Money Moves: Beyonce, Issa Rae, & Other Celebs Who Are In Their Bag So Far In 2020
When you rolled out of bed this morning and headed to your respective places of work, did you consider that you have everything you need to be successful?
It's 2020 and we're investing, paying off debt, and generating multiple streams of income all 2020, sis, and there's no time for excuses. No matter what your financial situation may be, there will always be a bag to secure if you're ambitious, innovative, and know your sh*t.
Just look at celebrities like Beyoncé, who took a deep dive into the athletic wear industry and sold out in 24 hours, or Issa Rae who leveraged her love for music into a lucrative money move—there's always money to be made (and spent) so it's important that you take it and invest in your future (not waste it).
From acquiring new companies to signing joint partnership deals, these celebrities have been in their bag this year.
Here's all the inspiration you need to do CPR on your vision and get your finances all the way together:
Beyonce
Yeah, Beyoncé's in her bag but she's in our bag too—or whatever Meg Thee Stallion said. Last week, Queen Bey announced the release of her joint collection with Adidas and the internet went crazy.
Ahead of the IVY PARK x Adidas debut, in a major marketing move, Bey sent care packages to some of our favorite celebs—including but not limited to Yara Shahidi, Alicia Keys, and Janelle Monae—and ultimately sold out of every product (except two very fly logo belts) in one day.
Along with her latest venture with the athletic wear brand, Variety also reported that Beyonce recently signed a deal with Sony/ATV—the largest publisher in the world.
Issa Rae
Issa Rae finally came through with a teaser and a release date the fourth season of Insecure, but the HBO series is only one of the many projects that Issa has in the works currently.
Along with the debut of The Photograph and Love Birds in theaters this year, Issa Rae has also been intentional about building her presence in the music industry. Last month, Issa Rae announced her co-ownership of a coffee shop in Inglewood and this week, a report revealed that the multifaceted maven recently acquired the music supervision firm, Bonfire, whose credits include The Get Down, Godfather of Harlem, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
K. Michelle
If you're in Atlanta this Saturday or any Saturday in the near future, make sure to pull up at one of the newest lounges on Cascade for fiery drinks, southern-cooked meals, and even a celebrity sighting or two.
A collaboration between K. Michelle, who owns Puff & Petals, and Atlanta restaurateur, Shema Fulton, Puff meets petal is a one-of-a-kind pop-up dining experience at Parc Garden. Shema, who originally lost her restaurant in a fire, teamed up with K after the singer temporarily closed down her restaurant to search for a new venue and the rest is history. K told Atlanta Black Star:
"A lot of times when you get in business with someone you find out they're not up to par. She's easy to work with and she [Fulton] knows what she's doing. It was a no-brainer. It just made sense."
Taraji P. Henson
As years of playing Cookie Lyon are soon coming to an end, Taraji P. Henson is on a mission to build an empire of her own. Earlier this month, the 49-year-old actress dropped her new haircare line at Target that promises to put an end to our frail follicle woes.
Designed specifically for protective styles, Taraji's latest brand was crafted with Black women in mind and is sure to get all our coins. In addition to her newly launched company, Taraji will also help secure a bag for Girls Who Code during her Super Bowl commercial.
Featured image by Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Self-Validation, No Meals After 5 P.M. & The Wellness Rituals That Helped Lizzo Take Her Power Back
Don't let the "weight release" fool you, Lizzo's transformation wasn't just physical. It was spiritual, emotional, and deeply personal. In her Women's Health cover story, the "Good As Hell" artist opened up about the low point that became the catalyst for radical change in her life, inside and out.
In the summer of 2023, Lizzo found herself at the center of what she calls painful allegations when some of her former dancers filed a lawsuit against her. The 37-year-old singer has denied their claims, and though she has experienced "backlash my entire career," going through such legal woes coupled with public scrutiny proved to be detrimental to her mental health, leading her to one of the darkest periods of her life.
She told Women's Health, "I got very paranoid and isolated. I wasn’t even talking to my therapist. I wasn’t present. I wasn’t open. I wasn’t myself anymore."
After spending months in isolation, Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, decided to go to a tour stop on the Renaissance World Tour. She was nervous that the public would shun her, boo her, or reject her, but instead, she was embraced. It shifted something in her and after feeling so in the dark, she saw the light again. "It made me feel like, wow, maybe I don’t want to die," she shared with Women's Health.
"That was the kick-starter to me being like, ‘Okay, Melissa, get your ass in gear and take your f*cking life back.’"
Her first step in Operation Get Your Life Back? Cutting out the external noise. She gave her team total control of her social media and stopped looking at comments. "My validation was from external sources, people telling me they loved me, or that I look good, and accepting me," she explained. "But if that’s all I’m getting my validation from, when it changes—and it will, because people are not always going to like you—what happens? Where are you going to get your love from?"
Lizzo continued, "I can convince myself that I’m beautiful, my body fine, no matter how big or small. But reminding myself that you can’t let others tell you who you are—that was hard work."
Lizzo started going to therapy again, she started practicing quigong meditation, reading books, journaling, and doing sound baths. She released unhealthy relationships, drank echinacea tea, and began incorporating Pilates as a means to "feel sacred" and "be gentle" with herself.
But what many have interpreted as a "weight loss transformation" after she popped out sharing she met her "weight release" goal earlier this year, Lizzo has clarified that it has been something deeper for her than the aesthetic of a smaller body. "I wanted to be big-girl skinny," she told the mag. "Every big girl knows what I’m talking about. Big-girl skinny is 250 pounds." According to her, it was her back issues that inspired her to take the physical part of her wellness journey seriously.
I DID IT! #weightrelease
@lizzo I DID IT! #weightrelease
Through her friend Kelly Rowland, she linked up with her now-trainer Marvin Telp and developed a fitness regimen that prioritized strength and intention. Her weekly schedule now includes moves like single-leg deadlifts, reverse flies, and lateral lunges, along with infrared sauna sessions and cardio. Add to that a change in eating habits after realizing her vegan diet no longer served her (to be fair, she wasn't doing the vegan thing the "healthiest" way).
All the meat substitutes, bread, cashew cheese, and soy left her bloated and lightheaded, so now she's switched things up a bit to fill the nutritional gaps. When it comes to diet, it's heavy on the protein and vegetables for Lizzo. A typical day eating looks like scrambled eggs and cauliflower hash browns for breakfast, Thai chicken salad or lettuce wraps for lunch, and turkey meatloaf with greens for dinner.
She also has a strict cutoff of no meals after 5 p.m. to support her GERD and give her body the time it needs before bed to digest her food sans the acid reflux. Of her relationship with food and wellness, she told Women's Health, "There's a balance. I think that's what true health is."
Read Lizzo's full cover story with Women's Health here.
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Featured image by Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock