This time last year, I looked like what I've been through, and sis. It wasn't pretty. Riddled with stress, toxic relationships, and feelings of inadequacy, my acne got to a point where I no longer recognized the woman looking back at me in the mirror. My stress gave me acne, and my acne made me stressed, but according to Gabrielle Union, the key to flawless skin and timeless beauty is to just chill, sis.
Recently, a clip surfaced of Gabrielle spilling some must-have life advice that is guaranteed to get you through your midweek slump. In an interview with People earlier this year, the actress said:
"The advice I would give my younger self 10 years ago would be that you don't have all the answers. Don't stress out."
Along with not sweating the small sh*t, Gabrielle says that it's also important to be intentional about delegating how many f*cks you have to give in one day. "Nah" is a complete sentence, and Gabby suggests that you say it with pride.
"Say no more than you say yes. You'll be a lot less stressed. Saying no is the best anti-aging advice."
Gabrielle also noted that healing from the inside-out can only be done in the right setting. Even the prettiest flowers will wilt in the wrong environment and the 46-year-old said the same is true when it comes to the people you spend time with. Friends are the family that we actually get to choose, but every sis ain't really your sis. Navigating female friendships can be difficult at any stage in life, but Gabrielle has some advice that will get your inner circle all the way together:
"Some of your day ones have been hating since day one. Getting rid of toxic people is probably the best anti-aging thing you can do in your life because a terrible crowd will age you like cigarettes."
The tongue is powerful, and letting people who don't have your best interest at heart speak over your life is the surest way to dim your own light. The ability to create boundaries with toxic people is a superpower, one that Gabrielle Union says is the secret to her fountain of youth:
"Create boundaries, don't tell everyone everything. It's okay to have a little mystery about yourself. All of these things will go into have a lot more mind/body/soul synergy and helping you maintain your peace, your grace, and your joy. All of which affects how the hell you look."
Take it from Gabby, sis. Pour some wine, Marie Kondo the f*ck out of your contact list, and create some boundaries. Your skin will thank you for it.
Featured image by Instagram/@GabUnion.
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.
Laterras R. Whitfield On What He Wants In A 'Future Wifey' & Redefining Masculinity
In this week's episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker chopped it up with Laterras R. Whitfield, host of the Dear Future Wifey podcast, for a raw and revealing conversation about personal growth, faith, and the search for love in a way that resonates.
Laterras Whitfield Believes Men Should Pursue, Not Persuade
“Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest”
Whitfield is a big advocate of a man’s role in going confidently for the woman he wants. “Men should pursue, not persuade, and women should present, not pursue,” he said. He’s open to meeting women on social media but isn’t a fan of bold approaches. “Don’t shoot your shot at me. … Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest.”
His ideal woman?
“She has to be a woman of God… I judge a woman by how her friends see her… and most importantly, how she treats my kids.”
Infidelity, Redemption, and the Power of Self-Control
“Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer”
Once unfaithful in his previous marriage, Whitfield has since transformed his perspective on masculinity. “Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer. That’s what true masculinity is to me now.” He has also committed to abstinence, choosing self-control as a defining trait of manhood.
Whitfield’s journey is one of redemption, purpose, and faith—something that speaks to women who value emotional intelligence, accountability, and the power of transformation.
Rewriting the Narrative Around Black Masculinity
What masculinity, legacy, and healing mean to Whitfield today
“My dad taught me what not to be [as a man] and my mom taught me what she needed [in a man],” Whitfield said. While his father wasn’t abusive, he wasn’t emotionally or affectionately present. “Since I didn’t see it, I never got it either… I would look at my dad and say, ‘I want to be a better father.’ ”
Adoption had always been on his spirit, influenced by TV shows like Different Strokes and Punky Brewster. This mindset led him to take in his nephew as his son after a powerful dream confirmed what he already felt in his heart.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Laterras R. Whitfield On What He Wants In A 'Future Wifey' & Redefining Masculinity
In this week's episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker chopped it up with Laterras R. Whitfield, host of the Dear Future Wifey podcast, for a raw and revealing conversation about personal growth, faith, and the search for love in a way that resonates.
Laterras Whitfield Believes Men Should Pursue, Not Persuade
“Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest”
Whitfield is a big advocate of a man’s role in going confidently for the woman he wants. “Men should pursue, not persuade, and women should present, not pursue,” he said. He’s open to meeting women on social media but isn’t a fan of bold approaches. “Don’t shoot your shot at me. … Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest.”
His ideal woman?
“She has to be a woman of God… I judge a woman by how her friends see her… and most importantly, how she treats my kids.”
Infidelity, Redemption, and the Power of Self-Control
“Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer”
Once unfaithful in his previous marriage, Whitfield has since transformed his perspective on masculinity. “Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer. That’s what true masculinity is to me now.” He has also committed to abstinence, choosing self-control as a defining trait of manhood.
Whitfield’s journey is one of redemption, purpose, and faith—something that speaks to women who value emotional intelligence, accountability, and the power of transformation.
Rewriting the Narrative Around Black Masculinity
What masculinity, legacy, and healing mean to Whitfield today
“My dad taught me what not to be [as a man] and my mom taught me what she needed [in a man],” Whitfield said. While his father wasn’t abusive, he wasn’t emotionally or affectionately present. “Since I didn’t see it, I never got it either… I would look at my dad and say, ‘I want to be a better father.’ ”
Adoption had always been on his spirit, influenced by TV shows like Different Strokes and Punky Brewster. This mindset led him to take in his nephew as his son after a powerful dream confirmed what he already felt in his heart.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube