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Crown Too Heavy: The Pressure Of Being Dubbed 'The Next Beyoncé'
"I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I only have to follow my heart and concentrate on what I want to say to the world. I run my world." – Beyoncé
As someone who has followed the arc of Beyoncé’s career since I was 10 years old and saw the excitement my brother and his best friend expressed in seeing Destiny’s Child perform at Alabama A&M in 1998, I’ve always known in my heart Beyoncé was destined for greatness. We’ve all watched her evolve as an artist, woman, wife, and mother, but we often forget the major steps she had to take in order to gain control of her career and life.
Beginning in 2010, Beyoncé launched Parkwood Entertainment, a film and production company, record label, and management firm. Then, in 2011, she decided to end her management arrangement with her father Mathew Knowles. She’s limited the number of interviews she does and has taken full control of her life’s narrative and her art through the various documentaries she's released via Parkwood.
As we all watch in awe, Beyoncé continues to break records: the most awarded singer in Grammy history, headlining one of the highest-grossing tours of all-time, and most recent Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, the film documenting her latest world tour, became the first film in 20 years to cross the $20 million mark on its opening weekend following Thanksgiving.
#RENAISSANCETHEFILM debuts at the domestic box office with a $21M opening weekend and a 100% on @RottenTomatoes. pic.twitter.com/NyG8MdyrU2
— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@BeyLegion) December 3, 2023
As Beyoncé raises the bar higher and higher, there is much conversation centered around who “the next Beyoncé” will be. Some have proclaimed it’s Victoria Monét, others believe it will be Normani, and many have stated Chloe Bailey is next in line to take the crown.
These conversations of “who’s the next….” aren’t new; even when Beyoncé first launched her solo career in 2003 with the album Dangerously in Love, people said she was the next Michael Jackson or Tina Turner.
Victoria Monet is giving next big thing after Beyoncé. I see it. I said it.
— The Purse Dealer ✨💕 (@hausofsyy) December 3, 2023
This mindset begs the question: do we value individuality in artistry, or do we simply want to recreate clones of the artist we already love? How can we expect artists to keep the integrity of their work when labels, managers, and the public want to pigeonhole them into a space they deem appropriate?
When we center our expectations to juxtapose someone else’s success, we are inevitably setting up and coming artists like Victoria, Normani, and Chloe to fail. This by no means is taking away from the clear talent each of these singers has, but it’s boxing them into a space where their opportunity for personal and creative growth is stifled.
Let’s be real she the only new girl that *really* gives Beyoncé pic.twitter.com/ZwlF8znrsE
— B•R•I 💜🎄 (@chloverview) December 12, 2023
Additionally, when we take a further step back and look at the music industry from a bird’s eye view, we see how Black artists have been confined to the musical genres of R&B, gospel, and hip-hop, which further limits their space for growth and crossover success.
The systemic racism in the music industry caters more toward white artists and limits the exposure of Black artists, especially in predominantly white genres. We consistently see white artists given the space and opportunity to explore a variety of musical genres, while Black artists are expected to stay true to one genre for the entirety of their career.
It’s been five years can we get a vowel?
— Hi Im Ry (@WhateverDoja) May 30, 2023
This generation tends to want artists to produce quality music at a rapid pace, but then mercilessly judges when it isn’t what we want or expect it to be. An example of this would be both Chloe and Normani’s debut as solo artists.
As I mentioned both these artists have been deemed “the next Beyoncé” at one point or another in their career, and the parallels are obvious. They were both in groups prior, Chloe with her sister Halle and Normani with Fifth Harmony. They’re both talented performers and beautiful young women, and they both very evidently have the “It factor.”
Chloe’s first album, In Pieces, was released in March 2023 and had only sold 10,000 copies as of April 10, 2023. Many fans called the album "a flop" and even DJ Envy suggested it was Beyoncé's fault for the low sales as Chloe is an artist on her label. Beyoncé once said, “The reality is, sometimes you lose. And you're never too good to lose. You're never too big to lose. You're never too smart to lose. It happens."
Chloe must have taken these words to heart because despite the negative feedback she received, she took everything in stride and proved critics and fans wrong by selling out shows in the following months.
The music industry is gonna have to create a new way of counting album sales and streams. Like @ChloeBailey’s album was chefs kiss but because her “sales” were low people consider it a flop. However if her streams were counted. I’m sure it’ll be very different.
— Madam Chrome❄️✨ (@DaisysSentamint) April 30, 2023
Something to understand and consider is that artists like Chloe have a younger fan base who are less likely to buy albums and more likely to listen to their favorite artist’s music on a streaming service, which does impact sales. Though streaming numbers are included in album sales, it doesn’t consider the à la carte nature of the process and how hard it is to reach one album sold. Success for artists likely Chloe is going to look very different than her mentor Beyoncé, and as the music industry evolves these young artists are having to adapt to that evolution in real time.
in pieces was about letting go & trusting myself. i’ve enjoyed every moment of it and i love everyone who listened to it. tour starts tomorrow in chicago and im so ready to perform these songs for yall ❤️🔥
— Chlöe (@ChloeBailey) April 10, 2023
Normani on the other hand has taken her time with the release of her debut album, which many fans have been waiting on since the release of her single “Motivation” in 2019. Some fans have even gone to Twitter to share their thoughts about the delayed album, with opinions echoing the sentiment that she’s lost her passion and motivation to create music. Normani responded to these claims with a very clear, “Just shut the f— up.” She also shared in an interview with Bustle, that had she rushed to release an album in 2019, “I would’ve put out a body of work that I wasn’t confident in.”
