
Ariana Grande Talks Suffering From PTSD One Year After Manchester Attack

Last month marked one year since the fatal attack that took place during Ariana Grande's concert in Manchester. The terrorist attack in the U.K. left 20 dead and an estimated 100 people wounded. After the incident, Ariana abruptly ended her Dangerous Woman Tour and began prepping to return to Manchester only 12 days later for a benefit concert dedicated to raising money for the families of the bombing victims.
In the face of tremendous terror, Ariana was able to put on a brave face and serve as a beacon of light to her scared and vulnerable fan base. At the time of the bombing, Ariana was only 23 and in retrospect, this was a tremendous amount of pressure resting on her young shoulders.
Like many of us, Ariana was faced with the task of being "the strong friend", or the one who really can't take time to process their own emotions because they understand the need to be strong for others. Little do we know, those emotions have a way of catching up to us whether we want them to or not.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images
The now 24-year-old songstress recently opened up in Vogue UK's July issue about the long-term effect that the traumatic experience had on her mental health.
"I don't think I'll ever know how to talk about it and not cry."
She shared that the traumatic experience had increased her already high levels of anxiety, and triggered her battle with post traumatic stress disorder. She told Vogue:
"It's hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. But, yeah, it's a real thing. I know those families and my fans, and everyone there experienced a tremendous amount of it as well. Time is the biggest thing. I feel like I shouldn't even be talking about my own experience — like I shouldn't even say anything."
She's chosen to open up about her journey because she understands that mental illness is a common issue among our peers, and knows that despite being the "strong friend," she still has to take self-inventory.
"I think a lot of people have anxiety, especially right now. My anxiety has anxiety… I've always had anxiety. I've never really spoken about it because I thought everyone had it, but when I got home from tour, it was the most severe I think it's ever been."
To mend some of the wounds left by the traumatic attack in Manchester, Ariana turned her focus to self-care and investing in her own emotional intelligence. She told People:
"When I started to take care of myself more, then came balance, and freedom, and joy. It poured out into the music. We've messed with the idea of not being able to find the ground again because I feel like I'm finally landing back on my feet now."
Ariana's new song is the first she's released since the bombing. "No Tears Left To Cry" is a joyful tribute to everyone affected by trauma that hope to find happiness again. She says that her new album, entitled Sweetener, is a reminder that each of us can find a way to bring the good out of a bad situation.
As the strong friend, I often forget to check in with me. My ego tells me that I have to be the helper and protector of everyone around me, but I know deep down that I can't fill anyone else's cup if mine is empty. Ariana reminds us that anxiety can be a pain in the ass, but can be managed if we remember to take time to be transparent with ourselves about our own emotions.
Read Ariana's full feature with British Vogue here.
Featured image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
- Ariana Grande suffering from PTSD after Manchester bombing ›
- Ariana Grande suffering from PTSD after Manchester Arena attack ... ›
- Ariana Grande says she has PTSD after Manchester attack - BBC ... ›
- Ariana Grande Reveals She Has PTSD After Manchester Arena ... ›
- Ariana Grande on Her Battles with PTSD and Anxiety | PEOPLE.com ›
- Ariana Grande: I had PTSD following Manchester attack | Music ... ›
- What is PTSD? Ariana Grande reveals struggle with disorder ›
- Ariana Grande has PTSD after Manchester attack - CNN ›
- Ariana Grande says she has PTSD after Manchester attack - BBC ... ›
- Ariana Grande says she struggles with PTSD - CNN Video ›
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
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.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy