions” that come along with the job. If you have a friend who is passionate about turning her interests into a blog, or are considering the career path yourself, here are some things you need to understand before you give your opinion — or take the plunge.

1. Blogging is time consuming. If you are serious about making your blog the go-to for a specific interest or group of people, you have to put in the work. Our non-blogger friends tend to think posting is just a matter of waking up and putting something on the Internet. To really connect with your intended audience, you have to plan your posts. This can mean saying no to a weekend of partying to research and create a calendar of the content you’ll provide for the month. Sure, we’d love to go to the festival with you–if that means we get access to interview great people and take pictures for our blog. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth it.
2. Gossip blogs are NOT the only genre out there. Please don’t assume that all bloggers talk about the same stuff. There are blogs about everything under the sun from cooking to cosmetics. There is a very negative light that is cast on this profession because the general public assumes that most bloggers report on reality TV stars and their relationship drama and have never heard of the word research. Not true! There are some very positive outlets, such as Black And Married With Kids and Soul Bounce.
3. It is a real job. Again, time is important for bloggers. We have deadlines to meet and bosses to answer to. Work has to be presented correctly just like sweaters anyone folds at Sears. Advertisers expect to see certain things on the site, or they will no longer spend money. There are consequences for not posting on time and you can be dismissed. If you run your own blog, there is even more responsibility because you are doing all the writing, editing, and marketing.
4. Blogging is profitable. Did you know that it is possible to make $100,000 a year as a blogger? If your blog can influence an audience that big brands desire to sell to, then you’re in business! This is why you hear your blogger friends say they need to get their social media numbers up. From there, opportunities like hosting events, participating in panel discussions, and becoming a brand ambassador can arise.
5. You could benefit if you’d take the time to understand. Everyone has something that they’re interested in and could easily turn that passion into an online life of its own. You may enjoy shopping while your bestie likes to blog about it. The difference is your love for fashion only garners a new outfit. Hers creates conversations and can even get her some free threads from the same places you shop. Bloggers know it’s about working smarter, not harder.

The post 5 Things You Should Understand About Being A Blogger appeared first on MadameNoire.

Stop what you're doing and listen

Get them critically thinking

Know when to push them

Know when not to push them

Stop destructive thinking

Recognize when they need to talk

Pick up their slack when they’re stressed

Learn about their world

Celebrate their victories

Mourn their losses

Keep an eye out for things that interest them

Know when they’re working from fear

Couch your criticism in compliments

Be their escape buddy

Let them make their own mistakes

Know when they need a cheerleader

Boast about them to friends and family

Warn friends and family when they’re down

Yes and everything

Don’t monopolize sharing time

The post What It Actually Means To Be A Supportive Partner appeared first on MadameNoire.

Tiffany Porter is surrounded by men in her industry. And most of these men are 250-pound professional athletes. But even though Porter may be petite by comparison, she is a powerhouse as an NFL agent.

Porter’s resume is an interesting and diverse read. She was a student-athlete, graduated from Hampton University with a degree in music vocal performance. She later attended Emory University School of Law on a scholarship, and at the same time, Georgia State University accepted her into their MBA program. She did both. Porter was a professional cheerleader for the Atlanta Chiefs, and today she is an attorney and NFL agent.

The married mother of four also served as President of the Black Law Students Association and clerked for Chief Justice Robert Benham of the Georgia Supreme Court. She started her career as a Criminal Defense attorney before creating the successful Porter Whitner Law Group, LLC in Atlanta with her friend and sorority sister Tadia Whitner. In 2013, Porter, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, launched Zenith Sports and Entertainment Group, a full-service sports and entertainment agency. She began practicing law in 2005 and started her own practice in 2009.

Now as an agent, Porter operates with one main goal in mind–to help professional athletes build their brand and protect their finances for the future. Keeping in mind the shocking stat that 80 percent of former NFL players go bankrupt or broke within two-five years after they have stopped playing or have retired, Porter wants to not only get her clients the best deal but also educate them on how to handle their money.

It wasn’t easy growing up for Porter. She and her younger siblings were raised by her grandmother and great-grandmother when their mother went to federal prison over drug charges. Porter was also diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29; she opted for a double mastectomy as treatment,

Now in good health, Porter is focused on her career as an NFL agent, and she told MadameNoire why this was a career choice long in the making.

MadameNoire (MN): You’ve been a professional cheerleader, a lawyer, and now an NFL agent. How did you make all these career moves?

Tiffany Porter (TP): Well, I have always been in sports and these careers are actually all connected. Since I was a track and field athlete and then a professional cheerleader, I understand some of the stresses, trials, and tribulations, and concerns faced by athletes. As a lawyer, I worked with professional athletes on contracts, and now as an agent, I not only get to negotiate deals but I am also able to approach it with a deeper understanding as to what an athlete needs and wants. I got into this because of my love of sports and my goal to help athletes better manage their money.

MN: Why do you feel so many professional athletes go broke?

TP: Working as a lawyer, some of my clients were NFL players who were broke and didn’t have any kind of goals or aspirations for life after football. A lot of these guys just didn’t have the right people in their circle. A lot of these guys come from low-income backgrounds and this is the first time they have had to deal with so much money. They just don’t know what to do and they have people around them who either try to take advantage or don’t know either.

MN: How do you help them?

TP: I help my clients build a brand and to keep their money. I try to get them to look and prepare financially for life after sports. There will come a day when they have to leave sports as an athlete and they need to be financially prepared and have other ways to generate an income. I try to get them to think about their legacy.

MN: Most NFL agents are men. Did you find any challenges in such a male-dominated industry?

