Alicia Keys
On their anniversary, Alicia shared the sweetest words saying that she and Swizz are deeper than soulmates, they are twin flames. By definition, a twin flame is someone you have an incredibly intense soul connection with. Think "mirror to your soul."
Deeper Than Soulmates
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We all swooned when reading Alicia's caption honoring their vows on Instagram. Their love is real and we appreciate the authenticity of it all. Do you know how deep it is to say that someone is your soul's mirror? That's deep, deep. It's evident that their souls are made up of the same abundance and how beautiful is it that Alicia and Swizz found that kind of love when they found each other.
Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz's Relationship History
Their love story didn't begin like a fairy tale. The two met as teenagers during a music project trip to Egypt. Alicia's first impression of Swizz was far from love at first sight. In 2013, she told Marie Claire, "Honestly, I didn't really like him that much. I thought he was too ostentatious." She went on to say:
"Swizz will have the fastest car, the biggest jewelry, the loudest jacket. Everything with him is really over the top. I used to see him and think, 'He is so annoying.'"
Once the Grammy-winning artist started seeing the rapper in a different light, this began the lovers' controversial journey. It's no secret that Swizz was still married to his first wife, Mashonda Tifrere, when rumors started swirling about his relationship with Alicia in 2008. Before we knew it, Mashonda told the world via Twitter that Alicia was "destroying her family." Swizz had a different perspective; he and Mashonda were separated. Chile, the whole situation was messy because there was also word that he had been having multiple affairs.
Despite all the schadenfreude, Alicia kept "Fallin" for Swizz and became the poster child for "I'mma stick beside him!" In 2010, Swizz proposed and the couple tied the knot just two months after the engagement. Together, they share two children, Genesis and Egypt. And they have also found a way to be one big happy blended family with Mashonda. The three superstars have noted that it took lots of time and prayers to make it on their love roller coaster. During an ABC Nightline special, Alicia shared:
"We love each other. We hang out with each other. We go to dinner together. Our family is one big, beautiful family... It is a beautiful partnership. I'm very, very proud of that. It's a real thing, and it's possible."
Mashonda even asked the wedded couple to help her with her book, Blend: The Secret to Co-Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family, a guide to creating an environment for kids rooted in happiness and health.
Today, you see a strong, loving husband and wife because they have really done the work. We pray their love gets stronger and stronger and make it another 11 years and another 11 years after that. To keep the lovefest going, keep reading for some of the sweetest quotes on their love.
Alicia on meeting Swizz after their initial introduction:
"The more we talked the more I noticed how his mind worked. Beyond the baggy jeans and arm tats there was depth. He was so aware of what was happening around the world."
Alicia on being his canvas:
"Later, stroke by stroke in the shadows of dusk, he turned me into his masterpiece, covering me in swirls of yellows, reds and purples. Never have I experienced anything more sensual. Which is why, when I missed my period a few weeks later, I wasn't exactly surprised. As that winter gave way to spring, we relished two pleasures: the engagement and the pregnancy."
Alicia to Swizz on their love:
"One of the best secrets is that we're friends. Best friends. We actually listen to each other and share with each other and are thoughtful about how the other feels."
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Featured image by Steve Granitz/WireImage
Lucky for us, we have some role models that have shown us the power of monetizing our passions, no matter what they are. Ahead, you'll find celebs who are living proof that there are various ways to create your own wealth. Their successful money moves have earned them their rightful place on this list.
Rihanna Net Worth: $1.7B
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty
Our girl Rihanna is now a billionaire and no one is more than deserving of that title. Yes, we all want an album from her, but we also can't help but support every venture she takes on. The way she dominates every arena she steps in is simply inspiring. Forbes estimates Robyn Rihanna Fenty is the wealthiest female musician in the world with the majority of her wealth deriving from her inclusive beauty line, Fenty Beauty.
Some other streams of income:
- Savage X Fenty, lingerie clothing brand
- Fenty Skin, skincare line that acts as an extension of Fenty Beauty
- Fenty Maison, a luxury clothing brand
- Fenty Parfum, her newly released sold-out fragrance
- Music
- The Rihanna Book
Issa Rae Net Worth: $4M
Lee Vuitton/AM PR Group via Getty Images
On- and off-screen, Issa Rae is the poster child for creating your own table. The once YouTube star became a media mogul in a little over a decade by staying true to herself and creating work that moves our culture forward. Rae's cult-favorite HBO show Insecurehas garnered her a loyal following. So watching her lay the groundwork for her next level is everything a creative needs.
That groundwork includes:
- ColorCreative TV, production company
- The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, New York Times bestseller non-fiction book
- Hilltop Coffee & Kitchen; Rae partnered with the coffee shop to open multiple locations
- Raedio, music label with Atlantic Records
- Executive Producer Deal with Netflix
- Sienna Naturals, co-owner of haircare brand
Serena Williams Net Worth: $210M
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for IMG
Did you know that Serena Williams has over 15 corporate partners? Her $94 million in career prize money is twice as much as any other female athlete has made. That's according to Forbes, who also says that the tennis star has invested in over 50 startups over the past seven years.
