The Black and Brown wellness and fitness baddies had 2023 in a chokehold, and they're still going strong. Many are creating apps, advocating for body positivity, and showing us that we can redefine narrow, sometimes-misinformed mantras of what "wellness" really means, especially as women of color. And there's indeed money to be made, with professionals---who ensure you're at your healthiest---tapping into the $5.6 trillion industry with boldness and innovation.
That being said (or read), let's get into a few great career options---based on 2024 wellness trends forecast by experts---for women who are passionate about empowering and motivating others to achieve their health goals, and who want to find ways to leverage their skills in those industries to make a good living:
1. Doula/Childbirth Consultant
According to a recent McKinsey report, women are investing more in pregnancy- and mother-related products and services, especially in the realm of women-focused healthcare and facilities. With the underrepresentation of Black and Brown women in the space, this is the perfect opportunity to not only be a disruptor but to expand on the world of the esteemed foremothers of doula and childbirth work.
In this role, where you'll offer physical, emotional, and informational support, you can earn up to $81,000 a year, depending on the region, education, experience, and training.
Per a recent report, women are investing more in pregnancy.
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2. Somnologist/Sleep Coach
The report also indicates that sleep is a key area in terms of wellness trends, with more women looking to increase quantity and quality, with 37 percent of U.S. consumers expressing "a desire for additional sleep and mindfulness products and services." If this is your thing, an intriguing option is becoming a professional who studies and/or treats sleeping disorders or someone who can help women find strategies and methods to help them build healthy sleeping habits or pinpoint barriers to that.
You can earn more than $200,000 per year as a somnologist, and the job requires earning a medical and/or doctoral degree as well as licensing. Sleep coaches can earn six-figure annual salaries as well, but the job doesn't necessarily require a college degree. You'll need training, of course, and you won't have the same duties of a doctor (i.e., diagnosing disorders or prescribing medicines).
3. Holistic Healthcare Practitioner
These professionals address the physical, mental, and even spiritual when considering treatments and remedies when it comes to healthcare. For some, there's an implementation and consideration of science and non-traditional medicine, while others skew more toward natural ways of constructing plans for healing. Certifications and training make for a more credible position in the industry, and you can earn more than $126,000 per year in this role.
If you're fascinated by the connection between our guts and our overall health, this is another realm you can explore under this umbrella, as more than 50 percent of people in the U.S., U.K., and China are prioritizing gut health, according to this report. The average base yearly salary for a gastroenterologist is more than $300,000 in top markets; naturopathic physicians can make more than $100,000 yearly, and as a credentialed physician or nurse, you can specialize in gut health with a natural approach.
Intuitive healing and spiritual wellness are also becoming more of a priority for women, according to this expert, and tools like immersive ASMR are being used for optimal mental wellness, so if you're into ways of combining the nontraditional with traditional when in a healing practice, this role might be perfect for you.
Kickboxing is just one of the combat sports "expected to go more mainstream" in 2024.
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4. Combat Fitness Instructor
Hear me out: We need more Black and Brown women in fields like this, especially since, per the experts, combat sports are "expected to go more mainstream" this year. We're talking about the cardio and other health-related benefits that come from doing activities like jiu-jitsu, karate, kickboxing, to name a few. And if you've ever done a Tae Bo class, whether in-person or via YouTube (a trademarked fitness system created and made famous by Billy Blanks), you've witnessed firsthand what a mix of martial arts and aerobics can do.
You can earn upwards of $76,000 depending on the market and your level of experience, or you can charge by the hour as a freelance instructor. You can also build up your own online platform, create courses for corporations or small businesses, or get hired on women's retreats.
5. Wellness Retreat Entrepreneur
Speaking of retreats, they're all the rage nowadays, and you can't really open your TikTok or Instagram app without seeing an ad for one targeting women. (I mean, just consider how women are willing to pay more than $15,000 for a retreat to help them address the effects of perimenopause and menopause.) And with "slow travel" being a top trend forecast by experts, travelers are apparently craving experiences for grounding, coping with burnout and anxiety, or other mental health restoration that contributes to women's wellness efforts. So, getting into organizing and/or hosting wellness retreats might be your best career move this year.
There are so many facets one could get into with this, so the money you can make doing this can vary. Entrepreneurs and hosts who lead retreats can sure see five- and six-figure revenues for sure, and depending on the scale of the retreat, whether sponsors are involved, and how vast participation is, it can increase to millions.
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Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
Meanwhile, frankincense and myrrh originate from the Middle East and Africa (you know, like the Bible does — some folks need to be reminded of that—eh hem — Trumpers) and ginger? It too helps with indigestion (which can definitely creep up at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables); plus, it’s a key ingredient for ginger snaps and gingerbread houses. So, as you can see, holiday-themed scents have a rhyme and reason to them.
Tying this all in together — several years ago, I penned an article for the platform entitled, “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry ‘Christmas Sex’?” Well, in the spirit of revisiting some of that content, with a bit of a twist, I decided to broach some traditional holiday scents from the perspective of which ones will do your libido a ton of good from now through New Year’s Eve (check out “Make This Your Best NYE. For Sex. EVER.”).
Are you ready to check some of them out, so that, whether it’s via a candle, a diffuser, some essential oil, or some DIY body cream (check out “How To Incorporate All Five Senses To Have The Best Sex Ever”), you can bring some extra festive ambiance into your own boudoir? Excellent.
1. Vanilla
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When it comes to holiday desserts, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find recipes that don’t include vanilla — and that alone explains why it is considered to be a traditional holiday scent. As far as your libido goes, vanilla is absolutely considered to be an aphrodisiac — partly because its sweet scent is considered to be very sensual. Some studies even reveal that vanillin (the active ingredient in vanilla) is able to increase sexual arousal and improve erectile dysfunction in men. So, if you adore the smell, here is more incentive to use it.
2. Frankincense
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Although, typically, when people think about frankincense (and myrrh), it’s in the context of the gifts that the wise men brought Christ after he was born; it’s a part of the biblical Christmas story. However, frankincense goes much deeper than that. Sexually, since it has an earthy and spicy scent, some people like to use it to meditate (check out “What Exactly Is 'Orgasmic Meditation'?”). Also, since it has the ability to put you in a better mood, soothe and soften your skin and maintain your oral health — with the help of frankincense, every touch and kiss can be that much…sexier.
3. Cinnamon
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I already gave cinnamon a shout-out in the intro. Personally, I’ve been a fan of it, in the sex department, for a long time now (check out “12 ‘Sex Condiments’ That Can Make Coitus Even More...Delicious”). When it’s in oil form, it can be very sweet to the taste while sending a warm sensation throughout the body — which is why the giver and receiver of oral sex can benefit from its usage. Beyond that, cinnamon helps to increase blood flow to your genital region, elevate sexual desire and, some studies say that it can even help improve fertility. Beautiful.
4. Peppermint
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If there’s a signature candy for the holiday season, it’s probably a candy cane — which automatically puts peppermint in the running for being an official holiday scent. Pretty much, in any form, it’s got your sex life’s back because it’s hailed as being a sexual stimulant; in part, because its smell is so invigorating. Plus, it helps to (eh hem) ease headaches, it gives you more energy and it can definitely help to freshen your breath. Also, that minty sensation? The same thing that I said about cinnamon can apply to peppermint too (if you catch my drift).
5. Ginger
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Whether it’s in a meal or in your bedroom, ginger is going to produce results that are hella spicy. On the sex tip, science has praised ginger for being able to increase sexual arousal, improve blood circulation (which intensifies orgasms) and strengthen fertility for many years. Scent-wise, I find it to be one that both men and women enjoy because it is both woodsy and sweet. So, if you’ve got some massage oil in mind, adding some ginger is a way to please you both.
6. Pomegranate
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September through December is the time of year when pomegranates are considered to be in season. And, as someone who is a Rosh Hashanah observer, I have a personal adoration for them because I am aware of the various things that they symbolize in Hebrew culture including the fact that they are a fruit that represents love and fertility. So yeah, they would absolutely be an aphrodisiac — one that is perfect for this time of the year. While consuming it helps to boost testosterone levels in both men and women, the floral bittersweet smell that it produces can help to reduce stress while promoting relaxation (like most floral scents do) — and the more relaxed you are, the easier it is to climax.
7. Nutmeg
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Another signature seasoning during the holiday season is nutmeg. It’s perfect in Thanksgiving sweet potato (or pumpkin) pie and Christmas morning French toast. And yes, it can also make your sex life better. If you consume it, it can intensify your libido and, overall, its warm-meets-spicy-meets-sweet smell is so inviting that it is considered to be a pretty seductive scent.
8. Cloves
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I ain’t got not one lie to tell you — if you’ve got a toothache, put some clove oil on that bad boy and send me a Christmas present for putting you on game. Aside from that, as I round all of this out, cloves are another holiday scent that can do wonders for your sex life. For men, it has the ability to significantly increase sexual arousal and improve stamina and endurance. For men and women alike, it also has a reputation for strengthening sexual desire. And for women solely? Well, if you want an all-natural way to increase natural lubrication down below — the scent and and feel (in DILUTED oil form) can make that happen. It can make the holidays especially special…if you know what I mean.
Ah yes — the atmosphere of the holidays and what it can do.
Take it all in! Scent ‘n whatever stimulating that comes with it! #wink
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