TP:  I have to say I didn’t face many. On the NFL side, all of the GMs and all the scouts are men–it’s all men. The agents, most of them are men, so when you come in, you have to really know your stuff. I always make sure I know my stuff. Early on a team owner took me under his wing and I got to see inside of the corporate side of sports and the negotiations that go on. But I do have to say as a woman, you have to stick to business–and you have to let others know you are just there for business. Sometimes still I get mistaken as an aunt or a girlfriend of the player.

MN: What made you want to go into business for yourself?

TP: I always wanted to have my own business and be a role model for other young women. As a young girl, I would make things to sell. In college, I was a Mary Kay Cosmetics rep. So I always had the entrepreneur spirit.

MN: What’s next?

TP: I want to continue to grow my brand. I am opening a basketball division to represent NBA athletes. I will also continue to work to inspire other young women, to help empower them to take on any career they want to.

The post From Cheerleader To Lawyer And Breast Cancer Survivor, Tiffany Porter Now Calls The Shots As An NFL Agent appeared first on MadameNoire.

New York City women don’t play.

Clacking through the streets of Manhattan with pumps that sound like “Move out of the way! Boss chick comin’ through,” many female NYC Millennials are career-minded individuals who need, not want, to “make it” in the Big Apple.

Marriage and babies? That can wait.

Everyone has a pep in their step – we’ve got tunnel vision to get from A to B, and don’t care who we have to bump out of the way to get there.

Interestingly, this East Coast mentality seeps into the conversations that arise when we first meet new people  – we want to know what you’re studying, what you do for living, and how you’re climbing up the corporate ladder. This is completely unlike the South, according to my mid-20s social worker friend who was zapped with culture shock after moving to Texas.

Ice-breaking questions like “What do you do?” turned into “So are you married and do you have kids?”

Doing pretty well in her career, back on the East Coast, she earned a lot of “oohs” and “ahhs” for accomplishing so much at a young age. But living in Texas, my friend tells me the response is lukewarm: “That’s nice and all, but do you have a husband, though?”

“No,” she would reply.

Texans, she said, would then fidget uncomfortably when they realized they had nothing to “kiki” about with my East Coast friend. “Oh, so you’re the ‘focus on your career’ type, huh?” some would shade.

“I’ve been asked if I’m married at trainings, work meetings, when I’ve first met coworkers,” my friend said. “Once I say I’m not, I’m met with disappointment. It’s like marriage is a conversation starter, so if you’re not, people don’t know what to say afterward. I’ve even had people say, ‘Do you at least have kids?’ Like they’re some consolation prize,” she added.

Can’t relate!

As a mid-20s writer living in NYC, I’ve never been asked about my marriage status or whether or not I have kids.

Not even once.

New Yorkers, obsessed with upward career mobility, seem to be more interested in handing out their business cards and swapping LinkedIns than knowing who’s got a ring on their finger.

While my friend struggled to find common ground among her married peers, my NYC squad is filled with ladies forgoing marriage and kids to chase their PhDs and entrepreneurial pursuits. Upon hearing news of a fellow young Millennial walking down the altar or having a bun in the oven, there is a wave of congratulatory praise, but a somber undertone of, “Yikes, chasing those career dreams of hers will be a lot tougher.”

Conversely, from my friend’s point of view, if you’re not settled down by her age in Texas, something must be wrong with you. Needless to say, my friend misses being surrounded by the East Coast go-get-’em mentality; she’s now really feeling the pressure to hurry up and marry so she can stop being the “odd man out” in her Texas social network.

Just to make sure my friend’s perceived differences between the South and East Coast are not unfounded, I did a little research on marriage rates in Texas and New York.

According to Mic, quoting the U.S. Census, when it comes to the age when people first marry, New York has one of the oldest median ages – 28.8 for women and 30.3 for men. DC has the oldest median age with 29.8 and 30.6 for women and men, respectively.

In Texas, per LiveScience, women typically tie the knot at 25.

Mark Regnerus, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin who authored, “How Young Americans Meet, Mate and Think About Marrying,” said Southern culture is “very pro-marriage” and offered his theory on why that may be the case:

“Country music is popular. The story line in country music is the quest for love, and if it doesn’t work out the first time, you go back to the trough,” Regnerus told San Antonio Express-News.

To put it succinctly, Southern belles are more excited to show off their engagement rings and honeymoon photos on Instagram while East Coast ladies prefer to upload photos of their prestigious doctorate degrees and swanky NYC apartments.

What about you? If you’ve experienced both cultures like my friend, have you also noticed a greater pressure to marry in the South?

Kimberly Gedeon, founder of Melody of Melanin, is a creative content connoisseur with nearly 2,000 professional articles published online. Swing by and say hello to her on Twitter @sweetenedcafe or Instagram @kimmiexsweetie. She doesn’t bite … much.

The post Do Southern Belles Face More Pressure To Marry Than East Coast Women? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Travel doesn’t just give you a break from your day-to-day surroundings, it exposes you to new ideals, perspectives, and ways of life. But many young African-Americans aren’t afforded the opportunity to experience the privilege of traveling the globe. Ashley N. Company wants to change that.

Company had been climbing up the corporate ladder, having been a District Manager with PepsiCo, when she got bit by the travel bug. She left her title and career comforts behind to follow her dream to see the world and now she wants to give others that same experience.

So, Company, who has a long history of mentoring and community organizing, created Jelani Girls, Inc., a non-profit organization aimed at turning urban young women into global citizens. Jelani Girls accepts young women ages 14-18 for its international cultural enrichment program. The organization’s primary purpose of the girls’ travel experience is to engage their African peers and explore a locale different from their own backyard.

