

Looking like a snack is the current trend, but Nicole Murphy says that our bodies are gardens. If you take care of it, it'll feed you forever. After five kids, the 50-year-old model and reality star still has cakes by the pound, and she recently revealed on Sway In The Morning how she's succeeded in serving us body goals for decades at a time. Nicole said that, unlike most women, she didn't see any significant changes in her body after her first child, but as her family's roster grew, so did her insecurity.
"When I first had my first baby, I wasn't even thinking about working out. I didn't go to the gym and this and that. And no one told me, 'Hey, it's possible that your belly will never be the same. Your body's going to look different. You might have stretch marks.' I didn't even think like that. I was blessed in the beginning. I just went back into my normal shape. And then the more kids I started having, it was like, 'Yoooo, I need to work out 'cause I'm not the same.' I could see my little faults so I was like, 'I'm in the gym, I gotta work out.'"
Nicole says that this desire for a positive self-image was even more important, because like all women, she wanted to look her best for her partner.
"At the time, I was married so I was like, 'I always want to look good for my man.' I didn't want to get comfortable like some people do in a relationship and let themselves go. I know a few people like that and I'm like, me, honestly, that would turn me off. I always wanted to look good. So I've always been into it. I've been into eating right. Well, I do mess up, I'm not even gonna lie."
Her insecurity and negative self-image led Nicole to take her health journey more seriously, and that included solidifying a plan for fitness based on her lifestyle. No matter how chaotic or intense our daily schedules get, Nicole. She said:
"Just work out. It's only one hour out of your day. One hour out of my day. I can even do it at home. There's no excuse."
Although it's essential to your health journey to stay active, the mother of five says that one of the most important decisions she made was learning how to eat based on what made her feel good, not just what looked good. Studies show that what you eat is far more important than how you work it off, but that can mean redefining your diet completely, especially if your history of food choices has been consistently poor in the past, and Nicole said that old habits sometimes die hard. When asked one of her biggest challenges, she had this to say:
"Just learning how to eat properly. That took a minute because I didn't know. My mother's British so it's all about bread and lots of butter, lots of sauces on your food, potatoes and that. That's how I grew up. But the older I got, I figured it out."
With discipline and determination, you too can be as fine as Nicole Murphy at age 50. She says that despite unrealistic images constantly perpetuated in the media regarding society's idea of beauty, she's only working to be her best self and to inspire others to do the same thing.
"I want to maintain. I'm 50 now. I just turned 50 years old. So I want to inspire other women. Just because you're 50 doesn't mean it's over. I'm not trying to look 21 but I want to look good for myself — and whoever my mate is going to be."
Despite Nicole's insecurity in her self-image early in life, she took control of her narrative and made wellness a priority because she understood that a garden that is well-kept can produce a harvest beyond her imagination.
Featured image by Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
Roscoe Dash joined xoMan host Kiara Walker to share the journey of his personal and spiritual evolution—from the party anthems that made him famous to a deeper life rooted in faith, family, and purpose. This episode offers an honest look at how the artist has grown beyond early fame, addressing fatherhood, masculinity, creativity, and healing.
Dash opened up about the internal transformation that has guided him away from chasing the spotlight and toward seeking peace. “Faith and fear can’t occupy the same space,” he said, underscoring his shift toward a more spiritually grounded life. Throughout the interview, he emphasized the importance of self-reflection:
“The most important conversations to me, honestly, outside of the ones you have with God, is the ones you have with yourself in the mirror.”
Dash is focused on the man he’s become. “I’m not the accolades I’ve achieved—I’m the person who achieved them,” he added, pointing to a broader understanding of identity and worth. A large part of that growth has come through fatherhood, especially raising daughters, which he said has deepened his understanding of love. “Love is unconditional and love loves to love no matter what,” he shared.
He also spoke candidly about the pressures of fame and its impact on creativity. “Chasing fame can kill your creativity as a musician,” he warns. Instead, his advice to other artists is simple but clear: “Keep your focus on your art form, whatever that may be, and stay passionate.”
The conversation also touches on gender dynamics and emotional safety in relationships. “Safe men make soft women. If she feels safe, she’ll melt like butter,” he said, challenging traditional notions of masculinity. Roscoe also offers wisdom on discernment and spiritual testing: “Sometimes the devil will give you what looks better than your blessing.”
Ultimately, Dash has learned to embrace peace over chaos. “All I can do is control what I can control. And that's how I respond to things and what I'm giving out,” he said. It’s a thoughtful, soulful side of Roscoe Dash that many may not expect—but one that leaves a lasting impression.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
I Tried It: 3 Low-Maintenance Wigs That Will Elevate Your Look This Season
There's nothing like the feeling you get when your hair is done. It can instantly boost your confidence and put you in a great mood. I've never been a stranger to hair trends and I often experiment with the latest braided styles and colors.
But there are moments when I just don't feel like doing my hair. I'm natural and a lot of times I will braid or twist my hair up and cover it with a scarf or turban. However, when I crave a different look without the hassle of styling, I reach for a wig.
I've always had a love-hate relationship with wigs. Sometimes, I struggle to get them to lay flat and don't get me started with the bonding glue process. So when it comes to wearing wigs, I like to keep it nice and breezy around this b--- (word to Katt Williams), especially in the summertime.
That's why I jumped at the chance to try these three versatile wigs from Luvme Hair. Each one offers a unique look and is surprisingly low maintenance, which aligns perfectly with my philosophy that wearing wigs should make life easier. Let’s dive into the three styles below.
Headband Wig
Courtesy
This was the first wig I tried on, and I instantly fell in love with it. So much so that it took me weeks to even consider trying the other two. I’m partial to colored hair, especially blonds, browns, and reds, so I was skeptical about the jet black hair. However, I think the color, combined with the curl pattern, worked surprisingly well for me.
One of the things I really liked about this wig was that I didn’t have to braid my hair down first. I could simply throw it over a low ponytail, which is the epitome of a low-maintenance style. The headband has combs inside and velcro on the ends, ensuring a secure fit.
Half Wig
Courtesy
I had never worn a half wig before, so I faced some challenges. I cornrowed the bottom half of my hair where the wig would sit, but I believe this made it more difficult to use the combs. It might just be me though. I straightened the top part of my hair to blend it with the wig, which looked cute for about five minutes.
Firstly, I have a brown/blonde color mix on the ends of my hair, and the half wig is black. So, I had to hide some of the color (I didn’t have time to dye the wig). Secondly, straightening my hair myself is always a hassle because it never lasts long. Add to that the summer humidity, and you get a hot mess. Despite all this, I managed to get some cute pictures before things got out of control, and that’s all that matters, right?
Would I consider this a low-maintenance hair style? Yes and no. I think it’s unrealistic for me during the summer, especially since I enjoy summer activities. However, when the weather cools down, I’ll definitely rock it, dyed, of course.
Bob
Courtesy
Now, this is the wig I was nervous about. I never had a bob and I didn't think I would like it. But once I put bobiana on, my mind instantly changed. I finally understood why the gworls rave about the bob so much. It was giving boss. It was giving grown woman. It was giving the bob means business. Iykyk. It was the ultimate statement.
I will say when I first put it on, one side of my wig just would not lay flat. It took some trial and error, but I finally managed to get it to look good. With the bob, I highly recommend braiding your hair down first as small as you can so it can lay as flat as possible. I really liked the ash blonde color, which is perfect for summer. The length also makes it a great low-maintenance style for the season, so you don't have to worry about the hair making your neck sweaty.
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