
Meet The Black Woman Who Styled Serena Williams And Daughter, Olympia's First Fashion Campaign Together

Gabriella Karefa-Johnson has had a very interesting few months for her career. In December, she became the first Black woman to style a Vogue cover for model Paloma Elsesser. The very first black woman. In 2020 and 2021. But I digress.
Additionally, barely a month later, her next assignment just so happened to be the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, for her first Vogue cover. And then one month after that, she styled Gigi Hadid's first solo Vogue cover. Oh, and she also styled the March Vanity Fair cover (featuring Billie Eilish). In the middle of it all, she managed to be tapped to style and star in Converse's spring 2021 look book.
So basically, sis is bookedT and busy, and her resume can go toe-to-toe with any of your faves. She's somehow flown under the radar as a boss of the fashion game, but in one of her most recent projects, her name is ringing bells.
In the cutest campaign you'll see today, Karefa-Johnson takes on the GOAT and GOAT Jr. for Stuart Weitzman's Spring 2021 Collection. The tennis star, who has worked with Karefa-Johnson for Stuart Weitzman before, poses alongside her daughter Alexis "Olympia" Ohanian Jr., age 3, who is shown wearing some of the brand's new styles that have us feenin' off the baby fever. It is the first fashion campaign that the mother-daughter duo has been featured in together.
Of the campaign, Williams says:
"It's a special campaign. I just felt like it was an opportunity because Olympia and I have been spending so much time together. Olympia is trying on my shoes all the time, it's so fun!"
But whether Serena Williams, or Zendaya, or the Vice President of the United States, GKJ (as she refers to herself), says through the whirlwind of her career, and the chaos of all her high-profiled projects, has been something she was ready for. On working with Vogue as the first black stylist, she tells The Cut:
"It really felt like a testament to how hard I've worked to get to where I am. It was an incredible honor, but it wasn't the greatest shock in the world. I'd worked for it, and I deserved it. I hesitate saying that, because I think it can sound hubristic, but it should be interpreted as somebody who set goals and worked really hard and who wasn't sure that they would come true. But when they did, it felt like it was the right time and the right opportunity. And I think that's why that cover was as successful as it was, because I was ready for it."
Her Instagram is filled with colorful, exuberant images of high-fashion nods to the industry, and comedic captions that show off her personality. Erykah Badu, Melina Matsoukas, and Lindsay Peoples Wagner (former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue, also a black woman), are all flaunted throughout, as she’s basically screaming, 'I'm not new to any of this shit' as loud as possible.
Her start in the industry began when she realized her dream of "being a Spice Girl wasn't going to work out."
"I realized that maybe I don't have a good singing voice and maybe I don't actually care about music, I just liked the glam of it."
Instead, she learned by watching her grandmother and her aunt (a former model), and religiously reading Style.com and Teen Vogue. It opened her eyes to the world of fashion and clothes. She then took on a slew of internships to kick her way into the door; internships that included Women's Wear Daily and Vogue, telling Fashionista:
"I worked my ass off. I got to go on all of these amazing shoots, and I realized I liked being a fashion editor; it was the best of both worlds. You really have to be analytical, you have to be connecting the clothing to what's happening in the world, there are stories that are told through clothing, but those stories are also reflected in who we are as people, what people want to be buying, and how we translate that to any reader in America — actually, in the world."
And although she is often surrounded by those who may not look like her, she's very aware that, as a plus-size, Black woman, she carries a certain responsibility to be representative of the culture.
"I want people to know that if I'm working, literally anyone else can be working, because there wasn't a Black fashion editor that I'd look to when I was growing up — there was Andre [Leon Talley], who was amazing, but it wasn't a thing. I just want to be working consistently enough and creating pictures that are poignant enough that, to whoever's looking at them who might want to be a fashion editor, knows that it's fully possible."
--
Well, sis, that's exactly what you're doing.
Are you a member of our insiders squad? Join us in the xoTribe Members Community today!
Featured image by Jan Zahradka / Shutterstock.com
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.
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
This Moisturizer Comes With A Built-In Sculpting Tool—And It Lowkey Changed My Skincare Routine
Gua sha, essence, serums, moisturizer, and SPF are a few of the many steps incorporated in an everyday skincare routine. However, it’s easy to skip a step or two to save time.
And in my case, I’ve wondered how crucial it would be if I slack on an essence or gua sha routine, so my routine doesn’t feel as extensive. With skincare routines getting longer, I always appreciate a two-in-one product.
Now and then, the beauty industry releases a two-in-one product that makes life worth living again. One of those brands is REFY.
The Hype Behind REFY's Face Sculpt Moisturizer With Built-In Roller
The company shook the industry when it first released its REFY Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer With Niacinamide. Now they’ve come out with a moisturizer version of the product. The Face Sculpt by REFY is the world's first moisturizer with a sculpting piece attached.
The product aims to lift the skin while hydrating it at the same time. This is music to my ears, since it’s one less step I have to take separately and still get my facelift.
Face Sculpt by REFY is the "world's first facial sculpting moisturizer that instantly lifts, defines and hydrates."
REFY
Key Ingredients in REFY's Sculpting Moisturizer: What Your Skin Will Love
Before I try any product, I always look at the ingredients. It’s important to know what's going on with your skin. Doing this extra step can help you learn the benefits or risks you’re up against. I love that this moisturizer is filled with glycerin and provitamin B5.
Glycerin is incredible for deeply hydrating the skin, which is essential since I have dry skin. Provitamin B5 is an ingredient I rarely see in most skincare products. It’s excellent for calming the skin and reducing redness. This can come in handy on mornings when your skin is puffy and needs to calm down.
How To Use REFY’s Face Sculpt Moisturizer for Best Results
When applying the product, I learned that patience is key. Rolling the moisturizer into your skin won’t melt in as quickly as using your hands. I found this beneficial since it meant the moisturizer was slowly working its way into my pores, instead of forcing it in. I worked the “roller” in upward motions to ensure I got the face lift effect I sought.
Although the facelift didn’t come instantly, I knew it would come in time if I were consistent enough—four weeks to be exact.
REFY
Four-Week Facelift or Nah? My First Impressions
The website shows various final results after using the moisturizer for four weeks. Several women are posing with pride, showing off their final results. There was a slight difference in lifting for each face. In addition, their smile wrinkles have subsided.
I look forward to these results as I continue to use this product consistently. I encourage everyone to check out the results on their website, as they're worth looking into before you start.
After using this product immediately, I noticed a noticeable difference in hydration. The moisturizer created a luminous effect on my skin that I deeply appreciated. I also loved how much it helped with lymphatic drainage. Since I had to work in the moisturizer, the rolling motions helped smooth out my skin. Allowing for a depuffing effect before starting my day.
Final Thoughts: Is REFY's Face Sculpt Worth It?
I give this product a 10 out of 10. It's perfect for all skin types, but especially those looking for a subtle face lift. With patience and commitment, your skin can be perky and ready for the day!
Remember to roll day and night so your skin can stay plump.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by insta_photos/Getty Images