Angela Simmons Shares How Her Father Rev Run Inspired Her To Embrace Her Body
The old saying “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” is something that Angela Simmons can attest to. Since stepping into the spotlight as a teenager alongside her family on the reality TV series Run’s House, the mother of one has often been met with criticism. For most of her adult years, Angela said she struggled with her weight and has often received negative comments about her body. However, she began chewing up the negativity and spitting out body positivity through her social media platforms.
But it wasn’t easy. Angela stopped by the Tamron Hall Show and discussed people criticizing her body and how she’s been able to maneuver through the noise.
“When I was 10 years old, I remember being young and having journals and writing how I felt about myself and I used to think I was fat,” she explained. “I would look at the journal and I would have a stick figure, what I want to look like and what I thought I looked like.”
When she turned 19, she moved out to L.A. and began extreme dieting which resulted in her losing a massive amount of weight. But now that she’s older, she has learned to manage her weight in a healthy way. But she was still a target of negative comments.
Most recently, photos from a runway show where she wore a swimsuit went viral and in response to the criticism, the model praised her “raw and unedited” body.
Taking the high road could be stemmed from a conversation she had with her father Rev Run, from the legendary rap group Run DMC, after she was body-shamed years ago due to photos from a beach day appearing on the internet.
“I remember having this moment. At the time it was online, everything was online and there was a photo of me,” she recalled. “And it was a really bad angle. And there was like cellulite and I was really down.”
Angela called her dad and told him what was going on and he gave her a piece of advice that she kept with her. “He was like ‘look, you really think that it matters. There is probably like 100,000 people on this site and there’s a whole world.’”
“I was like, you know what? Who cares what those people think. I am going to stand in my truth and be who I am and after that day, I never went back. I don’t care about that.”
And when it comes to social media comments, she either blocks the people leaving negative comments or she doesn’t look. Angela continues to champion bodies through her Built Not Bought campaign and most recently, she launched a vegan funnel cake business.
Why Angela Simmons Is More Comfortable In Her Skin Than Ever-Before
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Featured image by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images
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.
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This Content Creator’s Journey To Clear Skin Began With Trusting With The Process
In About Face, xoNecole gets the 411 on IGers who give us #skincaregoals on a daily. Here they break down their beauty routines on the inside and out, as well as the highly coveted products that grace their shelves and their skin.
Kyra Joe is the Queen of all things beauty. She regularly lets us in on her beauty routine while sharing updates on her dating life. The content creator debuts flawless skin and aspirational makeup routines in each video. As a consumer, it's easy to assume that Joe has always had the perfect canvas for the beauty world. However, that is not the case.
Like most of us, she's experienced her share of struggles with acne and hyperpigmentation. “I saw a dermatologist when I was 14, and the products he recommended didn’t work because I wasn’t consistent,” Joe said. The responsibility and consistency required of Joe in her adolescence made skincare feel like a job rather than a self-care act.
In 2020, things began to take a pivotal turn for Joe when she found herself regularly consuming skincare TikToks during the pandemic. “I saw people showing me how to use skincare products to get rid of hormonal acne and hyperpigmentation. That made a huge difference for me.” Her enjoyment began to arise as she tried recommended products from her favorite skincare content creators.
Joe added, “I was finally starting to enjoy skincare because I was finding products that worked for me through TikTok. I had undereye patches and creams and began building a routine.” What was once a chore has now become a passion. Joe has since grown an online community of more than 200,000 across TikTok and Instagram, sharing her beauty secrets underneath the moniker Kyra Nikole.
Courtesy
“I learned early on in my journey to keep things simple. I also try to encourage this in my content,” said Joe. Being able to get to the root when a breakout occurs is why Joe chooses and encourages skincare routines to be simple. “If I have a breakout, it’s easier for me to figure out what product causes it if I don’t have an extensive routine.”
Keeping things simple has allowed Joe to clear up her hormonal acne and manage her hyperpigmentation, and keeping things minimal has given Joe a clear canvas for her makeup.
She gave us an inside look into the skincare routine that’s changed her views on self-care:
Kyra Nikole's Daytime Skincare Routine
Step One: Hyper Skin Hyper Even Facewash
Hyper Skin
“I love this because it’s specifically made for hyperpigmentation, and it’s a gentle cleanser.”
Step Two: Pixi Glow Tonic
Pixi
“It’s an exfoliating toner, but it’s light enough to use daily. I use this for both day and night.”
Step Three: Glazing Milk Essence By Rhode Skin
Rhode Skin
“I have eczema and dry skin, so this helps give me the moisture that I need.”
Step Four: La Roche-Posay Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay
“This is just a regular moisturizer that I love because it sits well under my makeup.”
Step Five: Kiehl's Better Screen UV Sunscreen
Kiehl's
"There is no white cast, no peeling, it works under makeup, and it’s SPF 50; there’s nothing better than that!”
Kyra Nikole's Nighttime Skincare Routine:
Joe uses the same products for her nighttime skincare routine, except for sunscreen. Her main goal is to lock in hydration to last the entire evening. Aquaphor is her ointment of choice to ensure her skin gets the moisture it deserves.
Final Step: Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Aquaphor
"Aquaphor does a great job of holding in the moisture.”
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