7 Things To Know About Slick Woods - The Face Of Fenty Beauty
In a world cluttered by cookie-cutter models and photo-shopped layouts, emerging model Slick Woods is a breath of fresh air.
Her gap-tooth grin, bald head and tattoos serve a new kind of sexy that transcends gender and style preference. This new androgynous archetype is proving that femininity is flexible and defined by the woman herself. Discovered just two years ago, Slick has had a whirlwind career shooting exclusive campaigns for Calvin Klein, gracing the 2018 Pirelli calendar, and making her film debut next year as the star of Vice Film's Goldie. She was also pegged by Vogue as the face of the new American style.
Her latest role tops it all as she's been named the face of Fenty Beauty by Ms. Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty herself. Tonight at midnight, the latest shade from Fenty's matte lip line, Stunna, drops and it's time we honored the fierce woman behind the brand's latest campaign. Slick is leaving her mark in an industry fraught with amorphous stereotypes and we're here for it.
Get to know Slick Woods and thank us later.
1. She Started From the Bottom
"BLEED FOR YOUR F**KING DREAM...," Slick wrote in one Instagram post earlier this month. The 21-year-old says that she couldn't hold a job longer than a week and modeling literally saved her life.
2 years ago I started this journey at 19. I never was prepared for what was to come; adulthood, building a career... a "brand". I could only hold one job longer than a week due to my lack of control over my emotions and PTSD and that was f-ckin footlocker. The pressure crippled me. Modeling saved my life. Modeling took me around the world and introduced me to passion and inspiration. Follow your dreams if it f-cking kills you because the pain of regret is incomparable. My dreams broke me down, built me up, moved me to the other side of the country with not a cent to my name or a friend in my phone book. My dreams gave me crippling anxiety and depression. My dreams broke my skin out from stress and worry but you know what else my dreams did? They gave me the motivation and the passion to overcome the bad that made it not only hard to enjoy, but also aided the block I had on the blessings god was sending.
2. Her Mother Went to Prison When She Was 4 Years Old
Slick was raised by her grandmother while her mother was in jail serving an 18-year sentence for manslaughter. During that time, Slick and her grandmother bounced around between Los Angeles and Minneapolis in perpetual homelessness. Regardless of the hard life she endured, Slick thinks the world of her mother. She told Evening Standard that she was, "the most respected woman I've ever been around."
"I've never met someone as selfless as my mother. My mother gave her life for me."
Her mother will be released next year.
3. She Got Her Nickname From Her Weed Rolling Skills
Slick Woods is not her real name. The model was actually born Simone Thomas. Her nickname she picked up from friends, thanks to her supreme weed-rolling skills. Her public affinity for marijuana has cost her a lot more than it's worth. She told Evening Standardthat posting photos of her smoking pot to Instagram has proven to be costly, "I've lost $125,000 in a day from being myself."
4. She Had Her Heart Broken by Ebonee Davis
A staple member of her modeling cohort, Ebonee Davis, apparently did a little more than just take some incredibly provocative photos with Slick - she also kind of took her heart too.
Slick recently revealed to the Evening Standard that she's currently single after having her heart broken by Ebonee.
'I sent her 16 bouquets of purple roses to say I miss you. She's the one that got away, man.'
5. She Used To Live In A Traphouse And Did Time in Jail for Credit Card Scams
Surviving humble beginnings and being the daughter of a woman who did serious time had a statistically predictable effect on Slick's life. Before hitting it big, she did time in jail herself for credit card scams and bank scams. She told Evening Standard, "'I was in a place where I didn't believe in anything, so I was so susceptible to evil energy. I'm so easily turned."
Although she was living in a drug den just two years ago, she is now ballin' out of control. She revealed, "I went from being homeless to spending $20,000 a week. I was making up for lost time, buying my friends s***, going to $400 dinners. I've always been like, “What if I die tomorrow?" I can't sit on this bread.'
6. She Was Discovered On The Streets By Model Ash Stymest
Sometimes all it takes is that one co-signer to bring someone into the light that otherwise might have gone unnoticed. A chance meeting with British model Ash Stymest who saw her walking down a street in LA led to a friendship that served as her doorway into the modeling industry. Meeting Ash lead to the modeling gig that sent her into orbit - Kanye West's Yeezy lookbook.
7. She Once Told Kanye West, "Pay Me"
Slick gives us a little lesson in knowing your worth - no matter who's asking. After posing for the Yeezy season one lookbook, she was asked back. But apparently Kanye forgot to pay her. "Kanye did not pay me," she told Evening Standard. "I didn't see my money until the next Yeezy job I did. He couldn't book me again without having paid me for the first time."Welp.
Slick Woods has just gotten started, and will be the model to watch in 2018!
Catch her in Rihanna's latest beauty campaign below:
For more from Slick Woods, follow her on Instagram.
- new pro filt'r foundation shades with slick woods | fenty beauty ›
- She Think She Slick: Slick Woods' Fenty Face Tutorial Is an Instant ... ›
- Model Slick Woods Does Fenty Beauty Makeup Tutorial | Teen Vogue ›
- Fenty Beauty Model Slick Woods Faces Nasty Twitter Comments ... ›
- Slick Woods Talks About Her Career, Rihanna, and Becoming a ... ›
Ashley Simpo is a writer, mother and advocate for self-care and healthy relationships. She lives in Brooklyn, NY. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ashleysimpo. Check out her work and her musings on ashleysimpocreative.com.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
If you’re like many other people who are prioritizing wellness these days, then attending a wellness retreat might be something to consider. Wellness retreats are a cool way to get the relaxation you’ve been missing in a space with like-minded people who share a common goal. I descended upon my first wellness retreat, the Mind, Body, + Sol Retreat, a couple of weeks ago at the Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Zoëtry Agua is part of the Inclusive Collection for the World of Hyatt. It is nestled on a secluded part of Uvero Alto beach, which has crystal blue waters. The resort itself is picturesque, with its thatched roofs and lazy rivers that make you feel like you’re in a cute little village.
Mindy, Body, + Sol Retreat was hosted by Koya Webb, holistic health and wellness coach and yoga instructor, and it also featured other wellness practitioners who combined provided the ultimate gift of relaxation and getting back to oneself.
The first night was a Welcome Dinner that featured a five-course meal and an opportunity to meet our companions for the next three days. The food was impeccable and the only downside was that I wasn’t able to finish it all. The next day, however, was the official start of the classes, and I was ready to dive in.
Aura and Chakra Reading
Aura and chakra reading
Photo courtesy
My first class was an aura and chakra reading led by Laura McCann and James Levinson, an Asheville, NC couple. I’ve had chakra readings before, but never like this. There was a computer, a camera, and a scanner, which I placed my hand on for the reading. After two minutes, I received a 15-page report explaining my aura and chakra reading.
It breaks down what the colors of your aura are and what your chakras say. My main colors were green and yellow, which were defined by a variety of things. The top of my aura was green, meaning I have a social mental state and I’m a natural healer. My aura on my left side was yellow meaning my energy flowing is optimistic and light and so on.
After James discussed the findings with me, I then met with Laura, who gave me aromatherapy oils from their ADORAtherapy line that represented each chakra. She further explained the results of my chakra reading and shared how each oil can assist. Chakras are the energy centers in our body, and there is a total of seven: root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. All of my chakras were high except for my heart chakra, which I have since been working on. I may follow up about that in another article.
Sound Bath
Sound bath class
Photo courtesy
Next was the sound bath class. It was located in the spa, which was indoor/ outdoor and the perfect setting for this kind of experience. Andrew Francis and Carrie Bailey of Zenden Meditation were the co-pilots in transporting attendees into a place of tranquility. I laid down, closed my eyes, and allowed the sounds around me to bring me into a relaxing state. From the singing bowls to the wind chimes, I was in heaven. I even fell asleep and got some of the best rest I’ve had in a while. It was a beautiful experience. However, remember when I noted it was an indoor/ outdoor venue? I forgot to put on bug spray and woke up pretty itchy. But it didn’t stop me from enjoying the moment.
Tea Party
Art of Tea Ritual Tea Party
Photo courtesy
The last event of the day was the Art of Tea Ritual located in the resort’s tea garden. It was everything you could want in a tea party. Delectable treats such as cookies, cakes, and white chocolate-covered strawberries, which are my fave. And, of course, tea. While I got to sip tea, I also got to make my own tea blend. There were many different teas to choose from, like hibiscus to your regular black tea. I decided to mix rose and mint and I called it RoseMint. I didn’t get to try my tea blend until I got home, and I’ll be honest, it’s probably the best tea I ever had. The tea herbs taste so fresh, and I love how fragrant it smells.
Breathwork
Breathwork Class
Photo Courtesy
The next morning was all about breathwork. If you exercise regularly, then you probably know the importance of breathing. But there’s more to it besides remembering to breathe during your workout. Margaret Townsend is a breathwork facilitator who helps people achieve wellness by consciously changing their breathing patterns. In her class, I learned to change my breathing pattern for energy as well as for relaxation. While I know that breathing is a relaxation tool, I was blown away to learn that it can also energize you. Because it was a different breathing pattern, I was also able to stay present and keep a steady pace.
Yoga
Koya Webb's yoga class
Photo courtesy
The final class of the retreat was evening yoga with Koya Webb, who, as I mentioned earlier, was the host. Her class was held beside the beautiful Uvero Alto beach, which made for a stunning backdrop and the perfect way to end the retreat. It was important for me to get back into my body after not doing yoga for a few weeks, so I was really focused on nailing the moves. However, Koya kept the energy light and fun, evening cracking a few jokes throughout, which made it easy for me to relax and enjoy the moment. She ended the class with a dance break and hugs from our classmates.
The Mind, Body, + Sol Retreat reminded me how important it is to take time to love on myself. Each class was an opportunity to be present and get reacquainted with oneself in the most loving way. Being surrounded by individuals who encouraged my journey was what I needed, and I am so honored to have had this experience.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by courtesy