

The Internet United To Help This Little Girl Recognize Her #BlackGirlBeauty & We're Not Crying, You Are.
Last Sunday kicked off this year's International Women's Month and what better way to do it than uplifting the little queens in our lives? This past weekend, an Instagram live video of an Atlanta hairdresser (who we now know as Shabria) speaking life into a beautiful brown-skinned girl named Ariyonna went viral and proved that not all heroes wear capes. In the video, Ariyonna is seen breaking down into tears after saying "I'm so ugly," which ultimately proved to be a touching moment for women across the internet. Shabria captioned the post:
"While doing her hair she had alllll the energy in the world then out of nowhere she stares at herself and gets soooo discouraged 😢 it broke my heart into pieces because she has the GREATEST energy and the most beautiful smile and heart ! She comes from a great home & loving mother . I just think when kids go to school they learn and pick up sooo much different things that they don't know the definition but they know the feeling ! Keep her in your prayers and keep lifting up our future!!!"
The video has since amassed millions of views and thousands of comments from celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith, Michelle Obama, and Viola Davis, who expressed their mutual support for the young queen in heartfelt messages. Director Ava DuVernay wrote:
"In tears over this. Somebody told this child this and her heart broke and her confidence broke and she believed it. Thank God for this beautiful spirit in her life to tell her differently. This video shows how deeply we harm each other. And fully we can lift each other up."
Among Ariyonna's supporters was also Hair Love creator, Matthew A. Cherry, who launched a massive social campaign that rallied creatives to show their love for young Arianna through artwork and Black Twitter showed up and showed TF out, sis.
While this year may have gotten off to a rocky start, I'm pleased to say that this is the type of wholesome, Black AF content I like to see on my timeline.
For more stories that are poppin' in the news this week, click below!
Niecy Nash & Jay Tucker Finalize Their Divorce & Agree To No Spousal Support
Getty Images
In October, Niecy Nash and her husband, Jay Tucker, announced their split after 8 years of marriage and this week, the couple seems to have amicably finalized their divorce, proving that not all breakups have to be bitter.
Page Six reports that in their separation, Niecy will retain ownership of their Bell Canyon California home and 2016 Tesla while Jay will walk away from the marriage with a 2011 Ford F-150 Truck and one final payment of $185,000 from his former spouse.
While the couple's romantic journey may have come to an end, they have done so as friends and both waived their rights to spousal support. They wrote in a joint statement on social media:
"Our union was such a gorgeous ride. And as we go our separate ways now, we feel fortunate for the love we share — present tense."
Omar Epps Teased A New Movie With Mekhi Phifer & Larenz Tate & Our Hearts Can’t Take It
Omar Epps just teased a new movie with Mekhi Phifer and Larenz Tate and no one film should have all that chocolate.
In a cryptic Instagram post, the actor wrote:
"Been hard at work trying to create something incredibly special for all of you! We're one step closer... 💥🐐💥 Stay tuned...."
While we're not sure what these three have in the works, we're definitely here for all of it.
This Lipstick Tutorial Has Gained More Than A Million Views
This viral Tik Tok video has gained more than a million views and 134K likes on Twitter and this Black beauty blogger is at the helm.
Jacinda Pender's lip tutorial series is everything we didn't know we needed and she recently sat down with Allure to break down the details behind her iconic glossing methods. She told the publication:
"This is [for] whenever I'm in the mood for a dark glossy lip look, which is rare. If I had the time, patience, and energy to rock this badass glossy ombré look, I definitely would. It's such a sexy look that radiates such strong dark, mysterious, and vampire energy."
In the post, Jacinda is seen applying the f*ck out of an ombre lip that is perfect for both a work slay or a night out on the town. Since the success of her short video, Jacinda says that fan support has done wonders for her career in the beauty industry.
"I just want to say THANK YOU guys for supporting my lip swatch series because it's allowing me to partner with companies that will remain nameless and opening doors for me, thank you."
To recreate the look, here's what you'll need:
Coachella Is Postponed Until October
Reports reveal that Indio, California officials are not here for your germs and will postpone Coachella until October due to the coronavirus outbreak. Coachella and Stagecoach are the latest major music festivals, following the Ultra Festival and Miami and SXSW 2020, that have been affected by the viral disease.
The announcements come as the list of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. rises to 116.
This Is The Ciara-Inspired Hair Trend That's Taking Over The Internet
This unique hair trend is living proof that the internet was made for Black creatives. Don't @ me.
After seeing Ciara's stylist masterfully spell the word "melanin" in her hair, social media user Shanell Khan decided to recreate the look. Much to dismay, they don't sell block letters at the hair store. It was then when Shanell used her ingenuity to bring the celebrity-inspired look to life:
"I really missed my nephew and then it Hit me...That light bulb moment lol: [Children's] Wooden blocks. Like why didn't I think about this before? I ran to the store and I was soo happy when I stumbled across these with the letters already written on them (I was soo excited !!! I had a quick dance 😂🤣 my close friends know the excited dance 💃🏾 the workers at the store probably thought I was cray cray 😅😂🤣😅) I bought some brown beads and got a carpenter to make the huge round ones. Shout out to him!!"
Featured image by Instagram/@lilwavedaddy.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.