Halle Berry Has Advice For Women Over 40 Who Want To Be Moms
From the day we are born, we as women feel like our lives are dictated by a figurative biological clock that feels more like a ticking time bomb. From the day we start our menstrual cycle, it feels like we're forced to keep a consistent schedule that includes advancing our careers, finding love, starting a family, and somehow keeping our sanity in the midst of the chaos. If you're a woman who has a desire to be a mother but may be scared that your biological clock has now inevitability run out of time, Halle Berry wants you to feel the fear and do it anyway.
If there's anyone you should take advice from about late in life pregnancies, it's Halle Berry. After having her first child, Nahla, at age of 41, the John Wick: Chapter 3 actress gave birth to a her son, Maceo, six years later and her life hasn't been the same since. The now 52-year-old actress says that her miracle babies changed her entire perspective on life because, at the time, pregnancy wasn't something she thought would ever happen for her. In 2004, the actress told Ellen:
"I didn't think it was possible at my age, honestly. They call it a geriatric pregnancy. I was, you know, on my way. This is probably way TMI, but I was kind of premenopausal, so to have this happen was huge."
While the idea of having a baby later in life can be scary, Halle Berry said that every moment of her experience was worth it. The actress has this advice for ladies of 40 who still have dreams of parenting a child:
"Do it. Just do it."
I, in fact, am a living, breathing testament of the fact that it's never too late to pursue your dreams, especially if that dream is to become a mother. Although my mom had given birth to two children in her 20's and acted as a bonus mom to four stepchildren, things were much different after she gave birth to me at 39. I picked out my own clothes, I was taught to speak my mind and assert myself, even when it came to authority figures, and unlike my brothers and sisters, I didn't get spankings. Because this wasn't my mom's first rodeo, she was equipped with knowledge and tolerance that she didn't have when she was raising my siblings.
Along with having more patience, Halle Berry says that you can also be prone to having a greater appreciation for your pregnancy when you're older. Although all pregnancies are special, Halle Berry said that her miracle babies brought to light a number of truths about herself that she hadn't previously realized.
My mom's approach to raising me was different because she had some experience under her belt, and Halle Berry echoed that sentiment in her interview with Us Weekly:
"You're so much more ready to be a parent after 40 than when you're 20. You know yourself better. You've done a lot of things for yourself, selfishly. When you wait later in life, you can really put your kids forward I think in a more meaningful way."
While the term "geriatric" may a turnoff in and of itself, having a baby over 40 might be the best decision you'll ever make.
These high risk pregnancies can be dangerous, and there are certainly other routes you can take if traditional conception isn't an option for you. Whether you decide to adopt, try IVF treatments, or get it on the old-fashioned way, Halle Berry and her beautiful kids prove that the only person standing in the way of your dreams of becoming a mother is you.
Featured image by Mike Coppola/WireImage)
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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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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy