10 Instagram Accounts That Will Keep Your Soul Quenched
You are what you follow on Instagram. That's a saying, right? Well, if not, it's the truth. I can't tell you how many times I have opened Instagram for some inspiration. That's also why you have to be careful who and what you follow because social media is such a powerful tool. Most of us use it to post our latest wanderlust or outfit of the day but encouraging quotes and stories have become more common in the past year. The 'Post to Your Story' feature has created an influx of quotes and affirmations and I am so grateful.
We all need a little pep talk or boost of confidence and there are some amazing accounts that help get us together and brighten our day. You up for some bottomless inspiration? Flip through the slideshow for some dope, soul-quenching accounts that will help you live your best life intentionally.
1.Heather Lindsey @heatherllove
Heather Lindsey is best known for founding The Pinky Promise, an organization that promotes honoring God with your life and body, no matter your relationship status. Through this initiative, she promotes practicing abstinence while you're single and being submissive within marriage. In addition to authoring a book, she is also a wife and mother constantly seeking God.
2.Alex Elle @alex_elle
I am sure at one point or another, you have shared one of Alex Elle's powerful quotes on your story or feed. You can count on Alex to make you think long and hard about the best ways to identify what your best life looks like and finding the self-care in it all.
3.Sarah Jakes Roberts @sarahjakesroberts
Also known as her alter ego Lil' Demon Bully, Sarah Jakes Roberts uses her platform to help women evolve in a way that is refreshing and real. The First Lady and Pastor has an unconventional way of inspiring women by simply being transparent. She shows off her blended family and has no problem pushing other women to their destiny by using her own trials and tribulations.
4.GurlsTalk @gurlstalk
Model, Adwoah Aboah, created Gurls Talk to encourage girls to do just that -- talk. But about the stuff we don't talk about. From depression to body acceptance to sex work. She told Vanity Fair:
"It's everything I ever needed when I was at school. It's a safe place—without stigma, without shame—where we challenge the social norms."
5.Myleik Teele @myleik
Myleik Teele is female empowerment personified. Her website reads, "There was no one who looked like me to show me the ropes, so I vowed that if I ever became successful, I would help others." Myleik created the renowned curlBOX and podcast #MyTaughtYou to help women realize they can have it all. By following Myleik, you are signing up for awe-inspiring quotes and dope business tips.
6.Unbothered @r29unbothered
r29Unbothered was designed for the black girl who knows what it means to be a black girl. This account is real, raw, and uncensored – everything we need. The bio says, "We are made for and by Black millennial women, celebrating the beauty, strength, and power in our community."
7.Well-Read Black Girl @wellreadblackgirl
There's something so beautiful about celebrating your own. Well-Read Black Girl is dedicated to showcasing the powerhouse women who live on our bookshelves. They have even teamed up with American Booksellers Association to bring book club meetings to independent bookstores nationwide with the goal of amplifying diverse voices and supporting emerging writers of color.
8.Idil Ahmed @idillionaire
Idil is my Instagram therapist. Just read the caption above. Energy, bliss, positivity, healing and hope are the cornerstone of Idil's goal to raise global consciousness. Her wish for her followers: be illuminated; and she's unafraid to share tips on her favorite subject -- manifesting.
9.WorkParty @workparty
Issa party, issa party, issa partaaayyyyy! This account is especially for the entrepreneur searching for creative inspiration and daily reminders to keep it pushing.
10. xoNecole @xonecole
I don't wanna toot xoNecole's horn but our IG is chock full of inspiration. Follow along, and you'll see.
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Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
'Love Island USA' Star JaNa Craig On The Reality Of Black Women On Dating Shows
Love Island USA just wrapped up its sixth season, and it has been the talk of the town. According to Nielsen, it's the No. 1 show on streaming, proving it's just as entertaining as the UK version. One of the reasons this season has been successful is due to the authentic relationships formed between the islanders in the villa.
You have the sisterhood between Serena Page, JaNa Craig, and Leah Kateb, aka PPG, and the real relationship moments between couples like Serena Page and Kordell Beckham, who were named the winners of this season. The other finalists include Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi, Nicole Jacky and Kendall Washington, and JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez.
While JaNa made it to the finale with her boo Kenny, her journey in the villa was far from perfect. Viewers saw the Las Vegas native get her heart stomped on a few times after many of her connections didn't work out.
At one point, it even looked like she was getting kicked off the island. While she had a lot of support from people watching the show, it was clear that she was in a position that many Black women on reality dating shows find themselves in: not being desired.
It has been an ongoing conversation among Black women watching reality dating shows as we see time and time again that non-Black women or racially ambiguous-looking women are often chosen over Black women, especially dark-skinned women. In a discussion with Shadow and Act, JaNa opened up about the support she received from viewers.
