
All About Love: Diddy Reinventing His Persona Is A Healing Flex We Love To See

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is known for many things. He's a mogul, a rapper, super-producer, and influencer. He's a liquor connoisseur, dancer, and an extremely present father. You can call him Puff, P. Diddy, or a multitide of other names that he has accumulated throughout his fame, which he affectionately refers to as eras.
But for now, the man with all the plans, wants you to call him Love.
He originally announced the news on social media back in May, and followed it up with a picture of the driver's license that lists 'Love' as his legal middle name. Since, he has been bringing all the vibes, which listen, I am completely here for. Why? Well, Love is all about spreading his namesake to the people, making right what he may have done in the past, and having a genuine allyship in the fight for the culture. So many with the resources needed to secure the future for the culture, never make their stance known for the benefit of its progression. But there comes a time when power is bigger than what any critic of our movement has to say, and now Love has recognized his power, joining the ranks of LeBron James, Jay-Z, Master P, and many others who selflessly give to the vision. And that's a healing flex that we love to see (yes, this pun was intended).
Love recently sat down for an interview and video with Vanity Fair to discuss his latest era. A few of our favorite moments are below:
On Critics Who Don't Believe The Hype
Former Bad Boy artists such as The LOX, Mase, Day26, and others, have publicly criticized Combs for trapping them in what they felt were unfair deals in the past. There's been no secret that his previous deals with artists have had their fair share of critique. But Love isn't interested in going back and forth on how the music business operates.
"I can't get caught up in that. I know where my heart is at, and you can't just do it alone with just Black people. You got to have all types of allies. And that's one thing I'm good at, I'm good at being a unifier, but I'm not going to be in a room with other tribes that protect themselves and make sure that they straight and not make sure that we straight. But also, I'm not a politician, I'm not trying to be the king or the dictator of somebody. I'm a boy from Harlem that came here to make a change. We all have our story."
His New Plans For An R&B Record Label
To his publicist's surprise, the mogul ultimately discloses that he is getting into the R&B game, starting with his own album, referencing that R&B is where he started and that it's not just for himself, but for the culture.
"I'm coming back into music, you know? Yeah, all R&B label, because I feel like R&B was abandoned and it's a part of our African American culture. And I'm not signing any artists. Because if you know better, you do better. I'm doing 50–50 partnerships with pure transparency. That's the thing. [The new label is so that] we can own the genre; we don't own hip-hop right now. We have a chance to—and I'm going to make sure that—we own R&B."
Okayyyy!
On His Continued Activism, Particularly For Black People
Combs has lived a fruitful life and is fortunate enough to able to sit back and not do anything about what plagues our community. But he refuses to do so, as over the span of his career, he's always found time to fight.
"If you living on this earth and you trying to keep on dealing with this shit, that ain't the way we going to live. And people out there that are tired of it. And it's not just a Black and white thing. You know what I'm saying? It's just tired of the way that it doesn't have to be. Like when they said it was over—when they said in the #MeToo, when it was over, it was over."
He reveals that all of his newfound openness is inspired by the movement and that now he's on a five-year plan to see legitimate changes.
"The #MeToo movement, the truth, is that it inspired me. It showed me that you can get maximum change. I feel like that's one of the biggest missions that will actually shift things. But besides that, we—the world—is different. We have the internet, we have the power, we have a culture, I have us on a five-year plan."
A plan that he specifies for Black people. He continues:
"My people taking time to feel like it's all right to love. Take time to huddle up your tribe, take time to communicate and know your power. Take time to heal. You know what I'm saying, [taking care of] yourself without feeling like, oh, you're going to be labeled a racist now because you talk about taking care of yourself."
On The Infamous J.Lo Post
When it comes to J.Lo, Combs makes it clear: don't expect another Diddy-Lopez romance. He and J.Lo are just friends. In a now-deleted post, he posted the star with the caption, "tbt" a month after her break-up with Alex Rodriguez. But since their breakup, Combs, 51, and Lopez, 52, have remained friendly and even reunited in 2018 at Lopez's All I Have Las Vegas residency show wrap party—as well as at a charity event last year, which Lopez attended with then-fiancé Rodriguez.
"It was just a throwback post from a great time in [my] life. It wasn't no trolling involved, that's just my friend. And I don't have nothing to say about her relationship or her life."
Mmmm-hmm.
On Losing Kim Porter
Personal loss is something that Combs has experienced often within the last few years. The mother of three of his six children, Kim Porter, died in 2018. His mentor and friend Andre Harrell died in 2020. He talks openly about how private losses moved him to reconsider his life's work. Combs describes Porter as the love of his life, and always has. He even reveals that his daughters want him to settle down and get out of these streets.
"And so, you know, I had to start to deal with it when I lost Kim. 'Cause I was like, man, you had it. I'm not saying I would do any of it differently. God willing—I would have had more time," he says, then adds, "I look at my life as I got a second chance. I'm on my second mountain."
Watch the Vanity Fair clip below for more:
Click here to read the full Vanity Fair interview.
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Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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From Teen Pilot To Aviation Leader: Beth Powell Talks Career Journey And Making History
Captain Beth Powell, aviation leader and founder of Queen B Production, a company dedicated to empowering diverse voices through meaningful storytelling, is an innovative entrepreneur with a deep commitment to philanthropy and inspiring future generations. This commitment started as a teen in St. Ann, Jamaica during her first flight in the cockpit. “I felt that rush of being able to do something amazing," she shared. “So many people want to get into the path of aviation and they don't really know how. So I sat down—as my own daughter is going through the process—and I'm writing a blueprint for her and for the world.”
Now, with more than 20 years of experience in professional aviation, starting with American Eagle Airlines and then on to becoming a captain at American Airlines, she has continued to pay it forward. In 2022, she made history as the first commercial airline captain to lead an all-Black, women-led flight crew. She has also written a biography on Bessie Coleman, the first African-American and Native-American woman to earn a pilot’s license, and produced and directed, Discovering Bessie Coleman, working alongside the family to get the project completed. Add to that her role as a founder of consulting firm LadyAv8rBeth, which offers a guide of pathways into aviation, and as a podcast host covering all things aviation.
For Women’s History Month, xoNecole caught up with the busy pilot, in between flights, to talk about her career journey, her role in a Bessie Coleman documentary and book, how she balances self-care and safety, and how other Black women can add to the aviation legacy:
xoNecole: You’ve built an successful career in aviation. And you were only 15 and already had your first flight. Were you afraid at all, or did it feel like second nature to you?
Beth Powell: It felt completely natural. There was no fear, just excitement and curiosity.
Now, it’s what they call STEM, and my teacher at the time thought that I was really good at numbers. He recommended three career paths, and I tried the first one.
I didn't understand why it made sense back then at 15, but as I grew up and met other pilots, I recognized that the reason I liked math and physics was that we were technical learners. So we like to break things apart and put them back together. We like to check procedures. We like to write manuals. We were technical artists.
xoN: That’s such an important message. Many young women and girls are often discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM or aviation, so it’s incredible to hear your story. Now, fast forward a bit—how did you transition into your corporate career with larger airlines?
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BP: After that first discovery flight, I quickly finished my high school classes and graduated at 16. By 17, I had earned my private pilot’s license, and by 18, my commercial license. Then, I moved to the U.S. to attend flight school in Florida. While working on my degree in professional aeronautics, I began working for American Eagle Airlines at just 21. Over the years, I’ve built my career and have now spent 25 years in the airline industry, including 14 years at American Eagle and 11 years at American Airlines. In terms of leadership, being a captain is key.
As a captain, I’m responsible for the aircraft, the crew, and the passengers. It’s a huge responsibility, and you learn a lot about leadership when you’re in charge of so much.
