Listen. Those of us who are self-professed connoisseurs of fine have been checkin' for Idris Elba for a super-hot minute now.
Whether he was melting our hearts as a single father in Daddy's Little Girls, lookin' good as a hot fudge sundae (heavy on the chocolate) in his wardrobe in Obsessed, starring as the semi-complex detective on Luther, or we've simply gotten to witness his ooo-baby British accent whenever he's being interviewed—this 46-year-old's (yep, he's good and grown) Godiva skin, unapologetic salt 'n pepper beard and love for the DJ culture (did you know he can also play hockey and rugby too?!) makes him, at the very least, fantasy-worthy. In virtually every room of the house.
That man. Ooo-whee! THAT. MAN.
Hmph. We're glad that FI-N-ALLY, PEOPLE magazine got the memo (i.e., the constant side-eye emails and tweets that were along the lines of "What are you waiting for—eh hem—people?!") because although he's been an honorable mention in their Sexiest Man Alive issue more than once, this year, he officially earned the coveted cover.
Who'd have thought it! Thank you @people & all the fans for naming me #SexiestManAlive. Don't forget to grab your i… https://t.co/87L7wf7k2T— Idris Elba (@Idris Elba) 1541480593.0
When we hopped onto PEOPLE's site to see why they selected this award-winning actor for such a time as this, we really dug that they said every year, they look for someone who is respectful of women. They also shared that they wanted an individual who has a kindness and generosity of spirit.
We also learned his response to hearing the news of being PEOPLE's 33rd Sexiest Man Alive:
"I was like, 'Come on, no way. Really?' Looked in the mirror, I checked myself out. I was like, 'Yeah, you are kind of sexy today.' But to be honest, it was just a nice feeling. It was a nice surprise — an ego boost for sure."
Something else that caught our attention is Idris himself saying that out of all of his accomplishments thus far, being present for the birth of his children (his daughter Isan is 16; his son Winston is 4) easily tops them all. Oh, and it certainly didn't hurt that he also went on record as saying that he has a bit of a "naughty" and "what if?" side to him.
Idris Elba is People’s 2018 ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ 1. This is the type of news I needed to hear 2. I completely agree… https://t.co/4AIn1Jq2gZ— b (@b) 1541485482.0
***Church fan, anyone?***
Sure, we know that he's spoken for (le sigh). But honestly, that makes him even sexier. It sends the message that he's not a commitment-phobe. Plus, his fiancee is a sistah (29-year-old model Sabrina Dhowre), and we don't know what's more beautiful than Black Love.
In fact, the only thing that makes all of this news better is the timing. Oh, the timing. Although the announcement was technically made last night on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show, those of us who try and get eight hours of shut eye woke up to news. And what day is today, y'all? ELECTION DAY.
We must give credit to where credit's due and again, the timing is impeccable. Well played, PEOPLE magazine. Well freakin' played. And Idris, many, many, MANY congrats! You already know that we've been givin' you your props for-e-ver but it's always cool when our personal taste goes, umm, mainstream (wink).
Check out some of our favorite reactions to the news below. For more of PEOPLE on Idris, click here. And be sure to pick up your copy available on newstands this Friday.
People: Idris Elba is the #SexiestManAlive
— Hanii (@HaniLee1) November 6, 2018
Me: pic.twitter.com/ij4rsKc41j
Idris Elba rightfully winning sexiest man alive after Blake Shelton stole it last time gives me a lot of hope for this Election Day— The Volatile Mermaid (@The Volatile Mermaid) 1541507863.0
I don't usually approve of "People's" Sexiest Man Alive choices, but Idris Elba definitely gets my vote! 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 https://t.co/cAedsYZQkQ— journey to the past©️™️ (@journey to the past©️™️) 1541485310.0
And, in being named #SexiestManAlive, Idris Elba used his new platform to encourage everyone to get out and #vote.… https://t.co/N46cfBzIbz— WriterIowa 🇺🇲 (@WriterIowa 🇺🇲) 1541483262.0
Idris Elba was named #SexiestManAlive and now all I can think of is this gif https://t.co/W2FSGd6yBI— eddie’s second mom (@eddie’s second mom) 1541483571.0
Congratulations!!! #Idris you deserve the recognition and accolade. At least it has to be somebody and it isn't me… https://t.co/TWzGgSrbAO— ceejay (@ceejay) 1541514766.0
BRB mass-producing pillowcases with this photo of @people's #SexiestManAlive @idriselba printed on them so we can a… https://t.co/ksG6HiDZkQ— Dave Quinn (@Dave Quinn) 1541481206.0
People Magazine: “our 2018 #SexiestManAlive is Idris Elba” Internet: https://t.co/RdsCEY8RBe— Fancy C. Poitras (@Fancy C. Poitras) 1541485797.0
In the words of Dr. Miranda Bailey, "It's Idris Elba" 😍 #SexiestManAlive #GreysAnatomy https://t.co/Vv8eNTCHYC— Shondaland Digital (@Shondaland Digital) 1541482021.0
😂🤣😂🤣 Tweet of the Day #sexiestmanalive https://t.co/gpmPGWdIPt— 🎶🎶🎶 (@🎶🎶🎶) 1541470198.0
Featured image by Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com
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Since its launch in 2020, Heim’s groundbreaking hair brand, BREAD, has taken the beauty industry by storm with a “carefree and easy” hair lifestyle at the core of its brand. With traditional messaging around textured hair being “anti-frizz” and seeking “tame” the way our hair naturally grows, BREAD aims to create products that redefine those existing stereotypes and remove the challenge from our haircare routine.