Company, 30, has visited and volunteered in more than 60 countries and territories, raised over $200,000 for Jelani Girls Cultural Enrichment Program, and impacted the lives of more than 2,000 underprivileged children. In December 2013, Jelani Girls had its first International Youth Service Project in Ghana followed by a second group of young women traveling to Trinidad and Tobago six months later.

In 2014, Company launched Jelani Women as a way to engage adults to work with Jelani Girls, Inc. as  supporters and also as a way to introduce more women to international travel.

Company, who once served in the rank of Captain as a Human Resources Manager in the United States Army Reserve, graduated cum laude from Hampton University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. In addition to being CEO of Jelani Girls, Inc., she is also a member of the African Leadership Network, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the World Affairs Council. Here she told us why it’s crucial for young Black women to travel throughout the African Diaspora specifically.

MadameNoire (MN): How did the idea for Jelani Women come about?

Ashley Company (AC): After creating my non-profit organization, Jelani Girls, I was looking for a more sustainable source of fundraising other than grants and individual donations. Initially, my goal was to have Black women champion and donate to our cause because they’re able to experience travel firsthand. However, in the last two years, I’ve seen how our trips make a much larger impact. After attending a Jelani Women service trip, women share testimonials about their experiences and describe them as inspiring, unforgettable, and life changing.

MN: Why do you feel travel is necessary?

AC: Black women deserve to have well-curated transformative experiences. With Jelani Women, they get just that. On our trips, women of color have safe spaces to let their hair down, embrace the culture, and connect to Mother Africa in a meaningful way. Jelani Women leaves a lasting impact on the women who join, the girls who benefit from the proceeds, and the youth that they serve during their day of service. It is the ultimate vacation with a purpose.

MN: Please tell me how it works?

AC: Jelani Women aims to be the TOMS of service travel for Black women and girls. When women sign up for an epic vacation with a purpose, underserved teen girls have an opportunity to participate in the Jelani Girls cultural enrichment program, culminating into their very own international travel experience.

The primary purpose for #JelaniWomenTravel is to help Black women and girls reimagine Africa by connecting them with other members of the diaspora through travel and service. We do this through: Exceptionally curated travel experiences designed by a Black woman for Black women; enriching conversations with women from the host country who work in similar industries; and a day of vacation dedicated to serving youth abroad based on the various skills and passions of our travelers.

MN: What have been some challenges to building Jelani Women?

AC: One challenge is striking a balance between selecting places travelers are more familiar with and selecting places I would want them to go because I know how much fun awaits them off the beaten path! For example, our Morocco trip sold out four times in a row, but our Kenya and Senegal trips have not. I have two major barriers to entry: The first is getting my target demographic to become interested in travel to countries in Africa and second is to have them choose to have their experience with Jelani Women. I know I can sell out trips to Thailand or France because those places are heavily marketed destinations, but my focus is on Africa. I have a responsibility to get more Black people to re-imagine travel to Africa and I want them to choose Jelani Women for their experience!

MN: Why the name?

AC: Jelani is an African-American name that means greatness or mighty. Our motto is to help girls and women of color re-imagine greatness through travel and service.

MN: How do you market Jelani Girls?

AC: We have both a Facebook group and email list with thousands of members who find out about our trips first. The majority of our trips sell out before they reach the public.

MN: Goals for 2017?

AC: To curate and launch new Jelani Women trips specifically designed for women in similar industries. For example, we’ve initiated a soft launch for women in tech with interest from Black women who work for Google, Facebook, and Uber. I’m looking forward to witnessing the connections made and the impact these like-minded women will create on their day of service.

Personal goal: to make sure I go on a trip for myself that is not work related (laughs).

MN: What are your long-term goals?

AC: To grow and sell out our destination offerings from 5 African countries to 10. To collaborate with organizations like OkayAfrica on marketing campaigns to educate the world about the value of experiencing lesser traveled African countries and increase enrollment in Jelani Women service trips.

MN: What do you enjoy most about what you do?

AC: I enjoy the responsibility of getting professional, powerful, and passionate women to the Motherland for the first time, knowing how fulfilled they’ll be once they leave. It brings me so much joy to see how Africa inspires them and how they return home, ready to plan family trips, buy vacation homes, do business, and consider retirement in the Motherland.

The post Jelani Girls Helps Women And Girls Reimagine Greatness Through Travel And Service Throughout The Diaspora appeared first on MadameNoire.

So there’s this guy… You’ve been dating him consistently and you like him. He can hold an intellectual conversation when needed, he’s attentive, good-looking and funny. He’s ready to be in a full-fledged relationship with you and even says he’s fallen in love with you. The problem is his ambition in life doesn’t quite give you goosebumps. Now you’re trying to figure out if moving forward will set you back. Here are a a few good reasons to keep it moving.

1. He was idle when you met him. Have you ever heard the saying how you start is how you finish? If you meet a man who hasn’t had a steady job in quite some time, this is a good indication that he’s not a go-getter. Unless he’s been freshly laid-off, there’s no reason for a man to not have an honest job until he lands the one he desires. He shouldn’t have a problem with  flipping burgers while he waits for the post office to complete his background check. If he does, then clearly he’s lazy.
2.  He’s preoccupied with really minute things. If your potential beau talks more about trivial things than his goals, it’s probably because he’s content with where he is in life. If he never mentions anything pertaining to personal development, do not take yourself off the market for this guy.
3. He’s got big ideas and no plans. On the flip side, you could be dealing with a man who is always talking about what he wants to do and achieve. The problem is that’s all he’s doing. What steps is he taking to get where he wants to be? He can’t get accepted into a college he hasn’t applied to. When is he going to fill out the application? All this talk could be a guise to stall you.
4. He has a negative outlook on everything. It’s impossible to walk in your purpose when you always see the glass as half empty. A man who always has an excuse or complaint will not push through on his purpose when the going gets tough.
5. You wonder if you’re his crutch. If you are in a better position than the guy who’s interested in you, and  wonder if he needs to be with you rather than wants to be with you, it’s time to move on. Sometimes people use relationships as a cure for their inadequacy.
6.  He can’t save you. If you lost everything you have today-job, house, car, sanity, etc., could he fill in the missing pieces? Or would you have to call your next of kin for a place to stay? If you can come into the the relationship with some stability, then why can’t he? A team is only as strong as its weakest link.
7. His past relationships were with basic women. What kind of women is he used to? If all his past relationships were with not-so-motivated women that allowed him to just coast through life, you definitely need to think about the repercussions on your future relationship.