Being a captain definitely teaches you leadership. You’re in charge of every aspect of the flight from the moment you sign in to the moment you sign out. From overseeing the crew to managing the safety and well-being of passengers, you have to make quick decisions and take responsibility. Even when you’re starting out as a first officer, you’re learning vital leadership skills that prepare you for the captain role.
xoN: There's a lot going on with airlines right now that might make someone feel afraid in terms of some of the tragedies that have recently happened. How do you sustain your self-care balance and your resilience in the aviation industry when those sorts of things happen?
BP: I truly believe that aviation is still the safest and the No. 1 safest means of transportation. I say that proudly. For any airline, any pilot, any air traffic controller—anyone who works in the industry—safety is our number one priority. However, of course, we see things happening in the news, and it is concerning to passengers.
What I'm telling everybody to do right now, including myself, is that it's very important to have your source of strength. I'm a Christian, and one of my sources of strength is prayers. I go deep within my prayers every morning, and I pray to God, giving things that I can't control to him, and the rest— I can do my best to deal with.
No. 2 is meditation on the Deepak Chopra app. Ever since COVID happened, that was the first time I thought that I needed something more than just my prayers to help me go through to calm down the noise around me.
And last but not least, I'm really big on self-development. I read, I read, and I read. If your foundation is strong, you have something to build from. And so, when I read, I learn a lot about myself. I learn about what triggers me and when something triggers me. I literally hear the Kendrick Lamar song, "TV Off" in my head, because sometimes you need to shut the noise off.
xoN: That's amazing—the combination of faith and just being excellent at what you do. Now, how did you get involved with the Bessie Coleman project?
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BP: I sit on the board of advisers for an organization called Sisters of the Skies, and was at a gala celebrating with all our Black women of our achievements. At the end of the night, Dr. Sheila Chamberlain walked up to me. She was the first Black woman U.S. combat intelligence aviator in the Army. So, if she's walking up to me, it's very serious. She said, ‘I have a favor to ask.’ I said, ‘Yes.’ I did not hear what the favor was. I didn't know what she was going to ask me, but somebody like that walking up to you saying, ‘a favor’? The answer is yes.
She told me [the project involved] helping the Bessie Coleman family elevate the story. ‘I'd like you to ask your company if they will do a flight in honor of Bessie Coleman.’ I went to the different departments at American Airlines, and the rest was literally history. We did that flight on August 8, 2022, and it became a historical flight because everyone on that flight, from the ground up, was a Black woman.
Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s grand-niece, was also on that flight. We started chatting at the end of the flight. Another night, we were hanging out—Sheila, Gigi, and I—and she kept telling me she wanted to write a book, that she wished there was a movie, and that people approached her about it. Nothing had been done as yet. And I thought, sounds like another mission.
I literally took it on. We do have a documentary with the family sharing their perspective of who Bessie Coleman is. And we do have a book called Queen of the Skies.
xoN: For the young women who are looking for career paths in aviation, what are some skills they need to thrive?
BP: While you don't necessarily have to love math to be a pilot, technical knowledge is important. You’ll need to understand aircraft systems and aerodynamics. This includes weather patterns and instrument training. It might seem daunting at first, but the great thing about flight training is that it builds on itself. The more you learn, the more it all clicks. Also, aviation is constantly changing, and you need to be adaptable.
It’s a field where you need to be ready for anything, from unexpected weather to technical issues. Being open to learning new things and adjusting to change is crucial.
My daughter, who has her private pilot’s license, once said, “This journey is both challenging and rewarding. I feel like I’ve grown so much since starting.” It’s important to keep going, even when it gets tough.
To help others, I’m outlining how they can go from “zero to hero” as a pilot. I offer this information freely on my Instagram account, and it’s something I’m passionate about sharing. I want everyone to have access to the resources they need to follow their dreams.
For more information on Beth Powell, the Bessie Coleman documentary, and aviation career resources, visit LadyAv8rBeth.com.
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