⏰! .....✈️✈️

A post shared by Samira Wiley (@whododatlikedat) on Apr 2, 2017 at 4:00pm PDT

First Impressions

I consider our visibility to be a great privilege. Very honored to be on the February cover of @outmagazine's Love Issue.

A post shared by Lauren Morelli (@lomorelli) on Dec 29, 2016 at 11:00am PST

Lauren's sexuality

Yes.

A post shared by Samira Wiley (@whododatlikedat) on Oct 4, 2016 at 9:08am PDT

Trying to get chose

A post shared by Danielle Brooks (@daniebb3) on Mar 25, 2017 at 5:34pm PDT

Fast Forward to The Wedding Day

So many fabulous memories from this stunning wedding celebrating Samira and Lauren! Check out more amazing photos of these custom Siriano looks at @martha_weddings .com! #christiansirianobridal

A post shared by Christian Siriano (@csiriano) on May 30, 2017 at 12:09pm PDT

Issa Cape

Costume change and a little leg! Love these ladies so much! Congrats @whododatlikedat @lomorelli @martha_weddings #christiansirianobridal Photo: @josevilla

A post shared by Christian Siriano (@csiriano) on May 30, 2017 at 7:30pm PDT

Outfit change

For the ceremony, guests sat in a circle, surrounding @whododatlikedat + @lomorelli as they exchanged traditional and self-penned promises. "Samira's vows were the funniest thing I'd ever heard," said Lauren. "She started with, 'Hey girl. How you doing? Your feet hurt? Me too.' I was doubling over laughing." #marthaweddings : @josevilla | : @bethhelmstetter | : @hollyflorala

A post shared by Martha Stewart Weddings (@martha_weddings) on May 30, 2017 at 11:53am PDT

The Realest Vows Evah

We're taking you inside @oitnb star @whododatlikedat + @lomorelli's fun, confetti-themed wedding! Stay tuned for a wedding takeover featuring all the gorgeous photos from their big day! Plus, you can see the full feature by checking out our Stories or picking up our new Summer 2017 issue out on newsstands June 5th #marthaweddings : @josevilla | : @csiriano | : @bethhelmstetter | : @hollyflorala | : @maudepress @calligkatrina

A post shared by Martha Stewart Weddings (@martha_weddings) on May 30, 2017 at 9:59am PDT

Family

Citrus-y shades of ranunculus, sweet peas, garden roses and camellias dotted these long reception tables. #marthaweddings : @josevilla | : @bethhelmstetter | : @hollyflorala | : @thefoodmatters | rentals: @casadeperrin @classicparty @picopartyrentals @adorefolklore

A post shared by Martha Stewart Weddings (@martha_weddings) on May 30, 2017 at 1:54pm PDT

The Decor

Gah. My heart. @josevilla

A post shared by Lauren Morelli (@lomorelli) on May 30, 2017 at 11:22am PDT

Love

The post More Pictures & Details From Samira Wiley & Lauren Morelli’s Palm Springs Wedding appeared first on MadameNoire.

Janet Jackson has never spoken much about her personal life in public. Even when she tied the knot to soon-to-be-ex-husband Wissam Al Mana in 2013, details were scarce about the intimate affair. And when she gave birth to their son Eissa Al Mana in January, a statement from her rep was all we got from Janet about her entry into motherhood after she let fans know she had to cancel her tour to focus on planning a family. It’s for those reasons it seemed surprising Ms. Jackson rushed to confirm that she was indeed getting divorced from her billionaire husband a couple of months ago. And now rumor has it she will be telling a lot more in a new Netflix series about motherhood and life after divorce.

“The show will run as a ten-part documentary and will feature recording ­sessions in the studio, co-parenting her child with Wissam and preparing for the European and Asian legs of her tour,” a source told The Sun. “Netflix [is] negotiating a big sum for the rights to the show as they expect it to perform well.”

There’s no doubt the series would perform well, the question is will Janet really do it? And is it a good idea? The source reportedly told the Sun:

“Janet has been fiercely private about her life in the past but feels the need to keep her fans in the loop with what life has been like since she went into hiatus ten years ago.”

On one hand, that makes sense. Some Janet fans are still pretty upset about the singer suddenly cancelling her highly anticipated tour — as if she didn’t know she was planning to start a family. An up close and personal look into her tour preparation and personal life could put her back in fans’ good graces, and likely boost ticket sales. On the other hand, with a new baby and a divorce that has yet to be finalized, Janet could find herself possibly exposing too much too soon about the ups and downs of her marriage and motherhood. It might already be a wrap on her marriage, but I doubt cameras will do much to aid Janet and Wissam in co-parenting.

So far, Janet’s rep hasn’t commented on the story so we’re anxiously awaiting the final word on this news. If the Netflix series happens, will you watch?

The post Is It A Good Idea For Janet Jackson To Document Her Life After Divorce For A Netflix Series? appeared first on MadameNoire.

For as long as singer and songwriter Ne-Yo has been on the scene, how many times have you seen him without a hat on? Not many times, correct? Well, it’s time for you to get used to seeing the 37-year-old’s bald head, because he says that he’s done hiding it.

When speaking to Today this week, the World of Dance judge said that he’d been self-conscious about his receding hairline for a really long time. He started losing his hair at a young age. In fact, it’s something he got picked on pretty badly about in school. With that struggle in mind, he started wearing a hat, and as he made a name for himself, his hat collection grew into the thousands.

“My hat has been my crutch for a long time. My hair started thinning…when I was 11, 12, 13, and you know how mean school kids can be, so I was allowed to wear my cap in school because I got picked on so much.”

He continued, “So after a while, it just kinda became part of my face, to where I felt naked without it.”

And even just a few years ago, Ne-Yo was still being picked on about his hairline. He admitted that while working on George Lucas’s Red Tails (2012), it was something his co-stars playfully mocked him about.

But with time, maturity, fatherhood and marriage, he decided to give his crutch a break. With the new year, he wanted to have a new outlook on things, including the way he looked at himself. Ne-Yo decided to start doing the work to practice self-love, which is what he wasn’t giving himself in the past.

“I told myself 2017, it’s about self-love, it’s about confidence,” he said, “it’s about just living in who you are (sic) and loving it.”

And while this is a simple post about hair (or a lack thereof), I could respect that Ne-Yo’s decision to embrace it came from a conscious decision to practice self-love. That’s not something you hear a lot of men talk about or do, and it’s more necessary than we realize.

There’s a difference between a man practicing self-love and being self-absorbed. The latter can lead to cockiness, where one, dealing with feelings of inferiority, can lash out at others when they don’t get their way and make whatever they’re going through and dealing with the end all, be all. But when you genuinely have love for yourself, when you’re confident in yourself, it’s easier to love others and treat others well. It’s easier to be empathetic, caring and supportive of others. You can deal with rejection better (because you’re amazing, their loss!), you can show more affection, and when people talk about you, whether in jest or in spite, it can roll off of you better.

As Jackson Bliss of The Good Men Project put it brilliantly, “Promoting self-love in all people creates a positive ricochet of self-esteem, self-forgiveness, emotional communication, generosity and affection.” Basically, practicing self-love is good for not only ourselves, but everyone. And in Ne-Yo’s case, by practicing self-love, he could forgo the crutch he’d been attached to for years due to a fear of what other people thought. Whether we like him with or without a hat on, at this point, no longer matters to him. Such strides in the way we see ourselves in the context of how other people see us are worth celebrating. With self-love came a new sense of freedom and confidence for the singer, and it’s a reminder that it’s something we could all use more of.

Image via WENN 

The post Ne-Yo’s Done Hiding His Hairline Because He’s Practicing Self-Love — Here’s Why More Men Need To appeared first on MadameNoire.

Choose healthy tablemates

Find a quiet pool

Don’t only hit the buffet

Try the made-to-order stations

Have dessert once a day

Sneak breakfast items into your room

Be wary of the formal dinners

Hit the markets on land

Pack your day with activities

Treat the ship like walking grounds

Go rock-climbing

Check out the spa café

Join in on the meditation

Get off the boat

Avoid colorful cocktails

Save alcohol for nighttime

Take the fitness classes

Use the sports facilities

Ignore the 24-hour room service

Use the gym

The post How To Have A Fit Cruise Trip appeared first on MadameNoire.

In recent appearances on both “The Real” and “The Wendy Williams” show Tia Mowry has spoken about the potential for a “Sister Sister” reboot.

But in a recent interview with Nylon magazine, Tia confirmed that the revitalization of the show is indeed in the works.

“We’re looking, right now, for a producer and a writer, someone who can kind of be a leader of the pack in regards to running the show. I thought people would kind of be jumping on it, but it’s a lot harder than my sister and I thought it would be. Everything in my career has always been a challenge…We’re moving forward, we’re taking those strides. They’re slow strides, but we’re pushing as hard as we can to make people happy and make our fans happy.”

Well, this is good news. Any writers out there, hit Tia up so we can get this to our screens as soon as possible.

The post Tia Mowry Confirms A “Sister Sister” Reboot Is In The Works appeared first on MadameNoire.

Strawberries

Blackberries

Grapefruit

Raspberries

Cranberries

Peaches

Avocado

Papaya

Cantaloupe

Apples

The post Ditch The Grapes And Mangoes: Is Your Fruit Of Choice High In Sugar? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Anyone who tells you dating is fun hasn’t had to do it for very long — or they’re not looking for one partner. It’s exhausting getting your hopes up, or getting worked up to get your hopes up about a new prospect, only to find yourself still single and, now, even more tired.

It’s a hamster wheel LeToya Luckett is more than ready to get off of. The singer will make an appearance on the season finale of “The Book of John Gray” this Saturday and during the episode she talks to John’s wife, Aventer, about her love life, which we know has had more than a few bumps in the road. After dating for one year, LeToya and Rob Hill Sr. got engaged in 2015. But just two months after their private wedding in January 2016 they called it quits. Prior to that, the Houston, Texas native was involved in an on-again-off-again relationship with rapper Slim Thug for 10 years, which is why when she appeared on The Breakfast Club last month she said, in terms of her romantic past, “I’d rather not go backwards…I’m all for forward movement.” But asked how her heart is now by Aventer, LeToya replied “It’s complicated,” explaining that it’s hard watching all of her friends get married. Put plainly, “It sucks,” she said.

“I’m tired of the runaround, the rigmarole; It’s just not working out.”

When Aventer advised she not lose heart because sometimes”We get in a slump and then we start acting like the slump,” LeToya unconvincingly told her, “I still believe in love and stuff.” Asked one final time about her heart, the 36 year old shared: “It’s trying not to grow cold.”

Perseverance is, perhaps, what really makes dating so hard. Sure, heartbreak and disappointment are painful, but most people don’t lose hope that someone is out there. They lose the will to seek that person out because, like LeToya, they’re tired of the runaround. And like she said, it doesn’t help when everyone else is getting married and doesn’t seem to have to put in as much work as you. Keshia only kissed 23 frogs and she got a ring; you’re on frog number 56. What’s that’ about?!

Aventer advised LeToya talk to her pastor husband, a piece of advice she clearly isn’t sure whether she wants to heed. We’ll have to tune in Saturday at 10 PM EST on OWN to see if LeToya really does talk to John about her relationship issues and what, if any, conclusions she comes to. But what do you do when you find yourself tired of doing this thing called life alone? What would you advise LeToya to do?

The post What Do You Do When You’re Sick Of Doing This Thing Called Life Alone? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Credit: South Africa Tourism

For many, Africa is a dream travel destination, but foreign perceptions and assumptions of expense deter many from making their way to the motherland, favoring the Caribbean and Europe over the distant locale. Many Africans are aware of the barriers standing in the way of the economic boost tourism could bring to the continent, and in South Africa all hands are on deck to make the country one of the top 20 tourist destinations in the world.

