

I'll be 25 in two weeks and couldn't be more confused. As we age, women go through a metamorphosis of identity, mostly centered around society's standards of beauty and success. After a certain age, we stop being excited about birthdays and more concerned about life's more pressing philosophical questions:
Are these apples organic? Should I go vegan? Have I accomplished enough in my life? Am I happy with the state of my overall physical and mental health?
Coming of age soon seems to feel more like a death sentence than a milestone to be celebrated, and trailblazers like Demi Lovato are among the women of color seeking to change that. She recently opened up about how growing up for her meant finding balance between the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of her life.
Growing up a child star, Demi has had a sordid past in the media, but that didn't stop her quest to living her best life. Her history of bulimia and bipolar disorder led her to self-medicate and spiral into a dark hole of addiction. Now, after winning a battle with depression and substance abuse, the 25-year-old superstar is her own #LifeGoals. Demi is now 6 years sober and devoted to sharing her story in hopes that it will encourage others to live healthier lifestyles.
The actress and singer recently shared secrets about how she stays fully aligned and ready to slay despite her chaotic entertainment career and tumultuous history in the media. True wellness, according to Demi, is rooted in unconditional self-love.
Today, Demi has been successful on her road to recovery with 6 years sober under her belt, and a lifetime of wellness to pursue.
In an interview with Coveteur, Demi had a few words of advice for anyone seeking to live a healthier lifestyle, physically or mentally. Here are a few gems we got from Demi about keeping your body and mind in perfect shape:
Get a Hobby
"I love training [mixed martial arts]. A part of that is learning jujitsu. You can throw people and take people down. [It's] really cool. It just feels powerful when you do it.
"Because I've started training MMA and because now I feel like I'm able to protect myself, it's given me a confidence that I didn't have before and I didn't realize I was missing. I just feel safe and proud of myself that I know these skills. And that I might be able to take care of myself if something happens and, God forbid, security wasn't around. It also helps with my mental clarity—taking care of my body helps my mind."
Pick a hobby that gets you active and makes you feel good, and you'll look good in no time. If you're not a runner, you don't have to run to get your blood pumping. Try swimming or bicycling if you feel like they'll be a better fit to the skills you have, as long as you get that booty moving.
Break a Sweat
"Get in the gym. I think that breaking a sweat can make you feel so much better and release stress. Eating healthier helps a lot, too. What we're putting in our bodies affects our minds and our bodies. It's important that if we want to feel good, we treat ourselves good.
There's a direct correlation between exercise and mood, so if you want to get out of a funk, get in the gym! If there's a Planet Fitness in your area, you can get a membership for as low as $11 a month. If a membership isn't in your budget, just get outside! I have to remind myself how important it is to take care of my body, I mean, it is the only place I have to live.
Chill Out, Girl
When asked how she likes to relax, Demi said:
"I like to put on my sweats, take off my makeup, and watch some crime shows like 'Forensic Files', 'Dateline', and '48 Hours.'"
Are you taking time the unwind? Make sure you're not working at full power on a low battery because you'll certainly crash soon! Sometimes I'm so goal-focused that I forget to eat, or catch up on my favorite shows, or… breathe. Name the things that you like to do or make you feel alive and use your downtime to actually do those things and not feel guilty about it.
Lighten Up, Buttercup
"I don't put any rules for my diet [on] myself. When you start doing that, you start craving those things more. That's how it is for me. I say, 'I'm not going to eat carbs.' Well, I'm just going to crave carbs tomorrow, and then when I get carbs, I'm just going to eat a lot of them. I don't put rules on my food anymore."
Am I keto? Or paleo? Or vegan? Or just thicker than a snicker?
I have no clue what I'm doing, I just know I have to make sure that it feels good to me. Demi admitted to taking a dip in the candy bowl, as chocolate is her vice of choice, and that's what makes her so dope.
None of us are perfect, but Demi proves that it's up to us as women to seek and nurture our own perceptions of beauty and wellness so that they won't be defined for us.
Read her Coveteur feature in full by clicking here.
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- Demi Lovato Workout | Fitness Magazine ›
- Demi Lovato's Diet and Exercise | POPSUGAR Fitness ›
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'Sistas' Star Skyh Black On The Power Of Hypnotherapy & Emotional Vulnerability For Men
In this insightful episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Sistas star Skyh Black, as he opened up about his journey of emotional growth, resilience, and self-discovery. The episode touches on emotional availability, self-worth, masculinity, and the importance of therapy in overcoming personal struggles.