“Our main goal has always been to demystify and simplify textured haircare, eliminating extra time and products from our routines,” Heim tells xoNecole. “We also speak from a place of kindness and understanding when it comes to textured hair; ‘tame’ is not in our vocabulary, but frizz is — in the best way possible!”
Launching her brand in the midst of the pandemic was no small feat. Faced with supply chain challenges and an uncertain future, Heim shares that three years into her entrepreneurial journey, her success is due in part to her ability to embrace change and adapt quickly. “Even when things feel out of your control, most things are controllable,” she reflects. “And if you take charge of what you know, you can change yourself and your business, you can overcome anything."
Courtesy of BREAD
Today, BREAD celebrates its third anniversary in the beauty industry and is commemorating its dedication to fostering diversity and inclusivity within the beauty and wellness sectors with a new partnership with Fearless Fund, a venture capital fund focused on empowering women of color entrepreneurs.
Fearless Fund is reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape by creating opportunities for women of color and fostering a more inclusive business environment. By supporting BREAD, they aim to bring about positive change and empower individuals to embrace their natural beauty, and sustainable packaging has resonated globally with consumers.
“We’re so happy to be supported by Fearless Fund – and the fact that it’s a venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage, women-of-color-led businesses makes it hit home even more,” Heim says. “We’re utilizing the funding for research and development, especially in the textured and afro hair fields, and bringing even more products for overlooked hair types to the table.”
xoNecole: How has Black and Australian hair culture influenced your outlook on beauty and hair care?
Maeva Heim: For Black hair culture, I grew up in my mum’s African braiding salon in Perth – so I was surrounded by Black hair trends, imported products, and community. Being in such a concentrated environment of Black hair, then realizing how uncatered to it is in the hair industry as a whole was the catalyst to creating BREAD.
Australian hair culture has always favored the ‘Aussie beach babe’ aesthetic — that being blonde, surfy, effortless. Growing up here, I obviously never fit that mold, and so much of what you see expressed in BREAD’s branding is about creating a new ideal or new norm of what it means to have ‘effortless’ hair. We’re really on a mission to make it feel accessible to everyone — not just people with straight hair.
xoN: Your participation in the Sephora Accelerant Program and placement in Ulta are significant milestones. What impact have these opportunities had on BREAD’s growth?
MH: The Sephora Accelerate program was really the initial door that opened for BREAD. It allowed them to go full-steam ahead and really plant a stake in the ground in prestige hair with a brand that hero’s textured hair with premium ingredients that are more accessible.
Launching into Ulta online last year and in 250 stores this year (recently expanding into a total of 470 doors) is nothing short of huge, especially as Ulta has one of the most renowned haircare sections in the industry. We get to reach even more current and future 'breadheads' both in real life and online, and partnering up with Ulta means plenty of fun events and happenings down the line too.
Courtesy of BREAD
xoN: Elaine Welteroth played a pivotal role in the early days of BREAD Beauty, and her support led to several key opportunities for the brand. How did that initial meeting with Elaine in Australia shape your vision for BREAD and the importance of mentorship as a founder?
MH: Elaine really helped to pave the way for our very first Sephora meeting, which ultimately landed us a partnership. She invited me to the very first Teen Vogue conference as a guest, where I was able to connect with a senior Sephora merchant who set up the meeting for me.
I think that relationship with Elaine and the opening of that door really is a testament to how important it is to be in the room - but even more so, how important it is to be invited into the room by someone who is ahead of you. That’s how you equal the playing field, and as a founder a few steps ahead of others, I definitely feel a duty to open doors and invite people into the room so that doors can open for them too. Visibility is everything.
xoN: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to enter the hair industry or start their own beauty-related businesses?
MH: I think in the current climate, where oversaturation is really at its peak, I would definitely implore new founders to think really carefully about what differentiates their brand from everything else. That differentiation can come from lots of different things - whether it’s product formula and positioning, price point, distribution, etc. As long as it’s super clear, and there is a real need, then the sky's the limit, and there’s room for everyone to succeed.
Courtesy of BREAD
xoN: Looking ahead, what are your future aspirations for BREAD as you continue to evolve and grow in the hair industry?
MH: I just want to continue building this company into a powerhouse beauty brand that makes people feel good — about their hair, their bodies, and the skin they're in. That has always been the ultimate goal — giving people their time and energy back so they can spend less time worrying about ‘beauty’ and more time doing anything else their hearts desire.
For more of Maeva and BREAD, follow them on Instagram @maeva_helene and @bread.
Featured image courtesy of BREAD