The post What Do You Do When His Potential Isn’t Manifesting? appeared first on MadameNoire.

“I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved," said Woods who suffers from chronic back problems. "What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn’t realize the mix of medications affected me so strongly."

The post Were You As Amused By Tiger Woods “Black” Mugshot As The Rest Of The Internet? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Wendy Williams

Gabourey Sidibe

Countess Vaughn

Mo'Nique

Jennifer Hudson

Niecy Nash

Jordin Sparks

Jessica Simpson

Toccara Jones

Kelly Price

Mama June

EJ Johnson

The post Stars Who Showed Off Their Slimmed-Down Figures Just In Time For Swimsuit Season appeared first on MadameNoire.

For 17 years, Adeboye and Ajibola Taiwo dreamed of having a baby — now they have six. At 8:26 am on May 11, Ajibola, a native of Nigeria, gave birth to three boys and three girls “all in good condition and absolutely adorable,” according to CNN.

After 30 weeks and two days of pregnancy, the babies were delivered by cesarean section at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. It wasn’t until earlier this year that the pair actually found out they were expecting sextuplets. At their first ultrasound in November, the couple only heard four heartbeats. But at a follow-up appointment in early 2017 they found out there were two more babies in Ajibola’s belly.

The post Couple Has Sextuplets After Trying To Conceive For 17 Years appeared first on MadameNoire.

We’ve been talking about the breakup between Carmelo and La La Anthony for some weeks now. While he seems to want to keep the lines of communication open, liking Instagram pictures and taking her out for Mother’s Day, La La seems like she’s on her Mya ish. Moving On. She’s dressed to kill and cosigning posts that speak to their split.

And while the two are in the midst of an uncoupling, sources are telling TMZ that the two are not planning on filing for divorce anytime soon. More specifically, while the two are “definitely not getting back together,” divorce is not on the horizon.

Now, I tend to trust TMZ, but this one could be a bit of a stretch. After all, I doubt that there are too many third parties involved in their relationship drama right now. And for those that are, it’s pretty interesting that they would be running to the media with this very privileged information. (That, or  La La is intentionally leaking her own dirt to stay in the conversation.)

But let’s just pretend, for the sake of argument, that this report is true.

The idea of wanting to distance yourself from your spouse, recognizing that you’ll never get back together but not wanting to make that separation legal or permanent is both something old and new. I say that because back in the day, when our grandparents and great grandparents got tired of each other and realized that they no longer wanted to be married, they didn’t always file papers. Sometimes, a lot of times, they just moved out and started dating other people. Hell, I’m sure there were a handful of folk who even got married again.

And I say it’s something new because in this, the modern era, people, especially people in the public eye, get divorced at the drop of a dime. It’s not taboo anymore. We’re the generation that puts happiness over propriety, to both our benefit and detriment.

There are reasons why I could see these two not wanting to rush things though. Obviously, I don’t know their financial situation but we do know there is money at stake. There might be an ugly battle about how to divide up property, assets and address child custody agreements. I could certainly see both of them not wanting to involve lawyers and be tangled up in what could potentially be a hot mess. And if the stories we’ve been hearing are true, Carmelo might have already been living like a single man anyway. -__-

I do wonder if this divorce will be such an inconsequential matter if and when La La decides she wants to date again. While I’ve seen more than enough examples of people willing to date people who aren’t legally divorced; to me, there is something so unsettling about starting a new chapter with someone when the last one hasn’t been closed yet.

I know of too many examples of when the lack of official and legal documentation to support the emotional separation, has left one or both parties holding out hope for a reconciliation. Not only that, should La La’s next dating situation turn into something more serious, at what point would the divorce be something to talk about? Does it then become a rush situation? Or does La La start divorce proceedings when she feels the itch to get back out there into the dating pool.

The whole thing raises so many questions.

What do you think, if you knew you and your spouse were never going to be together romantically again, how important would it be for you to get the divorce proceedings started as soon as you know?

The post Is Divorce Necessary If You No Longer Want To Be With Your Spouse? appeared first on MadameNoire.

“Baby Boy” tops most people’s lists of hood classics and in this day and age of remakes, revamps, and overdue sequels, it’s not surprising there’s discussion around the possibility of “Baby Boy 2.” But the question is, do fans even want it?

One person we know who wants it for sure is Tyrese. The actor who played the juvenile lead of Jody posted the poster below on his Instagram page this morning with no caption, leaving his followers with more than a question or two.

For starters, some want to know, is this actually happening? And the inclusion of Yvette’s ex-boyfriend Rodney on the poster has others, like Charlamagne, questioning, is “Snoop going to be resurrected?”

Tyrese has been on this “Baby Boy 2 Coming of Age” train for a minute now. One week ago he posted a photo of Taraji P. Henson and Snoop together, insinuating a sequel is happening.