Despite the negativity these two artists have had to endure in the shadows of Beyoncé, they’ve both taken a page from her book by staying true to themselves and the music they want to produce. Upon the release of her album, Chloe tweeted, “In pieces was about letting go & trusting myself. i’ve enjoyed every moment of it and i love everyone who listened to it.” Normani also shared, “I’m very, very prideful of what I do and the art. It means a lot to me and I’m heavily involved in literally every single aspect.”
just shut the fuck up https://t.co/puMktqrUNR
— Normani (@Normani) August 9, 2022
Though the vast majority of us love and sit in awe of Beyoncé, we must also question why we feel the need to place other Black women artists in her shadow to recreate a career that she’s uniquely shaped for herself.
There is a subconscious bias many of us have fed into that tells us, Black women in music can only be seen and digested in a certain way, and because of this, we project that onto newer artists such as Victoria, Normani, Chloe, and others.
Even Beyoncé, though she always pays homage to her predecessors such as Jackson and Turner, has been very clear on the reality that she’s not trying to be anyone other than herself in her music or life. Her success has been based on the fact that she does things her way, and because of this, it uniquely penetrates millions of people’s hearts around the globe.
It also goes back to the reality that she’s taken full control of her career and holds her destiny in her own hands. This same autonomy should be given to the young women who follow in her footsteps.
"Do what you were born to do. You just have to trust yourself." – Beyoncé
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Mariee Revere On Her History-Making Million-Dollar Sales And The Future Of MoonXCosmetics
If the name Mariee Revere sounds familiar, it's probably because you heard of her beauty and skincare brand, MoonXCosmetics, or you may have heard about her history-making achievement of making $1.8 million in less than eight minutes. But before starting her million-dollar brand, Mariee was just a teenager trying to cure her acne.
While she grew up in the skincare capital of the world, South Korea, Mariee didn't really experience breakouts until her senior year of high school. Like many people who get their first breakout, she didn't know what to do, and there weren't many products out there at that time. So she decided to experiment. What she didn't know was that what she came up with would ultimately be her ticket to success.
"When I graduated high school, I moved back to America, Georgia, and I ended up making, like, the oil, the Rose Galore oil, which is like the staple product of my brand. I don't know what made me make it, but I did, and it literally cleared my face up," she tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview.
"I end up selling it as a body oil first because, obviously, I'm 17, [and] don't have any background as an esthetician or anything like that. I just made a product that worked for me, but people bought it and was using it, and I reformulated it, and then it just stuck like with me."
While MoonXCosmetics is known for its facial products, it wants to expand to body care and home. It just released its new product, Moon-Gel body wash, and it's only up from there. As Mariee continues to grow the brand, it's more than likely that she will see more history-making moments. And so far she has.
Photo courtesy
When asked if she feels pressure to obtain more of those milestones, she says yes and no. "I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more," she says.
"I want to say more reach than more like fast-paced sales. I do want that. Obviously, every girl wants that, but I do want to have a better overall reach for my brand because I did take two years off so I was able to learn, [and] study a lot of different things. See how things have changed from 2020 to now."
"I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more."
Another part of expanding for any company is hiring people. Finding the right person to help you can be a hassle, especially for business owners who are used to doing all the work themselves. Mariee can relate to this, and she touched on this topic in her documentaryThe Million Dollar Story. She recommends having someone be your "right-hand man" who you trust to handle the ins and outs of the company.
"I could say, definitely get, like a right-hand man to help you within the process because that really was what helped me. I never had a job. I literally was 18 now, being like, you know, the boss of over 30+ employees at one point in time, and I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything about no W-2s, no taxes, no clock in, clock out because all I [have] ever known was my brand," she explains.
"So I definitely partner with people who are very skewed and versed in those areas, and they helped me get through it. Even to this day, I still have my same person helping me with hiring, firing, [and] doing everything that I can right now because I'm still learning. But obviously people get jobs young, so they have way more experience than me, but still learning."
And though she is still learning, one thing she makes sure to stay on top of is being consistent. Consistency is what trips many people up when it comes to achieving goals, but Mariee says it's all about scheduling. Whether it's when to post on social media or email marketing, scheduling it out can make a world of difference. That same practice also works when planning out her future goals for the company.
"Right now, future goals would be to drop at least five more products before the end of the year. We always do outreach, where we do drives and all that, but definitely do way more this year, she says. "Then really dive into body [care], and then hopefully open up MoonXBody underneath MoonXCosmetics to let that branch out and be open and definitely get back consistent."
For more information, visit moonxco.com.
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