“We want Africa to be special; We want those who come to Africa to feel like they don’t want to go back,” said the President of South Africa, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, speaking at the opening ceremony of Indaba, Africa’s largest trade travel show, held in Durban May 16-19. President Zuma, along with his cabinet, have mapped out a plan to do just that.

President Zuma; Credit: South African Tourism

The first step was the announcement of the launch of a new national campaign, “We Do Tourism,” which President Zuma said,
“Encourages each and every African to do their part.” Predicated on the belief that “tourism is everybody’s business,” the campaign seeks to remind everyone, from cab drivers to street performers to business owners, that they play a role in achieving the government’s goal of attracting 5 million international and domestic tourists to the country within the next five years.

The goal is a lofty one. While travel to South Africa is growing at twice the rate of the global average — there’s been a 13% increase of international visitors to South Africa since 2016 — these arrivals represent only 1% of the 1 billion annual global travelers, President Zuma explained. The opportunity, however, is immense. In 2015, tourism brought in 375 billion Rand and now supports more than 1.5 million jobs in total. By 2026, the nation wants tourism to support more than 2.2 million jobs.

“We can turn around the economy of South Africa,” assured Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa.

Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa; Credit: South Africa Tourism

One of the ways the leadership plans to do that is by targeting Black entrepreneurs to grow the new travel markets South Africa will be investing in in the Middle East and Asia — a remark that received a bustling round of applause from the audience. There are currently only 90 Black-owned tourism businesses from the nine provinces in South Africa.

“During apartheid, Black people were actively disengaged from the economy. They couldn’t own anything around them,” CEO of Tourism Sisa Ntshona explained. “Post-democracy, we’re saying, how do you bring more players into the game?”

The answer, leaders have determined, is by having a variety of offerings that allow every citizen — including women and children, President Zuma noted, to get involved. This includes rural tourism experiences and even homestays which are becoming increasingly higher in demand. People are saying, “I want to live like an authentic South African,” Ntshona said. “I want to be hosted in their home, I want to eat their food, I want to immerse myself in them.”

CEO of Tourism Sisa Ntshona; Credit: South Africa Tourism

Investments are also being made in the area of transportation, not only to make international travel to Africa more seamless but to encourage more domestic travel, which has been on the decline in South Africa.

“Africans must explore their continent as well,” President Zuma stated boldly as he saluted a young South African woman in the audience embarking on her second journey across the continent. 

With traditional economic sectors experiencing challenges, tourism is the diversification opportunity the people of South Africa need. As President Zuma told the audience of the government’s determination to move forward in the business of tourism, “Tourism has the potential to change people’s lives.”

The post We Do Tourism: South Africa Targeting Black Entrepreneurs To Become A Top 20 Travel Destination appeared first on MadameNoire.

We’re living in some scary times. You know there is cause for concern when freedom of the press, free speech and even high level government investigators are being threatened and coerced into silence.

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation and professor of Black Studies at Princeton University is the latest victim of this plot, though she is not going out quietly.

While the book alone might have caused Taylor to be the subject of hate, most of these misogynistic bigots don’t read. They do watch videos and it was one from Taylor’s commencement speech at Hampshire College, in Amherst, Massachusetts that put her on Fox News’ radar.

During the speech, she cautioned the graduates about the world in which they were about to enter, a world where Donald Trump is President of the United States of America.

You are graduating into a world of uncertainty and one that is increasingly dangerous. These dangers manifest themselves in a variety of ways. Perhaps, the most extreme illustration now resides in the White House. The president of the United States, the most powerful politician in the world, is a racist, sexist, megalomaniac. It is not a benign observation, but has meant tragic consequences for many people in this country.

From the terror-inducing raids in the communities of undocumented immigrants, to his disparaging of refugees in search of freedom and respite. He has empowered an attorney general who embraces and promulgates policies that have already been proven to have a devastating impact on black families and communities.

He thinks that climate science is fake. And his eagerness to take the country into war can only be interpreted as a callous disregard for its steep price in both money and human life. This list could continue, but suffice to say that Donald Trump has fulfilled the campaign promises of a campaign organized and built upon racism, corporatism and militarism.

You can watch the full speech in the video above.

Looks about actual and factual to me.

Still, after Fox News posted the video of the speech, presumably to incite ire, Taylor became the recipient of death threats. And not just to herself but to her family as well.

As a result, Taylor decided to cancel her upcoming appearances and released this statement via the Haymarket Books’ Facebook page.

You can read the full thing below.

“Concerning my public talks this week:

It is with great regret that I have decided to cancel my public lectures scheduled at Seattle’s Town Hall and at the University of California, San Diego this week. I am canceling my appearances for fear of my safety and my family’s safety. Since last Friday, I have received more than fifty hate-filled and threatening emails. Some of these emails have contained specific threats of violence, including murder. Earlier this month, I delivered the commencement address at Hampshire College’s graduation ceremony. My speech at Hampshire was applauded but Fox News did not like it. Last week, the network ran a story on my speech, describing it as an “anti-POTUS tirade.” Fox ran an online story about my speech and created a separate video of excerpts of my speech, which included my warning to graduates about the world they were graduating into. I argued that Donald Trump, the most powerful politician in the world, is “a racist and sexist megalomaniac,” who poses a threat to their future. Shortly after the Fox story and video were published, my work email was inundated with vile and violent statements. I have been repeatedly called “nigger,” “bitch,” “cunt,” “dyke,” “she-male,” and “coon” — a clear reminder that racial violence is closely aligned with gender and sexual violence. I have been threatened with lynching and having the bullet from a .44 Magnum put in my head. I am not a newsworthy person. Fox did not run this story because it was “news,” but to incite and unleash the mob-like mentality of its fringe audience, anticipating that they would respond with a deluge of hate-filled emails — or worse. The threat of violence, whether it is implied or acted on, is intended to intimidate and to silence.

In some sense, then, they have been successful. In the last few weeks, white racists have committed heinous acts of violence. On May 20, a white “alt-Right” sympathizer, Sean Urbanski, murdered an African-American Bowie State University student, Richard Collins III, on the campus of the University of Maryland. Urbanski was a member of a Facebook group called “Alt-Reich: Nation.” And just this past weekend, a white supremacist in Portland, Oregon, murdered two men and attempted to murder another, when all three stepped in to stop an Islamophobic and racist attack on two young women riding public transit. President Donald Trump finally decided to release a half-hearted and subdued tweet to oppose the murders in Portland, but with not nearly the same vigor he has used to incite his base against immigrants, while also whipping up anti-Muslim hysteria. The lethargy of the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security in responding to the actual threat of white supremacist, terrorist violence encourages the development of its networks and organizations across the country. The cancelation of my speaking events is a concession to the violent intimidation that was, in my opinion, provoked by Fox News. But I am releasing this statement to say that I will not be silent. Their side uses the threat of violence and intimidation because they cannot compete in the field of politics, ideas, and organizing. The true strength of our side has not yet been expressed in its size and breadth, and so they believe they are winning. We have to change this dynamic and begin to build a massive movement against racism, sexism, and bigotry in this country. I remain undaunted in my commitment to that project.”

The post Author & Professor Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor Receives Death Threats After Criticizing Trump In Commencement Speech appeared first on MadameNoire.

Kris Humphries

James Harden

James Harden said he was at the game tonight, but I saw him with Khloe Kardashian tonight #BowwowChallenge pic.twitter.com/K2khYktO3R

— the nba sucks now (@EliMac2) May 12, 2017

TJ and Taryll Jackson

Lamar Odom

Reggie Bush

Scott Disick

Miles Austin

pic.twitter.com/MBhgV3XlbJ

— miles austin (@MilesAustinIII) May 21, 2016

Derrick Ward

Uncle Jesse and I on set!!! #FullerHouse #JohnStamos pic.twitter.com/LzYzmS0Inn

— Derrick Ward (@derrickward32) November 6, 2015

Damon Thomas

French Montana

Gabriel Aubry

The post Where Are They Now? Get Out Edition: The Kardashian Exes appeared first on MadameNoire.

For anyone who has been paying attention to the media the past few days, interviews of Lebron James have been omnipresent. But it’s not questions about how he feels going against giants Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry to defend his Championship NBA title that he’s fielding. He’s been responding to questions about his Los Angeles home being vandalized with a racial slur.

At a news conference, LeBron says:

“No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you, being Black in America is tough. We have got a long way to go as a society and for us as African Americans, until we feel equal in America.” Then he adds, “Obviously, you see I’m not my normal energetic self. It will pass. That’s fine. I’m figuring it out. I’m thinking about my kids a lot.”

It’s interesting because every time I see his response, I’m left a little unsettled. I mean, okay, I get it, being Black in America is tantamount to being a space alien. Tough can’t even begin to describe our day-to-day. And obviously, it’s not cool to see LeBron or anyone’s home being vandalized by some racist cowards. But, the more I saw the footage of LeBron on the verge of tears it finally hit me. Wait a minute, You’re m-therf-cking LeBron James! You’re the same one who rose up from the ashes of poverty in Akron’s inner City. The same LeBron who left a cushy gig with the Miami Heat to return to Cleveland to bring home a Championship title. MAN UP.

What I would’ve loved to hear out of his mouth is, ‘This is some distracting bullsh-t designed to knock me off my game. Next question.” Seriously, LeBron, the first game of finals in tonight and this is how you’re spending your time?

If you’re worried about your kids get them a bodyguard. And while it’s true that no Black kid is safe in America, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that your kids are significantly less vulnerable than the majority of African American kids in this country, so let’s keep it in perspective. This vandalism was likely done by some ignorant, jealous white person/s  who wish they had a fraction of what you have. They wish they could do what you have done. So what do they do? They spray paint your home with a racial slur like cowards in the night. They distract you by reminding you that there’s no equality for a Black man in America. And sadly, it appears to have worked because we’re watching what appears to be a defeated LeBron.

I guess, if anything, what this incident and LeBron’s response to it shows is not that there’s no equality for Black people in America. That’s a given. What is does show is how easily we all, King James included, get distracted by race. It’s the easiest way to knock a person down. And it’s happening to so many of us on a daily basis. Race has America by the balls, due in-part to the encouragement of our current president and his racist administration. But the question is what are we going to do about it? Are we going to pout about the inequalities that have existed since enslavement or are we going to stay on top of our game? Because the truth is people don’t come for people who ain’t doing sh-t. We’re obviously doing something right.

So let’s hope LeBron James figures this out by game time.

The post What I Wish LeBron James Would’ve Said After His Home Was Vandalized With A Racial Slur appeared first on MadameNoire.

The closest we’ve had to a Black woman portraying one of Charlie’s Angels was Destiny’s Child singing “Independent Women Pt. 1” for the soundtrack back in 2000.

But seventeen years later, that may be changing.

According to industry publication, The Tracking Board, Sony has hired the two men behind “Narcos,” Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard to rewrite the Charlie’s Angels script.

The new movie is said to be directed by Elizabeth Banks, the woman who directed Pitch Perfect 2.

Many of us know the story. It follows three women detectives and their male sidekick Bosley who solve cases for their unidentified benefactor and boss Charlie.

The roles originated with Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith and we all remember when Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu.

According to The Tracking Board, folks want one of the angels to be Black.

And one of the Black girls at the top of their wishlist is Janelle Monae.

But to be clear, we’re a long way away from that being a reality. After all, casting hasn’t begun and the script hasn’t even been written.

Honestly, whether it’s Janelle or another Black girl, we’re happy to see a Black woman in this position. Hopefully, the others will be occupied by a Latinx, and hopefully another woman of color.

Let’s just shake it all the way up.

Are you here for the Charlie’s Angels remake?

The post Janelle Monae In The Running To Be The Next Charlie’s Angel appeared first on MadameNoire.

During an interview with Eurosports at the French Open, Venus Williams referred to little sister Serena’s unborn child as “she.” That had all of us thinking that, as many stars do, she had slipped up and revealed the gender of her niece. However, Serena Williams is now saying that despite what Venus said, her sisters don’t know what she is having and neither does she. It’s all going to be a surprise.