And three weeks ago, he spread a similar message via photos of he and Taraji.

And then there was the flat out announcement of a sequel coming a week prior to those posts with this clip from “Baby Boy.”

Note: John Singleton was tagged in the video but has yet to confirm — or deny — any such sequel. Same goes for the rest of the cast members, suggesting no one wants this movie to happen as much as Ty. And considering he keeps taking down his posts about the movie, like these photos of Yvette and Peanut together from a day ago, I’m guessing they’re over him talking about what appears right now to be fictitious flick.

So question, do you want this sequel as much as Tyrese or could you do without it?

The post Do You Want A Baby Boy Sequel As Bad As Tyrese? appeared first on MadameNoire.

We’ve all seen Avatar. I know this because it’s the highest-grossing film of all time. But you haven’t seen the world of Avatar until you’ve checked out Disney World’s new Pandora theme park.

Nestled in Disney’s African-themed Animal Kingdom, Pandora is a breathtaking experience. When you step in, the air is dewy (that’s Florida humidity for you) and the sounds of animals are powerful, even though you won’t see any crawling around.  But there are creatures very much alive and larger than life. On the 12 acres that is Pandora, there are exotic plants from the movie, including ones that look like jellyfish, palm trees, octoshrooms, vein pods, warbonnet ferns and more. There is also a massive “reclining flask” plant that when you rub it, lets out a loud burp of steam that’s actually cool water. It’s both a delightful treat along with a necessary one on a warm day. And there are the floating mountains high up that defy logic and physics. It’s a gorgeous place.

But as lovely as the scenery is during the day, it truly comes to life at night. Walking through the valley of Mo’ara a second time around, everything is bio luminescent. And when I say everything, I mean everything — even your clothing. The pods, ferns and flowers that already caught your eye during the day stand out in the night. And the floating mountains? Well, pictures don’t do them justice. They’re literally purple as they sit above the park.

The greatest thing about Pandora though, as with most Disney theme parks, are the rides. There is the Na’vi River Journey, an attraction by boat that takes you through a manmade rainforest. As you sit in a reed boat and move through a dark tunnel, everything lights up. When you look up, lizards and other creatures make their presence known while moving on bioluminescent organisms. Plants hang from the ceiling and Na’vi people even make an appearance, including the massive Na’vi Shaman of Songs. The figure actually moves and sings, but is not a person in a costume. The Shaman is another figure constructed by the Disney “Imagineering” team to make you feel like you’ve truly been dropped in Avatar.

But what really will drop your jaw is the Avatar Flight of Passage. Getting to it is a journey within itself, as you move through rock-covered tunnels with Na’vi drawings and more before coming into an old Resources Development Administration facility that has a laboratory where avatars are created. One is literally sitting in a large glass tube when you walk into the lab. There are so many cool things to see on the way to the attraction, which gets you excited for the actual ride.

However, the experience itself can’t be beat. After being matched with an avatar, you sit on a small motorcycle-type vehicle while wearing 3D glasses, and before you know it, you’re in another world. It’s like taking Disney’s Soarin’ ride to the next level. You dip through trees, over mountains, and even under massive tidal waves while on the back of a banshee. You interact with other Na’vi people, and even with the scary creatures they have to contend with in the air, water and on the ground. While simulator rides can often be cheesy, this is perhaps the greatest one I’ve been on. You’re literally immersed in Pandora. Disney Imagineers made sure to even include spritzes of water when you deal with the ocean, wind for when you’re in the sky and different smells to represent the land. The vehicle your legs are wrapped around even breathes in an out like an abdomen on a real banshee. By the end of the ride, you walk away saying, “WOW!” until there is a better description for the whirlwind of things you’re feeling.

Along with those sights and sounds, there is a pretty cool gift shop that allows you to buy everything from mini banshees that you can control on your shoulder to avatar ears, tails and war weapons. You can even get an an avatar doll made in your likeness! And there’s also a watering hole where guests can get a whole host of treats, including Banshee wine, vegetable curry bao buns, cheesecake, wood-grilled chicken, and a Na’vi Frozen Nectar that’s a frozen limeade with flavors of Granny Smith apple, desert pear and topped with mango boba balls. It’s quite an experience. Just ask the stars of the actual 2009 film.

“I’m blown away,” said Laz Alonzo, who played Tsu’tey in Avatar. He, along with Avatar director and writer James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and C. C. H. Pounder, showed up for the media preview of the park last week. “When I first got in, it was like, ‘Ok, I’m taking everything in.’ But after doing the rides, the banshee ride is hands-down my favorite ride ever! You know you weren’t moving, but your mind thinks you are. People always talk about virtual reality, VR, but I would say this is the closest that I’ve seen it play out in real life. You’re literally stimulated. You look all around you and you’re in this world.”

“For two years while we were working on the film, we had to imagine it,” he said about shooting, which was done in front of green screens. “We had to figure out what things were and pretend. But now to see it come to life, I really am proud of this team. We got off the ride and Sigourney Weaver was crying. She was that moved by it. We were all just silent. For a minute, we just had to take it in because we didn’t expect that. I personally did not expect that level of detail.”

The ride opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on May 27 and is already getting rave reviews. And while your summer travel plans likely include some beaches and sightseeing, I would also encourage you to let your big kid out and head to Orlando. Pandora is truly a wonder to see, and if you’re a rollercoaster or theme park aficionado, then you can’t miss out on the attractions this park has to offer. Even if you aren’t, it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

Images via Disney 

The post #TravelTuesday: Disney World’s New Avatar Theme Park Is Worth A Trip To Orlando This Summer appeared first on MadameNoire.

