

Badass Boss Karleen Roy On How She Balances SoulCycle With Planning Parties For Cardi B & Migos
In xoNecole's Finding Balance, we profile boss women making boss moves in the world and in their respective industries. We talk to them about their business, their life, and most of all, what they do to find balance in their busy lives.
When I think of Karleen Roy, the first thing that comes to mind: Dope AF.
That's because the Howard alum has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry in more ways than one, all while showing what true hustle and grind looks like (while doing it fabulously, of course). And while we live in a time where places like Instagram make the journey look cute, Roy is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice (and she'll tell you in a heartbeat).
Not only has she worked for some of the greatest names in media (hello, she was Diddy's executive assistant for YEARS), but she's also the founder of The Vanity Group, a boutique luxury lifestyle management company specializing in event production, luxury concierge services and talent relations for some of the biggest names you can think of.
Luxury cars and exclusive vendors? That's all Karleen. A tight deadline while accommodating some of the wildest requests from celebrities? Yep, that's also Karleen. Oh, and the Memphis-bred fashionista who still has time to slay on the gram? Yep, you guessed it.
We wanted to know how Roy juggles it all from friendships, to her high-demand job, to finding peace in the down moments, so we chatted with her for this month's installment of Finding Balance.
What is an average day or week like for you?
There is not an average day for me. One day can be a chill day where I'm just catching up on emails, and the next day, I could be flying to Miami without prior notice to plan a party for Migos.
What do you find to be the most hectic part of your week/your work?
It's a challenge for me to find balance between my work and personal. Honestly, if I had a better handle on managing my clients, I could probably be more efficient in my day! I try to "design" my day with my day planner (I use the notebook DAY DESIGNER) — it's really helpful because when you fall off track, you can go back and read what you need to accomplish for the day, week or month. That's exactly what I need.
Do you practice any types of self care?
I have a routine in the morning and at night. My morning routine usually consists of: wake up, watch/listen to short motivational videos, check the Bible verse of the day, and then I'm off to workout by 7:30am. I try to start my work day by 10am. And in the evenings, I read a book to wind down.
How do you find balance with:
Friends?
I believe you should show up to the moments and life milestones that count. Text, GroupMe, and Marco Polo groups. My friends are my village.
Love/Relationships? Dating?
I have a boyfriend. Most days, he's amazing…other days, I want to strangle him. He's great at understanding my crazy and being very supportive.
Exercise?
I workout faithfully. Health is wealth. I want to be strong, lean, yet juicy, and live a long fruitful life. How we treat ourselves now will determine our bodies later in life. I workout maybe five times a week, usually at SoulCycle. In the summer, I run in Central Park.
What about health? Do you cook or find yourself eating out?
I eat out mostly, besides breakfast. I try to make breakfast every weekday morning. My evenings are usually up and down, so I'll cook, depending on where the day takes me! But cooking takes too much time and preparation, I'd rather order out if I had to choose.
Do you ever detox?
Yes! BluePrint cleanse usually after the holidays or an exhausting work project.
When you are going through a bout of uncertainty, or feeling stuck, how do you handle it?
I remind myself that I'm the shit!! (*Kanye West vibes*) I made it this far…God don't bring you to leave you!
And honestly, what does success mean to you?
Success is achieving the goals you set to achieve in all areas of your life. Not someone else's life or goals, but what you designed for your own life.
For more Karleen, be sure to follow the inspiring experience curator on Instagram and check out her luxury lifestyle management agency The Vanity Group.
- Karleen Roy (@karleenroy) • Instagram photos and videos ›
- The Vanity Group - Where Being Self-Centered Is a Good Thing. ›
- ESSENCE Network: Karleen Roy Shares How She Went From ... ›
- NYLON · Karleen Roy Is The Ultimate Girl Boss ›
- Karleen Roy - Founder & Managing Director - The Vanity Group ... ›
- From Bad Girl To Event Planner, Karleen Roy Achieves Career ... ›
- Karleen Roy, CEO, Vanity Group ›
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecole exclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Victoria Monét Opens Up About Feeling ‘Validated’ Months After VMAs Turned Her Down To Perform
Victoria Monét has had an incredible year. Thanks to the success of the widely popular “On My Mama” that went viral, the singer/ songwriter’s Jaguar II album debuted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. She also went on to headline her own sold-out tour. So, when the MTV VMAs happened in September, everyone was surprised to learn that Victoria’s team was told that it was “too early” for the “Smoke” artist to perform at the award show. However, a couple of months later, the mom of one received seven Grammy nominations, including “Best R&B Album” and “Record Of The Year.”
Victoria is currently in London and stopped by The Dotty Show on Apple Music and shared how she feels “validated” after being dismissed by the VMAs.
“It really does feel nice and validating because, in my head, the reason why I wanted to be a performer at the VMAs or award ceremonies like that is because I felt like I am at the place where I should. I would work really hard to put on the best show that I could, and I was excited to do so,” she said.
“And I guess the best way to describe it for me is like when you're like on a sports team, and the coach is like, ‘No, you gotta sit this one out.’ When they finally put you in, and then you score all these points, and it feels like that feeling. You're like, yes, I knew it wasn't tripping, but I knew I worked hard for this, and so it's been super validating to just have these accolades come after a moment like that, and I know the fans feel vindicated for me.
While her fans called the VMAs out on their decision, the “Moment” singer kept it cute and is still open to performing at the iconic award show. “I feel no ill towards them because it's just maybe that's just truly how they felt at the time, but I hope their mind has changed,” she admitted.
Aside from recognition from the Grammys, she has also received praise from legendary artists such as Janet Jackson, Kelly Rowland, and Usher.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Amy Sussman/WireImage for Parkwood