Instead, when she wants something from her sisters, she names the baby after them and does the same when speaking to her husband-to-be, Alexis, and her father.

As Serena put it, “I think the surprise of knowing what you are going to have on that very special day you give birth is prob the best surprise you can ever have! To clarify what Venus said, I am always joking with my sisters to see what favors I can get them to do do [sic] for me next. If I want something from one of my sisters I say baby Venus baby Lyn, or Baby Isha needs it. I did not grow up with any brothers, only sisters and we all say ‘she’ more than ‘he.'”

We’ll see though. Venus did sound pretty confident in what she was saying.

“She’s going to call me ‘favorite aunt,'” Venus said during the interview. “We’re all like, ‘Baby V, baby Lyn, baby Isha.’ We all want the baby to be named after us.”

Serena, who is now more than six months pregnant, was present when Venus was talking about the baby, but was sitting in the stands and couldn’t hear the interview. While she obviously can’t play right now, Serena was present at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris to cheer her big sister on during the tennis tournament. Venus ended up winning her match, beating Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-3, 6-1 in the second round. But it was the intel on baby Ohanian that made the news and had people talking. Venus is set to play Belgian tennis star Elise Mertens tomorrow.

The post Serena Williams Says No One Knows Baby’s Sex After Venus’s Gender Revelation, Not Even Her appeared first on MadameNoire.

You know they say the Lord works in mysterious ways and that he can do anything but fail. While LeBron says racism will always be a part of our world, it’s no longer a factor for this self-proclaimed former racist.

And to prove that s/he had really been healed and delivered from this affliction, s/he decided to put some money behind it. The person, who kept their identity hidden sent a $2,000 donation to the Nicholtown Presbyterian Church, a predominately Black church in Greenville, South Carolina.

The letter said:

“Dear Sir or Madam:

Please accept this $2,000 donation to Nicholtown Presbyterian Church. I send it for two reasons:

1. First, I am white and used to be a terrible racist. Thanks to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, acting through the Presbyterian Church, I have been cleansed of that. Due to Christ’s teachings, I am appalled at my former thoughts and words. I send this donation as a heartfelt apology to the African American community, as a sign of God’s love for you, and as a sign of my love for you as well.

2. Second, if you were ever looking for proof that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are alive and well today and that miracles, just as in Biblical times, still happen today, this is it! It is thanks to Jesus and the Holy Spirit alone that I have been cleansed of my former racism. Apart from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, acting through the Presbyterian Church, this transformation never would have happened.

So please use this donation for any purpose you see fit…May God bless you.”

Rev. Michael Sullivan told Fox Carolina that he still gets goosebumps when he reads the letter and said that some of it will be used to start new youth programs in the area.

Sullivan had his own message for the donor.

“Just letting them know, that they are loved. I think that’s what we really need to do more-share the love of God.”

Beverly Kelly, pastor of Mattoon Presbyterian Church, told the Greenville News that the donation came at the perfect time. She said she was in the process of requesting a grant from the church to supplement a program that would transport children to and from church on Sundays and provide them breakfast.

Kelly said, “It’s like a miracle. That mission has been something from Sunday to Sunday, and we always find some way to feed them. I would like to meet and have a conversation with someone who had made such a change and be able to thank them in person.”

You can watch the full news story in the video below.

Image via BigStockPhoto

The post Former Racist Donates $2000 To Predominately Black Church As A Form Of Apology appeared first on MadameNoire.

Earlier this week, there was a bit of talk about Usher. No, as far as I know he doesn’t have any new music coming out. No, he hasn’t split from wife and manager, Grace Miguel. Instead, people were talking about him because of video that was taken of him dancing with women in Las Vegas.

The videos were of the “No Limit” singer hosting a pool party in Las Vegas where there were quite a few women vying for his attention. One of those bikini-adorned women was a young woman named Alexis Skyy, the former flame of rapper Fetty Wap (remember him?) and new star of Love and Hip Hop Hollywood. At one point, she turned around and, as the young kids say, “twerked” on the 38-year-old father of two. But Usher handled the situation well, allowing her to dance with him but not get too close. And as further video was taken, you could see the singer standing as far away as he could from a group of women dropping it low in a circle, including former LHHH star Hazel E. (There was a liquid-pouring-on-the-booty moment that he could have avoided, but such is life…I guess.)

However, that didn’t stop everyone who shared the video and wrote about it from giving Usher the side-eye. Headlines read, “Usher Forgot He Was married Lets Alexis Skyy Twerk On Him At Vegas Pool Party,” and “Love And Hip Hop’s Alexis Skyy Was Caught…Rubbing Her Booty All Over R&B Singer Usher…And Usher Looks Real Excited!!!”

Now that’s petty. But it did create a conversation about what type of dancing and behavior is acceptable for married people. Granted, Usher is a performer at all times, so the restraint that was used in the situation, for someone like him, was pretty good. And I’m sure Grace Miguel is not somewhere chewing him out. This is a guy who has to play romantic with countless women in his music videos, dances on women on stage (and lets them dance on him) and is still considered a sex symbol. A little dancing likely means nothing. But for everyday Joe Schmoes, when is a little fun a little too much?

If you’re at a lounge, a party, or, say, a strip club, the likelihood of a dance that others might find risque is likely. Just last year I wrote an Is This Petty? about a friend’s male BFF who was chewed out by his fianceé at their joint bachelor/bachelorette outing at a strip club for getting a lapdance from a stripper. While he didn’t ask the woman to dance on him (the woman was instructed to dance for him, the groom-to-be, because a female party goer wasn’t interested in the dancer’s request to drop it low for her), he did allow her to dance on him. All hell broke loose after that.

But I’ve read about people who don’t like when their husband or wife dance with other people in general. This is even the case when they’re not at a function together. And dancing close, as in grinding? It’s a hell no for many. As one woman put it on a Wedding Bee forum, “I think I would vom if I saw my FI  grinding with another woman and dancing in another very intimate/sexual way.  I don’t even like to do that with him in public.  I would have felt the same when we were ‘just’ dating as well.”