Skyh Black on Emotional Availability & Love
On Emotional Availability & Vulnerability
“My wife and I wouldn't be where we are today if both of us weren't emotionally available,” he shared about his wife and Sistas co-star KJ Smith, highlighting the value of vulnerability and emotional openness in a relationship. His approach to masculinity stands in contrast to the traditional, stoic ideals. Skyh is not afraid to embrace softness as part of his emotional expression.
On Overcoming Self-Doubt & Worthiness Issues
Skyh reflected on the self-doubt and worthiness issues that he struggled with, especially early in his career. He opens up about his time in Los Angeles, living what he calls the “LA struggle story”—in a one-bedroom with three roommates—and being homeless three times over the span of 16 years. “I always had this self-sabotaging thought process,” Skyh said. “For me, I feel therapy is essential, period. I have a regular therapist and I go to a hypnotherapist.”
How Therapy Helped Him Heal From Self-Doubt
On Hypnotherapy & Empowering Self-Acceptance
Skyh’s journey is a testament to the power of tapping into self-development despite life’s struggles and being open to growth. “I had to submit to the fact that God was doing good in my life, and that I'm worthy of it. I had a worthiness issue and I did not realize that. So, that’s what the hypnotherapy did. It brought me back to the core. What is wrong so that I can fix it?”
Watch the full podcast episode below:
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Quinta Brunson Gets Real About Divorce, Boundaries & Becoming
Quinta Brunson is the woman who chooses herself, even when the world is watching. And in her June 30 cover story for Bustle, she gives us a rare glimpse into the soft, centered place she's navigating her life from now. From leading one of television's most beloved series in the last decade to quietly moving through life shifts, the creator of Abbott Elementary is walking through a personal evolution and doing so with intention, grace, and a firm grip on her boundaries.
Back in March, the 35-year-old filed for divorce from Kevin Jay Anik after nearly three years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." The news hit the headlines of news outlets fast, but Quinta hadn't planned to announce their dissolution to the public so quickly.
Quinta Brunson On Divorce, Public Scrutiny & Sacred Boundaries
"I remember seeing people be like, ‘She announced her divorce,’" she told Bustle. “I didn’t announce anything. I think people have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move. None of us do. I promise you. No one wants [everyone] to know when you buy a house, when you move, when a major change happens in your personal life. It’s just that that’s public record information."
In regards to her private moves becoming tabloid fodder, Quinta continued, "I hated that. I hate all of it."
"I Am An Artist First": Quinta On Cutting Her Hair & Reclaiming Herself
Still, the diminutive phenom holds her crown high in the face of change and is returning to the essence of who she is, especially as an artist. "Cutting my hair reminded me that I am an artist first. I want to feel things. I want to make choices. I want to be a person, and not just stuck in having to be a certain way for business." It's giving sacred rebirth. It's giving self-liberation. It's especially giving main character energy.
And while the headlines keep spinning their narratives, the one that Quinta is focused on is her own. For her, slowing down and nourishing herself in ways that feed her is what matters. "It’s a transitional time. I think it’s true for me and my personal life, and it’s how I feel about myself, my career, and the world," Quinta shared with Bustle. “I feel very serious about focusing on watering my own gardens, taking care of myself and the people around me who I actually interact with day-to-day."
That includes indulging in simple rituals that ground her like "making myself a meal" which has become "really, really important to me."
That spirit of agency doesn't stop at the personal. In her professional world, as the creator, executive producer, and lead actress of the critically-acclaimed Abbott Elementary, Quinta understands the weight her choices carry, both on- and off-screen. She revealed to Bustle, "People used to tell me at the beginning of this that the No. 1 on the call sheet sets the tone, and the producer sets the tone — and I’m both of those roles."
She continued, "I understand now, after doing this for four years, how important it was that I set the tone that I did when we first started."
Quinta doesn't just lead, she understands the importance of curating the energy of any space she enters. Even amid a season of shifts and shedding, her power speaks loudly. Sometimes that power looks like quiet resistance. Sometimes that power is soft leadership.
And sometimes that power looks like cutting your hair and taking back your name in rooms that have forgotten you were an artist long before you were a brand.
Read Quinta's cover story on Bustle here to witness the fullness of Quinta's becoming.
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