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Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Who Is Keith Lee? What To Know About The Popular TikTok Food Critic
TikTok’s most adored food critic, Keith Lee, has given us an inside look at his personal restaurant experiences. Lee reviews food from a variety of restaurants in his car on a scale from 1-10 and does so in a way that feels honest and relatable. His videos have amassed millions of views over the years and have amplified several local businesses to prime success.
Most recently, Lee visited a taco food truck named Tacos 2 Tierras; after his satisfactory experience, Lee decided to share it with his online community of over 14 million followers. The local food truck's social media page gained thousands of followers nearly overnight.
Lee continuously makes his online community aware of the best and not-so-great restaurants. However, we still wonder, “Who is Keith Lee?” Here are a few facts about the relatively private food critic that has every restaurant owner on the edge of their seat.
1.Family Is His Number One Priority
@keith_lee125 Family Vlog taste test 💕 would you soend the day with us ? 💕 #foodcritic
Besides being married to the food scene, Keith Lee is also committed to his family. He and his wife, Ronnie Lee, have been together since college and tied the knot in 2020. The couple share two children, Karter and Riley. Keith began filming his TikToks when his wife was pregnant with their first child. At the time, he would make videos of his wife’s cravings. He has often shared his runs to the grocery store and restaurants. His devotion to his wife's food cravings eventually led to an incredible career as a food critic.
2.He’s A Trained Fighter
@ufc You heard him, TUNE IN! #keithlee #ufc #mma
Keith Lee and his brother have been professional fighters since the TikToker was 18. During his senior year of high school, Lee and his family moved to Las Vegas to pursue his fighting career. Lee opened up to Today during an interview, saying, “They [his parents] came to me and was like, ‘We leave for Vegas tomorrow.’ And I was like, alright, so we packed our stuff and left.”
He and his brother continued to fight professionally in Vegas until the pandemic hit in 2020. Before then, Lee quickly rose the ladder in the fighting scene and made a name for himself. He told Today, “I made it to Bellator, one of the biggest fighting promotions. I had two fights before the pandemic started.”
3.Keith Lee Is From Detroit
Although Lee now makes a living traveling to different cities and tasting different foods, there was once a time when he didn’t leave his hometown. The food critic was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and told Today he hadn’t been anywhere besides Virginia as a child. He told the outlet, “I grew up in inner-city Detriot. I’d never even traveled outside of Detroit other than once to Virginia.”
4."God Is Amazing"
@keith_lee125 💕 Testimony 💕 God Is Amazing 🙏🏽 #foodcritic ♬ Long Journey - Rod Wave
Besides giving his honest opinion about restaurants, Keith Lee isn’t shy about his faith. He regularly praises God in his TikTok videos, and so does his family. Lee can almost always be heard saying phrases like "God is amazing," "God is good,” or “God is the greatest” when talking about his restaurant experiences or run-ins with fans. Recently, he shared a testimony video showing the incredible moments he’s been able to experience with his family since the takeoff of his social media career. Lee captioned the video, “God is amazing!” He sure is!
5.“The Keith Lee Effect”
@cleos_southerncuisine I’m so humbled and filled with sooo much joy with the amount of support! Thank you to everyone! My Day 1’s and my @Keith Lee wave ❤️ forever grateful #keithleeeffect promise to make proud
Imagine having a strong online presence to the point you have your own slogan. This is the reality for Lee, whose presence is now known as “The Keith Lee effect.” His “cult-like” following began to give him the slogan after noticing his reviews' strong impact on local businesses. This can be seen in real-time when he reviews under-the-radar restaurants or mom-and-pop food spots and a good review results in those restaurants booming in popularity and business not too soon after he shares his experience with his audience.
Recently, Lee caused an all-out war online after he visited Atlanta and chronicled his experience. For example, when he visited Real Milk and Honey, he said that his family was told they were closed for a deep cleaning, but when he walked in, they recognized him and tried to serve him. He and his family decided to leave. Things took a turn for the worse when the restaurant owner put out a TikTok video seemingly taking a dig at Lee by claiming he didn't know him. While the restaurant has since apologized, the damage was already done. Videos surfaced on TikTok of the once-busy restaurant being empty. The Keith Lee effect is nothing to be played with.
6.His Love For Sneakers Is Unmatched
@keith_lee125 Sneaker Wall Makeover Day 1 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #sneakerkeith #foodcritic ♬ original sound - Keith Lee
Everyone has a vice, and for Keith Lee, it’s sneakers. He hasn’t been shy about openly expressing his love for sneakers, recently showing his sneaker collection on TikTok to his supporters. The massive shoe collection was apparent in the video while Lee expressed a new milestone. Telling his audience, “It’s been two weeks since I’ve bought a pair of sneakers.” He then shared that he is in the middle of a sneaker closet makeover! We love to see it!
7.From Door-Dasher To Partnering With DoorDash
@keith_lee125 Thank you to all the Dashers for doing what you do #doordashpartner @DoorDash #foodcritic ♬ original sound - Keith Lee
Before the “Keith Lee Effect,” a young Keith Lee was pursuing his dream of becoming a professional fighter. Working as a Door Dasher in between his fighting training, Lee used the money he made to provide him with gas and lunch to keep going. Fast forward a few years later, his hard work finally paid off in a way he didn’t expect, with a DoorDash partnership. Lee openly shared his DoorDash days in a video posted to social media.
8.A Faithful Man With A Hint Of Fear
It takes a fearless person to live life loudly on the internet. However, Keith Lee’s biggest fear isn’t the internet - it’s the ocean. An intense video was shared of Lee attempting to face his challenge of entering the ocean. Lee, known for his calming spirit, can be seen screaming while trying to go in. Friends are alongside Lee, encouraging him to dive in. One of his friends can be seen going into the ocean to provide Lee with comfort.
Lee hilariously goes into the ocean while accidentally flipping his boat and friend into the water. Thankfully, the two were able to make it back into the boat safe and sound.
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Featured image by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images