But there are people who say there is no need to be so uptight. For instance, in response to the Usher video, a man wrote this on YouTube in response to people’s comments about Usher’s dance with Skyy being inappropriate:

“I am happily married and when I go clubbing I get to dance with random girls and it doesn’t mean I’m cheating or disrespecting my woman. If that’s the case, every and anyone that’s married must not look at the opposite sex twice in admiration, hug the opposite sex, dance with the opposite sex, have the opposite sex as friend and the list goes on, because you’re married doesn’t mean you’re in jail. You can still have fun and a good time while you’re married and I don’t mean sticking your d–k in fanny. It’s 2017 grandma.”

Hilarious.

I think it also depends on trust levels. I’ve watched my husband dance with another woman while we’ve been out together, and I’m sure he dances with other women while out with friends when I’m not around. But I trust and believe (because I don’t have the extra energy to worry) that that’s all it is — a quick dance. And I also trust and believe that he knows not to take things to an inappropriate level. That’s not even his style.

When I’m out with girlfriends, I prefer to dance by myself. But if a man comes up and wants to two-step with me (I don’t allow grinding), I don’t make a big deal out of it. At the end of the day, the person doing the dancing has to know what they’re there for. I go out with friends to dance. My husband goes out with friends to talk about politics, drink, and dance to a good Nigerian tune. Usher was at that pool party to entertain. The only people who need to understand that are the spouses, and when they really do, there’s no need to set rules about what you can and can’t do on the dance floor because you should already know how to conduct yourself. With that being said, dance on…

But as always, that’s just my opinion. What say you? Is it petty to get upset about your spouse or significant other dancing with someone else, especially if it’s in a sexual manner? 

Images via Getty and WENN

The post Is This Petty? A Married Usher Let A Woman Twerk On Him And People Were Pissed appeared first on MadameNoire.

There was a scary situation aboard a Delta flight this morning when Brandy passed out before takeoff.

According to TMZ, the singer was on a Delta flight from LAX to JFK early this morning and lost consciousness. Passengers and flight attendants reportedly began trying to help her before the L.A. City Fire Dept. and paramedics arrived on the scene and removed Brandy from the plane. Thankfully, the 38-year-old regained full consciousness while being treated on the jetway and afterward was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

Details are scarce, as the story is still developing, but we’re hoping this is nothing more than a case of dehydration or exhaustion. Given the rumor that Brandy may also be pregnant, it’s possible she’s simply fatigued from the stress carrying a baby is putting on her body, especially with traveling so much. Tomorrow, Brandy and her mother are slated to appear at the Atlanta Ultimate Woman’s Expo which would be quite a lot of travel within a 24-hour period.

We’ll keep you posted as we learn new info.

The post Brandy Rushed To Hospital After Losing Consciousness On A Flight appeared first on MadameNoire.

my 5 year old cousin insisted on designing her own dress for her pre-k graduation. i’m so proud of her levels of EXTRA. pic.twitter.com/qDLumVxSfT

— " class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />ASH LEÓN" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> (@theAshLeon) May 22, 2017

That's what I'm talking about! " class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> pic.twitter.com/4kjBUEXUkP

— smiley (@lukesskywalker_) May 23, 2017

pic.twitter.com/wZOGWNbYR5

— Proud Cousin (@cybil_bibble) May 23, 2017

Keep this baby inspired!!!

— ❤️ (@_QueenTM) May 23, 2017

That baby said, "What I won't do, is be basic." #BlackGirlMagic #BrownGirlDreaming #DreamBigLittleOne

— Mrs. Foulkes (@teacherkeish) May 31, 2017

pic.twitter.com/Ce6w3Ovci0

— Felicia (@Helloimfelicia_) May 24, 2017

pic.twitter.com/DzALt6eL5F

— Sunshine (@ihopshortstack_) May 23, 2017

I fucks with the vision

— Kyrell (@MistroMaximus) May 23, 2017

I would wear her design. ❤

— ElviaRO (@ElviaRO) May 23, 2017

Ok she out here exhibiting black excellence. Hell I was just smart enough not to eat boogers and shit " class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />

— Iron Hussy (@BANKSdontSHADE) May 24, 2017

The post Young, Gifted & Black: 5 Year Old Designs Her Pre-K Graduation Dress appeared first on MadameNoire.

The subject of Phaedra Parks allegedly keeping her kids from her sorta-kinda ex-husband Apollo Nida is a contentious one. I say sorta-kinda ex-husband because although the pair’s divorce was finalized last July, a judge reversed the judgement this past March. As Us Weekly explained:

At the time of the judgment’s reversal, TMZ cited a judge’s concerns that Parks had misspelled Nida’s last name, that Nida had been unable to attend divorce hearings he was led to believe he could attend, that he had not been informed of the final hearing and also had not been served with finalized divorce papers.

On top of these allegations, as you know, Apollo has also complained that Phaedra has kept his sons, Ayden, 7, and Dylan, 4, from him since he entered prison. It’s not a claim Phaedra denies outright, though in her latest interview with Us Weekly, she said “when he calls, obviously we answer.” But right now, Phaedra said Apollo isn’t allowed to have visitors or even calls because he’s in solitary confinement. Asked whether she might take her boys to see their dad when he’s no longer in solitary, the reality star said it’s a “possibility.”

“When Apollo left Dylan was barely a year old so he doesn’t really have the recollection of Apollo like Ayden has, Phaedra said, explaining her sons’ current relationship with their dad. “Ayden of course has very fond memories of his father so he realizes that he’s in New Jersey, but as far as specifically, Apollo told them, but I don’t think they appreciate really what being incarcerated means, and of course because they are at such a tender age, that’s not something I’m really honing in on.”