If only y'all could 4c the rest of the styles I'm cooking up for this year #blackhairchallenge pic.twitter.com/BowyOKmLsf

— Nneoma (Nne) (@NnesCorner) May 27, 2017

Him: I think we should see other people Me: Who you tryna see today? #BlackHairChallenge pic.twitter.com/DGY3PB3vK1

— Michiko Malandro (@Trace_MyFace) May 27, 2017

y'all couldn't 4c how versatile my hair is #blackhairchallenge pic.twitter.com/Sc47hjUxUW

— nae (@naejasme) May 27, 2017

I got this game on lock #blackhairchallenge pic.twitter.com/J9jrQFyIox

— märtha (@waterismybuddy) May 27, 2017

and this ain't even all the looks i did junior year. #blackhairchallenge pic.twitter.com/6jFBGwxx7e

— jenny (@MamiMopsa) May 27, 2017

lemme get in this #blackhairchallenge pic.twitter.com/VqqGOUyr3D

— dej licioso (@dirtyydej) May 27, 2017

How I'm about to look stealing hairstyles from the #blackhairchallenge pic.twitter.com/n7RZbZfpX7

— Jasmine (@JasmineAnnise) May 27, 2017

I'll try... #blackhairchallenge pic.twitter.com/0Nvq1wIGol

— Li عاليه (@AliyahLeshae) May 27, 2017

#BlackHairChallenge .. because why not ♀️✨ pic.twitter.com/lO27tyuHe1

— Allie✨ (@Allieeoxo) May 30, 2017

I'm not the average girl from your video... #BlackhairChallenge #NaturalRedhead #BlackIrish ✊ pic.twitter.com/xsqEMfeAlM

— Eirene Francis (@efrancis14) May 30, 2017

i'm here for this #BlackHairChallenge pic.twitter.com/FCTgaJyFJp

— keeey (@keydoee) May 30, 2017

The post The #BlackHairChallenge Just Might Help You Pick Your Next Hair Style appeared first on MadameNoire.

You need a free schedule

You’ll find your people there

Some men target lost women

You may even find your partner there

Your values may change

It requires your full attention

You don’t need outside influencers

It will make you happy, on your own

It will empower you

It may require some money

You may need to move

You’ll always only have you

Careers are forever

You’ll meet people with the same work ethic

You need to be selfish to be selfless

The post Why You Should Pursue Your Passion Before A Relationship appeared first on MadameNoire.

In 2013, Black hair digital portal Un-Ruly.com encouraged Black women to allow strangers to touch their hair in a campaign called “You Can Touch My Hair.” The experiment opened a dialogue about the politics of Black hair and now Antonia Opiah, founder of UN-Ruly.com, is exploring Black hair through the generations with a new project called #Hairties.

#Hairties includes a seven-part video series which shares the stories of six women across three generations. “We launched it a couple of weeks ago with the help of Smooth ‘N Shine and are super excited to get it out there,” Opiah told MadameNoire. “Through the stories of three generations of women across three continents, it takes a look at the people who influenced how they view and do their hair and how we might shape how the next generation of women views their hair.”

In addition to the video series, there will also be an exhibit in NYC this June. Check out a few of the stories here and tell us what you think.

The post Black Hair Blog Un-Ruly Wants You To Explore Your #Hairties appeared first on MadameNoire.

While catching up on episodes of ABC’s “This Is Us,” a little girl on the show enters her mommy and daddy’s room.

“Mommy, I peed the bed,” she says, solemnly.

“Okay,” says the mother calmly. Then she and her husband both get up to go change her sheets.

First of all, if this was my household, that would be me getting up solo because my husband sleeps like a corpse, and second, I’d be ranting about how she should know better than to be wetting her bed at 4 years old. I do this because I don’t want her thinking that it’s so easy for me to get up and change her mess in the middle of the night. Not only is it inconvenient the mattress starts smelling like a big old pee pee diaper, it’s so unnecessary. Just get up and go to the bathroom or call me from the other room. I also discourage this type of behavior because I loved the feeling of warm liquid cascading down my legs from peeing the bed growing up. Had it not been for my mother’s anger, I might still be doing it today.

But at the same time, I’m not oblivious to the fact that reacting with frustration and anger might not be the best thing to do. I do read.

So I call my friend Nicole who has a daughter around my daughter’s age to see how she reacts when her little girl does wets the bed. For her, wetting the bed hasn’t been so much a problem, but she does get frustrated when she feels her girls are being careless.

“Sometimes I get upset if they break things when I’ve specifically asked them to be careful,” she says. “But then my mom reminds me of all the things I broke growing up, and it calms me down,” she laughs.

It helps a little to know I’m not alone in my frustration, but still, what is an appropriate response?

“I think it’s most important that parents avoid criticizing their children and remember that everyone makes mistakes,” says psychologist Dr. Kristin Carothers. “Also, criticizing lowers a child’s self esteem and may strain the parent-child relationship. Stay calm. If it’s a mistake you notice your child making over and over again, it might be important to determine whether or not what you’re requiring is developmentally appropriate or if the child may be experiencing an underlying difficulty.”

Leave it to Dr. Kristin Carothers of The Child Mind Institute to give me something to think about.

I do a quick Google search to see when kids typically stop peeing the bed and discover a story about a 10-year-old boy who wets the bed every night. His parents tried alarms, medication- though it wasn’t suggested- waking him up 3-4 times a night, cutting off liquids, rewards, money…everything. They even thought he had a sleeping disorder but it turned out to be false. The best advice the parents got during that excruciatingly time was, “When he’s ready, he’ll stop.”

10 years old and still peeing the bed every night?!

