We put such an emphasis on age in our society. I even do it myself sometimes. And on my latest birthday, I almost let those feelings of inadequacy and insecurity seep into my mind as the clocks struck 12. But once I journaled and had a few moments of reflection, I realized that aging is a gift and an opportunity. It's time to ask yourself, how can I improve? Because one thing is for sure, wine isn't the only thing that gets better with time. I mean just think of your celebrity crushes, time hasn't done anything but bless them as they've gotten older, wiser, and...finer.
When I reflect on the people I look up to, I realize quite a few of them came into their prime as they aged. And if we're talking about physicality, most of my celebrity crushes have aged gracefully. I think it's because there's something so appealing about a man who is experienced and confident in who he is and his appearance. Don't believe me? Check out this list of our favorite MCMs who are 45+, then try to tell me age hasn't turned men we've always envisioned as eye candy into undeniable soul food.
Idris Elba, 52 (Married)
Idris Elba, 52 (Married)Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesI mean, do we really need an explanation? Whether he is starring in a groundbreaking film like Mandela or a culture-changing show like The Wire, Idris Elba somehow always becomes one of our favorite characters. And Idris' amazing acting isn't the only reason why.
Nelly, 50 (Married)
Nelly, 50 (Married)Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesIs it getting hot in here, or is it just us? In 2021, Nelly was honored at the BET Hip Hop Awards and reminded us why he will always be on our MCM list.
Michael Ealy, 51 (Married)
Michael Ealy, 51 (Married)Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for GershRemember the scene in Think Like a Man where Michael Ealy's character (Dominic) licked Lauren's (played by Taraji P. Henson) leg? I think that may have birthed this crush. That, and the eyes.
Method Man, 53 (Married)
Method Man, 53 (Married)Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCEHave you ever noticed that every time a woman interviews Method Man, she seems to be smiling? I don't think that it's a coincidence that his personality and charming features just draw us in!
Morris Chestnut, 55 (Married)
Morris Chestnut, 55 (Married)Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCEBest Man, Boyz in the Hood, Like Mike – and so many more of our classics had Morris Chestnut starring in it. Looking back, I was kinda young to love a couple of these films as much as I did. But, now I appreciate their excellence and Morris Chestnut even more.
Boris Kodjoe, 51 (Married)
Boris Kodjoe, 51 (Married)Photo by Aliah Anderson/WireImageWhew, Boris Kodjoe never disappoints. And the example he and his wife set for married couples, such as Brian J. White and others, is truly beautiful.
Taye Diggs, 53 (Divorced)
Taye Diggs, 53 (Divorced)Photo by Victoria Sirakova/Getty ImagesBrown Sugar is one of my favorite movies of all time, but Taye Diggs has been in a host of other classics as well. He's been a consistent face we've seen through the years and I never get sick of seeing him. Also, if you want to check him out in something more current, check out All American on Netflix, but be prepared to binge!
Omari Hardwick, 50 (Married)
Omari Hardwick, 50 (Married)Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Uninterrupted, LLCOmari Hardwick. What can we say about that man who melted us all between his roles as the unhappily married man whose heart was elsewhere in Power and Being Mary Jane? It was something we forgave him for, though (at times) with one look into those soulful brown eyes and at those six-pack abs. The actor/poet definitely had to make our list.
Rick Fox, 55 (Divorced)
Rick Fox, 55 (Divorced)Photo by Jim Spellman/Getty ImagesHis life is proof that some people can be a jack of all trades. I mean, Rick Fox has conquered basketball, acting, business, and so much more. The fact that he has the looks, too, almost seems unfair.
Larenz Tate, 49 (Married)
Larenz Tate, 49 (Married)Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for STARZI had to think long and hard about adding Mr. Larenz Tate to the list. Not because of his looks, obviously, but because this is supposed to be an ode to aging, and he literally still looks the same way he did when he was "the blues in our left thigh, trying to be the funk in our right."
Whatever skincare routine or diet he's on, I gotta try it! By the way, if you didn't get that quote, do yourself a favor and watch Love Jones, like today.
Bonus: Denzel Washington, 69 (Married)
Bonus: Denzel Washington, 69 (Married) Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImageDenzel Washington is the OG of the Hollywood heartthrobs, and his legendary career is living proof of it. At almost 70 years old, the Gladiator star continues to put the young boys to shame with his smooth ways.
Featured image by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCE
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Shaina, who has held roles at companies including ESPN and the NBA and has taught strategic sports marketing at esteemed institutions like Georgetown University, officially launched the network as a business in 2019. Since then, it’s hosted high-impact events like the Toast to Black Sports luncheon during Super Bowl weekend and built student chapters at both HBCUs and PWIs to pipeline underrepresented talent into the industry.
She shared with xoNecole more on the early days of launch, the turning point that made her realize she had a platform with real influence, and what keeps her going. With 17 years of experience across agencies, teams, and networks, Shaina is proof that grassroots efforts can turn into transformative change—especially when backed by passion, vision, and community.
xoNecole: How did the Minorities In Sports Business Network come to life?
Shaina Wiel: So, I just started the group chat and added a few of my friends who work in the industry as well. We were all kind of in New York at the same time working in the sports space… Very quickly over the next few years, the chat grew to over 800 individuals within the chat. Then, we had over 1000 individuals.
xoN: What was your ‘aha’ moment to expand?
SW: I noticed a bunch of employees from the Big Four leagues— NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB— within my group chat had all started posting roles. And when I asked, 'What is going on? Why are there so many posting jobs within the group chat?' I was told that HR had sent a note to their Black Employee Resource Group and had told them they had heard about this group chat.
That's when I realized, ‘Okay, this is more than, you know, my little friend group chat. Let's see if we can turn this into an actual business. And then in summer, 2019 I decided to do this full time.
Brittany Dacoff
xoN: What was the transition like growing the group chat into a full platform offering membership perks like access to job listings, networking opportunities and more?
SW: I was working at an agency, and the agency had lost their account. It was the account that I was working on. So they were like, you know, we can try to find another or we can separate. I decided to leave. And then, as we know, COVID happened, which actually was a blessing in disguise.
I was able to really focus on building the vision with this group chat and turning it into an actual company, seeing what works, seeing things from an events and a relationship standpoint, in terms of like, how we were interacting with different partners from different companies, and actually turning that into something substantial that could last.
xoN: Speaking of events, talk more about what inspired the Toast to Black Sports event you held earlier this year during the Super Bowl. Why is it important?
SW: This was the second year. There are so many dope people of color, specifically Black people, who work in this industry who are just doing the work behind the scenes. They’re not getting their flowers. I took it upon myself to say, I want to celebrate you. We’ve honored Kimberly Fields, Esq. of the NFL, Kevin Warren, CEO of the Chicago Bears, sports executive Jason Wright, sports and entertainment vet Carmen Green-Wilson, and NFL coach Jennifer King—all of whom have made major contributions to the industry.
xoN: What do you enjoy most about your role today?
SW: I think the work that I enjoy the most, honestly, is with our college students. We have 12 chapters across different colleges and universities. We help eliminate some of the barriers a lot of us had coming out of college. What I love seeing is that we have students who are now looking at roles they never even thought of.
xoN: What’s a bit of career advice for women breaking into the sports industry?
SW: I would say, build relationships. That’s really it: Build authentic relationships. Make sure it's a give and take and that you're supporting other people because once you're building those relationships, then it's a lot easier to either get into a space or to have those conversations when you want to do something.
And always be willing and ready to do the work.
Featured image by Hosea Johnson