The rumor is that Apollo was taken into solitary confinement after he was caught with a cell phone in prison. If Phaedra didn’t take her kids to see their dad before then I doubt the “possibility” of her taking them now is very high. But regardless of what she chooses regarding her boys in the future, right now, Phaedra said is focused on finally finalizing her divorce.

“Of course it’s very frustrating, it’s very expensive, it’s very emotionally draining and quite time consuming,” she said of having to go through the process again. “It’s a very difficult process and it’s unfortunate that it was overturned but it is what it is and so I’ll go through the process again and we’ll see what happens this time. Hopefully it won’t take as long as it did the first time.”

Now that her boys are older, should Phaedra take them to see Apollo when he’s out of solitary confinement?

Photo: Getty

The post It’s A “Possibility” Phaedra Might Take Kids To See Apollo When He’s Out Of Solitary Confinement; Should She? appeared first on MadameNoire.

You can’t help but notice the tension between Donald Trump and his wife Melania. There’s nothing subtle about it. After all, this was the same woman who looked like she wanted to weep at the Inauguration, the same woman who literally swatted her husband’s hand away as he tried to grab hers. We wrote a whole slideshow about it. That’s how often her disgust for him is visible.

I know I wondered what the hell was going on. I mean yes, being married to Donald Trump must seem like torture. But it’s a job she signed up for, as far as we know. So why can’t she fake the funk in public like all the other dissatisfied wives out there?

Well, writer, activist and TED Talk speaker, Monica Byrne has a story. Unfortunately, while Byrne can’t reveal her source, it sounds more plausible than a little bit.

She shared this bit of knowledge and asked journalists to do some digging of their own to validate her claims.

Check it.

Talk about mess.

But I can’t be the only one who finds this story quite probable. After all, it provides the perfect explanation as to why she refused to leave NYC, a decision that is costing the American people millions of dollars. Wouldn’t it be something to find out we’re paying for all of this just so Melania be in close proximity to her side dude? And I don’t say that to diminish his role in her life. There’s probably a good chance that she’s in love with him. I mean, she’s willing to walk away from Trump and his fortune to be with him.

What do you make this story? Do you believe it?

The post Do You Believe This Story About Why Melania Trump Looks So Miserable With Her Husband? appeared first on MadameNoire.

So it’s no longer May, which was National Physical Fitness and Sports Month as well as Women’s Health Month. However, we had so much doing Fitness Fridays. It’s been a treat to profile Black women who have transformed their bodies and health and are showing thousands of other women how to do the same through their social media platforms. Therefore, we’re going to keep it going.

With that being said, meet Anowa Adjah. She’s known as being the “first full-figured fitness phenomenon” because of the fact that while she’s over 200 pounds (and 5’10”), she’s all muscle. Oh, and a lot of curve. Through hard work and a very protein-centered diet, Adjah has been able to “lose the gut and keep the butt.” She’s showing other women how to do that with her workout videos, nearly 250,000 followers on Instagram and fitness challenges. On June 5 she’s starting a new 21-day challenge that thousands of women have already signed up for (more on that below). She manages to do all of this, and train extensively, while balancing being the mother of 4-year-old twin boys. We talked to her about her fitness journey, working to get her body back after her C-section and the advice she has for fellow mothers trying to work out while focusing on parenthood and career.

MadameNoire: How long has fitness been important to you? Have you been an athlete most of your life or is it something you made a priority after having children?

Anowa Adjah: Well, I was blessed. I was surrounded by fitness. My mother was a former athlete. She was a gym rat, so I learned how to be active and be healthy from my mother. Unfortunately, she got pregnant when she was going to try out for the Nigerian Olympic track team. So fitness runs in my family. Every single one of my siblings — I have one brother and two sisters who are all athletes. We were all athletes. I played basketball, I did track and field, I did field hockey, and I also was a dancer. My parents were very forthright with having us involved in those type of activities and I’m very grateful.

I was reading that you were worried about how your body would bounce back after having your twins via C-section. So what was the process for you during and after pregnancy to get back to where you wanted to be?

I’m going to be honest with you. I admire all these people who have a quick snapback [laughs]. But for me, I was carrying twins. So after my fourth month pregnant, I decided to — and at that moment I had just finished shooting my first DVD workout series. I remember right after that I wasn’t feeling too great. So I made the decision not to train or do anything too strenuous for the rest of my pregnancy. I did regular cardio, but I didn’t do too much during the pregnancy. After I had my sons, I got clearance to work out at eight weeks. I waited it out to about nine weeks to start training and I started really slow. I engaged in a lot of cardio activity. I did treadmill, Stairmaster — I just tried to shed the fat off first. It wasn’t really about weightlifting at first. Because after you have a pregnancy, and especially with me having the C-section, I had to be very careful with some of the exercises I would do because I didn’t want to reopen the incision or put myself in a bad situation. So I really eased my way back into the gym. That’s how I started. As far as what I was eating, I was breastfeeding also at the time with supplements and everything else. I had to eat. It was a process. I shed the weight but my abdominal region was a whole other monster. It’s easier for the uterus to go back to it’s normal size when you give birth vaginally. But with a C-section, it’s an abdominal surgery, so that process is a lot more grueling and it takes time. You’re basically trying to heal and recover while also shrinking that uterus back to size.

Although I was exercising and shedding weight, it took some time for my abdominal region to somewhat look normal. And even from that, I had a hernia, I had abdominal separation, so I knew at that moment, I couldn’t do basic exercises and do what I’d done before to get back in shape. This was a completely different monster. And so, through that, I just started to do my research about people with similar conditions and I just started to test out exercises to see if I could fix the issue myself. Because my doctors told me I would need surgery. And through that process I sort of got it down and I created “Lose the Butt, Keep the Gutt,” which was my third workout DVD series and it was very helpful. But there’s this hype now about a resurgence and explosion of women who have a snapback within weeks of having babies. That’s very unrealistic for many other women. If this is your first pregnancy, some women they snapback because they’re younger. But people need to take into account the very different circumstances they’re in. There’s age, which is a factor. There’s of course prior health history, the type of birth you had, multiples — there’s so many things that play a factor. I was in the best shape of my life at the moment, I was an athlete, and I struggled. It took some time for me to get back into shape. But through me having that experience, which was very humbling, I learned a lot about my body. I also learned a lot about how I can also help other women in their journey of having children.