I start thinking about my own daughter and how maybe she doesn’t “know better” at just four years old. Where did this idea that one should automatically stop peeing the bed at a certain age even come from? There are so many remnants left over from slavery when kids couldn’t be kids because one mistake could cost them their life. Then there’s this pressure for our kids to work twice as hard to be better than their white counterparts that doesn’t leave room for a lot of mistakes either. And here I am putting additional pressure on my baby girl who, wow, is down to 1-2 pees a week and she’s only four! Compared to that 10-year-old I have nothing to complain about.

 The next time my daughter walks into our bedroom saying, “Mommy I wet the bed,” I say, calmly, “Okay.”

The post What Do You Do When Your Kid Pees The Bed? appeared first on MadameNoire.

You’ll be discouraged to binge eat

You’ll always have someone to talk to

You’ll have a built-in social life

You can meet their network

You have someone to exercise with

Dating becomes safer

Someone can alert you to danger

Your place has more supervision

You can split groceries

You have a reason to clean

You can share a pet

You can bounce ideas off somebody

They can see if you’re in a slump

Somebody can judge your Tinder decisions

They’ll influence your spending

You can’t be alone with your thoughts for long

They’ll open up your world

You’ll always have their input

You’ll feel safer

You won’t become a recluse

The post Why Having Roommates Is Good For You appeared first on MadameNoire.

Personally, I had no idea that Jada Pinkett Smith and August Alsina had become such good friends. But when you Google their names together, you’ll find that they’ve been riding with each other for some time now. He’s been seen with her mother, he takes vacations with the family and there are even rumors that the Smiths have adopted him. People are funny. Though it certainly seems like they’ve done so emotionally.

Which is the reason August felt comfortable sitting down with Jada Pinkett Smith to discuss a couple of things he’s been alluding to on his Instagram page.

Just four days ago, he shared this.

I’ve been living my life in so much dis-ease that I’ve literally created it within myself… God has invested something inside of me, But I am not afraid of this Agony because I know that God pulls us back to shoot us FORWARD. 🏹 & To my lovely and loyal fans.. Please take care of yourself and your bodies & your SOULS. A beautiful face will fade, a beautiful body will too fade, but a beautiful soul is that FOREVER. I have so much to share, until I do.. Please say a prayer 🙏🏾 -AA

A post shared by Yungin’ (@augustalsina) on May 27, 2017 at 1:16am PDT

Then yesterday, he shared a couple of clips from a longer conversation with Jada. See what the two discussed in the video below.

Sat down with my favorite person on planet earth to have one of the most HEALING conversations.. I hope it’s as healing for you as it was for us. I pray that you not only hear me but you FEEL me. This shall soon come. #DRUGS

A post shared by Yungin’ (@augustalsina) on May 30, 2017 at 12:01pm PDT

In the first clip, August speaks about his mental and physical sickness and a bit about his childhood.

“I feel like sadness and depression are so embedded in my DNA. It’s where I come from.

“Those six bullets that my brother took, in a lot of ways it’s made me very cold.”

“I remember some days coming home from school and the house would be empty because my step pops he be done sold everything for some drugs, whether it’s the tv on the wall or some school clothes.”

Please excuse my defense mechanism in this clip.. I’m sicker than ever & having a hard time accepting what I feel & what the Doctors are saying is most true. After sitting down and talking with my fathers mother and sister.. They explained to me that sickness & illness runs in my family. My father & grandfather both died of severe illness. 😞😒 but they were FIGHTERS & that’s all that matters. 💪🏽✨✨✨ Just ride with me is all I ask.

A post shared by Yungin’ (@augustalsina) on May 30, 2017 at 12:31pm PDT

Then in the second clip, Jada speaks about the toll of being an artist in the public eye and how August has helped her mend some of the wounds she had left over from her relationship with Tupac.

“One of the toughtest things about doing what we do, there’s is a lot of misunderstanding about what it takes.”

August, more in depth about his illness.

“I have a liver disease where my autoimmune system is fighting against itself. The reality is, I’m sick all the time. I don’t really like to talk about it because I’m not looking for anybody’s sympathy. Don’t treat me like I’m a f*cking cancer patient… because I’m not.”

And how August has helped Jada.

“Through you, I’ve been able to close some open wounds that were left in regards to my relationship to Pac.”

No word yet on when the full video will be released or where but just from these couple of minutes, I’m intrigued and definitely want to hear more.

We’ll be sure to keep you posted.

The post August Alsina Opens Up To Jada Pinkett Smith About His Depression & Illness appeared first on MadameNoire.

My very first Working It Out column was about the time some white chick tried to Rosa Parks me and tell me I should get to the back of the Zumba class when I strolled to the front and grabbed a spot in front of the mirror. Her issue with me wasn’t my color; it was my size. And although it was one comment made my one woman three years ago, I still haven’t been able to fully put the idea that everyone sees me as incapable out of my head.

When I first embarked on my weight loss journey in October 2014 and got close to the finish line I started thinking about hosting workout classes, and then, as some of you know, I fell off the wagon. Hard. But when I got back on my grind at the top of this year, I still had the idea to start bringing women together to workout once I finally got where I needed to be. And then I realized that was kind of hypocritical to get fit and then stand up in front of a bunch of women and say “Get like me.” Sure, I could tell you I know what you’re going through, but telling you I’ve been in your shoes and doing exactly what you’re doing while in your pant size are two different things. So, I verbalized the idea to a friend and she put me in touch with the ladies behind a new workout brand, Grillz and Granola.

