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
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Feature image by Franco Zulueta
Serena Williams Hits Back At Skin-Bleaching Accusations: 'I’m A Dark, Black Woman, And I Love Who I Am'
Serena Williams is clapping back at skin-bleaching accusations. During a makeup tutorial for her beauty brand, Wyn Beauty, the tennis legend took the opportunity to address the "haters."
“And then I put just that neutral color, that is actually my skin color, and no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” she said. “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors.”
The rumors started after the mom of two posted a video of herself and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, at their daughter's school play. In the video, she appeared to look a few shades lighter. During her response, she revealed that she was volunteering at the play and wore stage makeup.
“Yes, I’m calling you out on this because it is ridiculous that everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she bleached her skin,’" she said. "I’m a dark, Black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look and that's just not my thing.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion also said that she doesn't judge anyone who bleaches their skin as she "stays in my lane."
Serena has always had style on and off the court, and even collaborated with Nike with her own collection Serena Williams Design Crew. However, the tennis champ has now pivoted into beauty.
Wyn Beauty was launched in April 2024 with at 10-piece collection of lip, eye, and complexion products. The brand was inspired by Serena's time on the court and the packaging is reminiscent of a tennis ball due to its chartreuse color.
“Throughout my career, I was always searching for makeup that looked good after hours on the court, mixing products myself and creating my own formulas while traveling the world,” she said in a statement. As she continues to make a name for herself in the beauty industry, I'm sure we will see a lot more looks from the tennis star.
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Feature image by Marc Piasecki/WireImage