What kind of meals do you consume? It has to be hard when you raise kids and you have them to keep in mind but you have your own diet you want to keep in check.

I do a high-protein, low-carb diet. I’m very big on toning and muscle development and sculpting the body, not just shedding unhealthy fat. With so many people now, there’s these crazes, these cleanses they can do within weeks to shed the fat. However, they’re shedding the fat while losing elasticity because they’re not training those muscles. So what I learned is that by having a high-protein diet, it also helps with muscle development and muscle growth. With my diet, I eat more fish than of course regular meat, and I eat a lot of leafy greens. Nuts. Sometimes I eat some vegan things but people also need to remind themselves, because I think people automatically think that because something is vegan it’s healthy, but not everything that’s vegan means it’s healthy in terms of what your goals might be. There are things that are vegan that are high in calories, so you have to just do your research. So that’s what I do, and I’m very adamant about consuming protein within a designated amount of time. I always tell my challengers or clients, eating every two to three hours is important in quickening your metabolism, which is going to help for a higher calorie burn and greater weight loss. So that’s the diet that I practice and it’s been effective for many people. I promote curves and embracing yourself, but I also embrace health. With that muscle growth, you’re still able to sustain your figure, but it’s a healthier version of you.

So how have you been able to “Lose the gut and keep the butt” as your merchandise says? Because a lot of people want to get in shape but don’t want to lose their curves.

It’s about being informed. I’m doing my research as a fitness professional. And the way I’ve designated these exercises, it really attacks the fat. But at the same time, I also address building the muscle. I’m very big on legs. A large amount of my exercises will be contingent upon lower body exercise. I’m also a huge fan of HIIT. I’m a huge fan of burning the highest amount of calories in the lowest amount of time. Also, I always try to tell women, “Look at a sprinter’s body and look at a long-distance runner.” And then they’re like, “Oooh.” They’re getting it. I’m not totally against the long-winded cardio because if you’re trying to lose a large amount of weight, you definitely want to incorporate that style. And HIIT is not the ideal exercise for someone who’s 300 pounds. But I’m definitely not against HIIT for people trying to shed 15 to 20 pounds. And for women trying to push themselves a little more, I’m a fan of that. You’ll see greater results.

Can you give me your top three strength moves?

People are going to hate me: Burpees. Burpees are a total body workout. They’re a cardiovascular monster! I’m a huge squat girl. And I can definitely say right now that I’m huge on core, so I’m really big on planks. If you just do those three moves repeatedly for a workout, I swear to God, it will feel like you worked your butt off [laughs]. But you did work your entire body.

Tell us more about your upcoming 21-day challenge!

“It’s going to challenge you, it’s going to push you. I always say to participants, “Think about the one thing you’ve always wanted. They think about. Then I say to them, “How hard was it to get it?” That’s life. This is not going to be a walk in the park. That’s why so many of these fad diets where people shed weight in a dramatic amount of time end up gaining it back. It’s not teaching you how to change your life, it’s just telling you that you can do this and get this in this amount of time. Quicker results! But think about it. There’s nothing in life that’s easy. There’s always a cost to everything that you do. So my program is very big on that, especially with these challenges.

When people gain a lot of weight or have a lot of weight on them, a lot of the time it’s traumatic. There’s something that has gone on that’s caused them to emotionally attach themselves to food. I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve always believed that by getting to the root of those issues and addressing them, it helps prevent people from relapsing, teaches people to appreciate their life and their body and appreciate the process to obtain it. So, I challenge you, I push you, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because if you really want this body, you’re going to push yourself more and you’re going to appreciate it more and not want to go back to that place.

How have you been able to juggle training others, working, working out, doing these challenges and videos and being a mom of two? 

I’m going to give people this piece of advice that my therapist gave me [laughs]. I remember I was just overwhelmed. I had the babies, everything, I was telling myself, “I just gotta get it done.” And I sat down with a therapist and he said to me, “You’ve got a lot going on. Your life, whether you realize it or not, whether you accept it or not, is stress induced. It’s because you have such a demanding life.” And he encouraged me. He said, “With your life, you need to have an outlet almost every week. You need to treat yourself every week to balance that out.” So what I do now is pretty much this: Moms, we create the order of how we would like our day to go. But if something is thrown off because of something with the kids, there has to be a level of acceptance that children are very unpredictable, having kids is unpredictable. So you sort of have to just rock with it and go with the flow. With my business, I’m an entrepreneur, so I don’t normally have the 9 to 5 sometimes. But what I’ve learned to do now is draw out pockets of time where I can not work and not even address things. I have business partners overseas and sometimes they hit me on a Saturday. I know there are emergency situations and once in a while you address them, but I’ve said to them, “Listen, let me handle what I need to handle during the week because on the weekends I have to shut down.” Women have to allow themselves a minute to shut down. I think that so many times we’re like, “Oh I have to get this done!” No, not really. There are things we can always put off until a better time. I’ve learned to organize my life a lot better and really reassess my priority list. What can be done the next day? Does this have to be done today? Does this have to be done with my children? And taking young children out while you’re trying to handle business is a stressor. So I also encourage a lot of women to handle a lot of the responsibilities that they can without their kids so they can think with a clear mind and be able to fully address and focus on your children.

I believe that having that block of time where you’re pampering yourself or giving yourself a moment is necessary. I used to just sit in Starbucks with my green tea and look out into the sky. That was so peaceful for me. Those moments are extremely important for moms and I don’t want them to apologize for those moments because your children need you whole.

Follow Anowa Adjah on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and visit her website, anowaadjah.com. Check out our other Fitness Friday profiles here.

Images courtesy of Anowa Adjah

The post Fitness Fridays: Anowa Adjah On Fitness After Having Twins And Being 200 Pounds Of Muscle appeared first on MadameNoire.