When she's not reigning supreme on the court, she is:
- sitting on the boards of Poshmark and SurveyMonkey
- investing in the non-fungible tokens (NFT) platform, Bitski
- signing a first-look TV deal with Amazon Studios that includes a docuseries about her life
- creating products for her clothing line, S by Serena
- sitting pretty as a 0.5% owner of the Miami Dolphins
Not to mention her endorsement deals from Aston Martin to Beats By Dre.
Oprah Winfrey Net Worth: $2.7B
David Livingston/Getty Images
When your work ethic is so strong that it's been dubbed "The Oprah Effect", you know it's real. Funny enough, Winfrey has been quoted saying, "The reason I've been able to be so financially successful is my focus has never, not for one minute, been money." Who would have known that the woman who used to borrow money from her mom's purse would be the same woman who has nine streams of income?
To name some streams:
- The Oprah Winfrey Show, spanning over 25 years
- Harpo Productions (chief executive of the Oprah Winfrey Network, founder of O, The Oprah Magazine, etc)
- Actress & voice actor
- Producer of hit series and films, Queen Sugar, Greenleaf, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Oprah's Master Class
- Weight Watchers investor
- Author of books like The Wisdom of Sundays and What I Know For Sure
- Freelance journalist
Beyonce Net Worth: $440M
Brad Barket/Getty Images for TIDAL
"I have paid my dues and followed every rule for decades, so now I can break the rules that need to be broken," Beyonce recently shared in Harper's Bazaar's Icon issue. She is the epitome of a self-made woman and a living icon. We love watching her pave the way for new talent in the most authentic way. It's definitely the quality for us because she gives 200% to everything attached to her name. This child of Destiny is a global brand from music sales, publishing, touring, and endorsements.
We can't forget her other accomplishments:
- Founder of Parkwood Entertainment, management, and entertainment company
- Owner of IVY PARK, an athleisure clothing line with Adidas
- Netflix deal worth $60 million
- Recently sold her stake in TIDAL streaming service
Alicia Keys Net Worth: $150M
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Alicia Keys is a superwoman. She is also a proud businesswoman. In an interview with PINK, she says, "Business is about trial and error. There's no foolproof [business] plan and whatever you end up doing, you need to be passionate about. It's not about getting rich overnight, but about your belief in it and your passion – that's the way amazing things happen." Keys also believes that as an artist and a person that has been in business for a lot of years, going outside of her main business of music, helps her discover her creative potential as an entrepreneur.
Some ways she's exploring that potential include:
- AK Worldwide, an investment firm
- Partnership with Bento Interactive, "The Journals of Mama Lee and Lee Lee", an interactive storytelling app for kids that features her original, exclusive tracks
- Co-creator of Keys Soulcare, a beauty and wellness brand
Queen Latifah Net Worth: $70M
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
It's no secret that Queen Latifah is a Jackie of All Trades. Since she entered the game, she has made sound money moves. Back in the day, she started investing and never stopped. The multi-hyphenate's first investment was in a delicatessen and a video store located on the first floor of the building where she lived. We have enjoyed watching the queen transition from hip-hop to television to the big screen.
Queen Latifah's Resume:
- Co-owner of Flavor Unit Entertainment, a firm that includes television and film production units, a record label, and an artist management company
- Partnership with CoverGirl, The Queen Collection
- Partial owner in New York Spring Water, the manufacturer of VBlast vitamin-fortified water
- Author, Put on Your Crown: Life-Changing Moments on the Path to Queendom
- Queen By Queen Latifah Eau-de-parfume
Featured image by Lee Vuitton/AM PR Group via Getty Images
For most of us, nighttime is the most glorious time of the day. The kids (if applicable) are in bed, your work for the day is done, you've got your essential oils burning, and it's time to wind TF down. But personally, one of my favorite times of the evening is when I can light a candle, roll a fat one, and completely consume myself in my skincare routine.
I've grown to learn that no matter how busy I am, I owe it to myself (and my skin) to take at least 30 minutes out of my day to truly take care of myself and not feel bad about it, damn it, and Alicia Keys agrees with me.
Recently, the famously bare-faced beauty dropped a "Get Unready With Me" video on her youtube page where she broke down her skincare regimen and filled us in the products that keep her sometimes difficult skin blemish-free and according to her, incorporating sulfur into your nighttime routine might be the stinky skincare secret you didn't know you needed. She explained:
"If you've ever gone to places that have sulfur, it's like when you're driving down the highway and you smell that egg smell, and everybody in the car is like, 'Oh, who farted?' That's sulfur. It smells like a fart. But whatever the case, sulfur is the bomb."
Along with her sulfur-infused Advanced Anti-Blemish Lotion, Alicia says things like her candles, essential oils, Sacred Rose Water aromatherapy spray, and the palo santo stick are essential parts of her nighttime routine that allow her to get her intentions all the way together (and camouflage the smell of sulfur before she gets in bed). In the video, Alicia explained that as a wife, a mother, and an entertainer, her skincare routine has become less of task on her to-do list and more of an act of self-care:
"For me, even if it's just five minutes at the end of the day I need it and I bet you need it too. I actually love getting undone at night. My husband always like, what are you doing in there? But it's my time. No, I love taking the time to just bring it down."
For more of the nighttime products that prepare Alicia's slay for the next day, scroll below!
An Organic Therapeutic Toner with Honey
Photo via YouTube
Watch the full clip below!
Get Unready With Meyoutu.be
Featured image screengrab via Alicia Keys/YouTube