When I saw the word “trap” in their workout class description, I knew I was in the right place. And when I took the class on my own and it was full of us, I knew for certain I was in the right place. See, the other issue I’ve come to have with fitness classes isn’t just my own intimidation or the perception that other people dismiss me as unfit because of my weight, it’s the slew of ratchet/twerk/p-poppin/dutty wine workouts that are filled with every color under the rainbow except the Black women who made these dance movements a thing. Every time I pay $25, $32, $35 for one of those classes, I feel like I’m basically handing out cultural appropriation permission slips and I spend the hour longing for the time when I was surrounded by my Black and brown sisters getting it in at my old gym in the Bronx.

And so, after meeting with one of the co-founders of Grillz and Granola, we put together the Trapdrill, a one-hour workout session of trap, rap, and jumping jacks (with a little sprint drill at the end) meant to be a safe space for women to get their fitness on and be motivated by the other individuals in the room rather than intimidated. And, no, you don’t have to be overweight or trying to lose weight to come, maybe you just want a break from men oggling you while you do squats or you want to have an active rest day or you just want to do something different to switch up your routine. All women and all fitness levels are welcome.

So many of you have been so encouraging on my journey(s) — even rightfully scolding me over regaining weight when you were rooting for me (in your Tyra Banks voice) so I want to extend the invitation for you all to join me this this Saturday June 3, in New York City for the Trapdrill at 10 am so we can work it out together.

To be clear, I’m just hosting –the teaching is left up to the incredible Grillz girls Chavonne, also known as Young Chavo, and Fiona, aka, Fi Stacks. And just in case working out with me isn’t enough motivation, you’ll also be leaving with goodies from Dove, Curls, Vaseline, Ícelandic, and Yumami Foods to keep you fit and fine after the class is over. Click here to purchase tickets. I really hope to see you there!

The post Working It Out: I’m Hosting A Workout Class appeared first on MadameNoire.

On Monday I strolled into Lane Bryant on the way home from working out. I was only looking for a new sports bra, but of course I still moseyed into the regular lingerie section to see what else I might see.

“Do you need help with a size?” the sales associate asked as I shuffled through bra after bra, searching for what I believed to be my size.

“I’m OK” I told her, not sure I was totally committed to buying any (more) new bras.

Two more minutes of struggle passed and another associate came up to me and asked if I knew my size.

“Yeah” I said with the level of confidence I should’ve expected would lead to her follow-up question.

“When’s the last time you were fitted?”

“It’s been a while,” I said sheepishly. So long, in fact, I couldn’t even recall when it was.

“Let’s get you fitted.”

“Okay,” I said, following the original sales associate into the fitting room like a lost puppy who couldn’t identify his own tale.

“What size are you wearing?”

I muttered a barely audible “40 DDD”

” I can tell you right now that’s not your size.”

Damn, I thought to myself as I was instructed to hold my breasts up as high as I could (big titty problems) while she measured around my upper rib cage. One more measurement around the width of my breasts and the associate told me she’d be back with my correct size.

Damn, she’s not even going to tell me what it is first?

“So, you are a 36 G.”

Tries to find space to comprehend the figures thrown at me and the extra cost associated with being a G, and not the good kind of G.

“I’m going to give you this bra to put on. Make sure you use the first set of hooks to close it and then I will show you how to properly wear a bra.”

Properly? I’ve been putting on bras for 20 years now. I know how to do that much. Note: Phrases in italics are things I thought but didn’t dare say for fear of further shaming.

“So, the first thing you’re going to do is cup your breasts and pull them back toward your shoulder,” I was instructed as the associate adjusted the straps to the appropriate length. We then repeated the task on the other side.

“You see the difference there? I can always tell when someone is wearing the wrong bra size because their shoulders are slumped over. See how you’re standing tall with your shoulders back, naturally, without even trying?”

She was right.

“And see these pockets?” she asked, pointing to two indentations on the tank top I was wearing. “That’s where your breasts were sitting. See how this bra changed your whole silhouette? This shirt almost looks too big for you two now.

Dare I think damn a third time? The associate was right. About everything. My silhouette had changed completely, my breasts were sitting up much higher and prouder, my shirt did look baggy, and I had, in fact, been using the third set of hooks on all of my other too big/too small bras at home, like she figured. I could tell by another tidbit she gave me that she had an inkling I’m the type to throw my bras in the dryer. I didn’t bother to tell her she was right about that too. Note: You should never put your bras in the dryer.

I’m not going to lie, I’ve felt like a new woman working out in my new sports bra since then, mostly because the girls are truly being held down — and up — now.  I’m still waiting on my new day-to-day bras to arrive in the correct size. But on the off chance you, too, don’t know how to properly wear a bra, let me relay a few of the quick tips I learned.

1. Always use the first hooks. The second and third set of hooks on the bra are there to give your bra a longer life; they don’t offer extra support. When you first buy a bra, you should be using the first set of hooks. Three months down the line you can move to the second set; three months after that the third. If you don’t feel comfortable when the first set of hooks is fastened, the bra’s not your size.
2. If the store doesn’t have your true size, go up one band size and down one cup size. My true bra size is a 36 G. If Lane Bryant doesn’t have that size in a style I like, I can go for a 38 F (up one band size, down one cup size) — what’s known as my sister size. If that size isn’t available then I just can’t have that bra.
3. You need a fitting every 6 months. No one stays the same bra size forever. No one. You may not need to replace your whole bra collection after a fitting, but it’s a good idea to check in on your true fit twice a year, especially if you’ve putting work in at the gym or you’ve taken a little time off, had a baby, whatever. As the associate told me, “Think of it like going to the dentist.” Hopefully bra shopping is a bit more fun.

The post Do You Know How To Properly Wear A Bra? appeared first on MadameNoire.