From Heartbreak To Fade: Teyana Taylor On Embracing Her Winning Year
When one of us wins, we all win!
For many of us, Teyana Taylor got our attention as the tomboy with unapologetic attitude and carefree style planning her epic sixteenth bday party on MTV's My Super Sweet Sixteen. And from there, followed her determination and grind to relevance as she pursued a career in music and film.
As an artist, Teyana Taylor released mixtapes like The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor and From A Planet Called Harlem and a studio album under GOOD Music entitled VII. As an actress, she found herself on the bigscreen in minor roles in films such as Stomp the Yard 2: The Homecoming and Madea's Big Happy Family.
For others, Teyana Taylor didn't fully gain recognition until baring her #bodygoals-having gym body as she danced for her life in Kanye West's iconic FADE video. She got what she deserved: fame, mainstream notoriety, and the opening of doors that had been closed for a long time up until that splash her wave made.
For Taylor, 2016 was truly blessings on blessings on blessings. And not just the moves she made in her career, but her personal life too. She became a mother last December to Iman (Junie) Tayla Shumpert and married the love of her life in NBA hubby Iman Shumpert. If you don't know him, just relax your mind and recall the steamy kiss towards the end of FADE. That shower scene? Yes. They are goals to be honest.
At the 2016 WEEN Awards in New York, Teyana Taylor received further praise and recognition of the career and life she has worked hard for and was honored as a woman in entertainment who embodies the balanced and positive portrayal of women that the WEEN awards supports and represents.
The 25-year-old has always put in work and that work is finally paying off and it's a beautiful sight for those who have always supported her to see.
After receiving her award, Taylor delivered an emotional speech about her struggle to her success:
“I've worked so hard. I know there's a lot of people in this room that has watched me grow up and watched me through my years of everybody saying, 'What is it that she does? She doesn't do anything, just give it up, it's never gonna happen, blaséblaséblasé.' People not knowing the backstory and not knowing what's really going on behind the books."
On the fears she had about pregnancy affecting her career:
“When I got pregnant, I was so scared. I was talking to my husband like, 'I don't know what I'm gonna tell my mom. I'm so scared'… because I've always made decisions off my career. Do I have a baby right now? It's just never going to be a 'right' time. For some weird moment, I was like, 'No. I'm ready for my family, things are not really moving right now. I'm not going to give up on family just because of some waiting opportunities or whatever it is.
I was scared. My mom was scared. But, I went along with it. And it ended up being one of the best decisions of my life. It's matured me so much and the grind, the hustle, the hunger just went at an all-time high. It was different. I'm breathing different, I'm talking different. (laughs)."
On the abundance she's felt since loving Iman and baby Junie:
“It was real. Having the support of my husband Iman. He is amazing, especially coming from a heartbreak and not feeling beautiful enough and not feeling good enough ...To turn around and have an amazing husband and an amazing daughter, it's just amazing."
[Tweet ""From not feeling beautiful enough, to turn around and have an amazing husband and an amazing daughter...""]
On how the emotions and rawness of her FADE performance came about:
“When I did FADE, that was a very, very emotional performance. It wasn't just a bra and a thong... It was a very emotional performance, I got a lot off my chest. I had to. Like, shit, if they aren't gonna put any of my music out, I'm gonna be up in this thing. Know what I'm saying? Shoot. I'm a hustler. I'm from Harlem."
On the new fans and success she's had post-FADE:
“They was like, 'How does it feel that people say you only got famous off FADE?' That's perfectly fine girl, now that the video's out, they watched it, they know the name, they download that album I made two years ago, hello? That was a good album. It got re-charted after the video so God is good! God will do it!"
Of course, the lady of the hour had some parting words for all those fellow hustlin' and grindin' women out there: “Never give up," she said, “Never give up." If she had when all those naysayers continued to have opinions that didn't matter, who knows where she'd be. Her strive and drive to success is a testament to many. Don't give up, especially when you know everything you want is out there and wants you back.
Congratulations Teyana Taylor on all your success! We love seeing you win and can't wait to see how the years continue to flourish for you!
Watch the video of her acceptance speech in full below:
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Over the last few years, there’s been a growing interest in individuals seeking support for mental health outside of their immediate circle. While traditional talk therapy is a common point of entry, allowing individuals to express their thoughts, emotions, and concerns verbally, some may find themselves seeking an alternative approach to therapy that goes beyond the surface.
And in this case, somatic therapy could be the answer.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy recognizes the intricate connection between the mind and body, offering a holistic approach to healing that distinguishes it from traditional talk therapy. “It taps into the different sensations and physiological signs that your body sends you in order to determine whether it's processed your emotions, tough feelings, and reprocessed memories,” Simone Saunders, Managing Director, MSW, RSW, at The Cognitive Corner, tells xoNecole.
How Somatic Therapy Differs From Traditional Talk Therapy
@thecognitivecorner Replying to @Michelle #somatictherapy #nervoussystemregulation #therapytok
Although there are different forms of talk therapy, somatic therapy differs from traditional talk therapy because it is often centered around the narratives that we have inherited and taken on. On the other hand, somatic therapy is primarily focused on the subtle things that go unsaid. “Whether that's body language, your posture, the way that you're moving, the way that you're breathing, or the different sensations that come up,” Saunders explains, based on the experiences you share, your body is essentially doing the talking for you.
Rooted in the idea that the body and mind are interconnected, somatic therapy aims to address and release stored trauma and stress, promoting overall healing.
The thought of having your every move analyzed could make you uneasy, but as a therapist, Saunders ensures that her job is to notice and bring awareness to these sensations, as opposed to critique.
“If someone's talking about their experience and maybe they're holding their chest or I can see them ball up their fists, or tighten their shoulders, I'll call attention to that,” she explains. “We'll just notice what that feels like and sort of name if that's something that's positive, negative, neutral, and sort of play around with the idea of: what would it be like if we relax a little bit more? What does your body feel like it needs in this moment?”
Diving Deeper in Somatic Healing
@thecognitivecorner #somatichealing #somatiktok #traumarecovery
Understanding how your body is responding to a memory or sensitive topic is just as important as understanding why it’s responding that way. Somatic therapy places a strong emphasis on cultivating awareness of bodily sensations by focusing on the present moment, which allows individuals to gain insight into the connection between their emotions and bodily responses.
If you’re familiar with the term, “the body keeps the score,” it relates to how traumatic events can leave a lasting impact on the body, manifesting as both physical symptoms and emotional distress. Saunder says that somatic therapy is particularly effective in addressing trauma.
“Often when you've experienced trauma, you are used to being disconnected to your body because you've had to be for the purpose of survival,” she says. “Somatic therapy can be really helpful to get you connected again and understand what your body is saying to you, whether or not your body feels safe in different moments, and how you can cultivate a sense of safety.”
Our body is our home — and the need to feel and be safe in our bodies is tantamount to our ability to heal. Having tools outside of therapy to practice self-safety can help us restore a feeling of secureness and wholeness within oneself.
“If you're looking to feel more connected with yourself, a good place to start is with your daily bodily function,” Saunders suggests. “You can check in: Am I thirsty? How do I know when I'm thirsty? How do I know when I'm hungry? How do I know when I need to use the bathroom? Because for a lot of us, it's just automatic. We just do it when we do it, or we ignore those sensations. Starting from there is often a safer place to start — and from there, we can start to understand what it feels like to feel sensations.”
“As far as at-home somatic practices, simply doing things like rocking or cold or hot stimulation can help,” she continues. “There are a lot of things that we do on a day-to-day basis that would be considered somatic practices that we don't necessarily realize — it's just about getting in touch with yourself.”
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