@cineaxries i love them 🤧 #janacraig #janaandkenny #loveislandusa #foryou #peacock #loveisland #janaloveisland #xybca #kennyloveisland #janaedit #loveislandedit #janaedits #loveislandusaedit #viral #loveislandusaseason6 #foryoupage #peacocktv
"You know what’s so crazy? I’m so grateful, because when I got my phone, the way they’re making us The Princess and The Frog…I felt honored. I will be that beautiful chocolate queen if I need to be. And the comments like 'beautiful chocolate girl,' I’m like, all Black women are beautiful. There’s the whole light skin versus dark skin, which breaks my heart. I just really don’t understand that, but I will take pride and represent us well," she said.
She also candidly discussed her experience as a dark-skinned Black woman on the show. JaNa and Serena had been in the villa since the first episode, and they were the only dark-skinned Black women there. As new men aka bombshells came into the villa, they found themselves not being wanted by many of them.
"Me and Serena literally had a heart-to-heart before Kenny came in and she’s like, I just don’t think it’s fair that the Black girls don’t get enough fair chance.' Every islander that came in, we were not their top pick. And we just [thought], maybe because we’re Black girls, and the dark-skinned Black girls. It sucked," she said.
"I’m like, 'Serena, we know what we bring to the table. We’re great personalities. A guy’s going to come in for us.' That’s when we manifested what we wanted, and that’s when I manifested Kenny."
@ashleyvera__ We love to see it 🥰 #loveislandusa #loveisland #loveisland2024 #janaandkenny #loveislandseason6 #peacock #realitytv #fypage
After many failed connections, Kenny came in and immediately turned JaNa's experience around. America watched the model get the care and attention that she deserved.
"I’m not going to hold you. When I was in the bottom for a quick second, I’m like, ‘There’s no way America doesn’t [ride for us]. I know Black America had to ride for me, but maybe because I’m a dark-skinned … hmm … maybe … you feel me? And you saw the Casa Amor lineup. Beautiful, beautiful light-skinned [women]," she said.
"We looked at each other like, 'Damn, Love Island did their big one with this. And every single Casa Amor girl was like, 'You girls are gorgeous, you guys are stunning.' They expressed love. You guys are beautiful and it felt good."
Although she and Kenny came in third place, JaNa is happy that she got her man in the end. "I think the thing I’m most grateful about is the fact that this is a beautiful love story like you guys complement each other and there’s no hate toward the skin color. It’s all love and support. I love that more than anything," she said.
"That’s why I was like, 'I won,' even though I didn’t win. And the fact that Serena won, we were like, 'Yeah, run that.' Either way, we won. And I love the support from all communities."
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'Industry' Star Myha'la Herrold Reveals Fiancé Slid In Her DMs After Watching Her On The Show
Myha'la Herrold is on a high while promoting HBO Max's series Industry. She plays Harper Stern, a tenacious recent graduate competing for a job at an investment bank in London. Now in its third season, Industry is garnering more and more buzz, and thanks to the show, Myha'la's star is on the rise. But that's not the only thing the Bodies Bodies Bodies actress has to thank the show for. The series led her to meet her now fiancé, Armando Rivera.
While visiting Late Night with Seth Meyers, she detailed the hilarious DM exchange between her and Armando and their engagement. "Season one comes out; it's deep Covid, 2020. And of course, I'm alone, and everyone is like, oh my god, are you having so much fun? The show's come out. I'm like, yeah, I'm literally alone," she said.
"So, of course, I'm going through my requests, and there's some great things, some like congratulations, some feet pic requests, some weird stuff--and there was just one that said, 'congrats on the show. I'm a huge fan. I wish you all the success in the world or something like that. And I said thank you, and the next day, I woke up to a string of video messages."
Myha'la Herrold and Armando Rivera
Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images
While she was annoyed by the number of video messages she received, one look at his profile picture had her singing a different tune. One of the videos Armando sent Myha'la was asking to interview her for a class project, and she decided to do it.
"The next day, we hopped on a Zoom and we were meant to be on five, ten minutes. Forty minutes goes by and he stops the recording, and then I was like, 'so where are you from?' Embarrassing," she said. "We hoped off and I was like 'oh, I'm in love with a stranger. How weird."
After following up with him about his class project, they continued to DM each other, and after three weeks, he asked for her number. They had FaceTime dates, and a month later, they finally met in person.
"Three and a half years later, he proposed, and now we're gonna get married," she said happily.
In a separate interview with Marie Claire, the 28-year-old revealed that Armando proposed to her in the doorway of their apartment, and they exchanged matching sterling silver rings from a vintage shop. “I tried on some sparkly things, diamonds, and it just didn't feel right on my body,” she said. Congrats to the two love birds.
Check out the full Late Night with Seth Meyers interview below.
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Feature image by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images