Elisabeth “Karrine Steffans” Ovesen Shares How Celibacy Taught Her About Self-Love
Best-selling author and former video vixen Elisabeth "Karrine Steffans" Ovesen opened up about how practicing celibacy was highly instrumental in her journey to self-love and overcoming past traumas.
The act of celibacy means not participating in sexual activities for an extended period for either religious or personal reasons. Those, who were previously sexually active, that are practicing celibacy could encounter several benefits.
According to Healthline, the list includes a low risk of contracting STDs and STIs, minimal risk of pregnancy, reduced contraception costs, getting to know one's partner on a deeper level other than sex, helping an individual differentiate between "physical and emotional attraction," and more free time to focus on other endeavors.
Ovesen--recognized for her controversial books, some of which included stories of her past sexual encounters with many high-profile celebrities-- shared her celibacy revelation during a recent interview on Hello Beautiful's new series Full Set.
Elisabeth On Celibacy
In the discussion last month, Ovesen revealed that she was celibate for over two years after a failed relationship.
The 44-year-old disclosed that during that moment in her life, she could focus on her self-love journey better because she reduced distractions. Besides self-love, Ovesen also stated that clarity and peace were the other benefits she experienced.
"I was celibate for well over two and half years," she said. "It was amazing. I actually highly recommend celibacy... [For] clarity, absolute clarity. Absolute peace. Self-love was a huge thing I got out of it, realizing that even though we all think and say that we love ourselves, we usually don't. There's no way to gage that until you eliminate everybody and everything."
Elisabeth On How Celibacy Helped Her Heal and Overcome Past Traumas
Ovesen also expressed that her celibacy journey wasn't solely based on refraining from sex but instead on healing after her relationship's demise. To prove her point, the model added that she could live without sex.
"Sex, I didn't miss because I was with somebody for so long, and when that relationship was tapering off, I didn't need to be with anybody else. I needed to heal more than I needed sex. Sex is not a need for me. It's an extra. I can go forever without it," she explained.
As the subject transitioned to why some women are capable of not having sex for an extended period compared to others, Ovesen shared that an individual's sexual desire or lack thereof could be related to the traumas they have experienced.
Ovesen told the outlet that her celibacy journey helped her uncover some of her traumas, including sexual assault and abuse.
"I think a lot of us have sexual traumas, and we chalk it up to horniness ... You can't just sit with yourself and not be trifled with. So my celibacy left me with that," she said.
In addition to sharing her story about her celibacy journey to inspire others, Ovesen has dedicated her life to writing and bringing light to subjects that many are afraid to discuss.
Full Set: Sam Jay & Elisabeth Ovesen | Part 2
Welcome to “Full Set”, the fresh new series from Hello Beautiful that pairs two celebrities from very different industries and professional backgrounds who t...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.
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Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Russell and Nina Westbrook Dish On The Key Ways To Avoid Resentment In Relationships
Russell and Nina Westbrook are one of those low-key, unproblematic couples we don’t talk about enough. They met in college and got married in 2015. They also have a beautiful family with three kids. While Russell is an NBA star, Nina is a licensed family and marriage therapist and a mental health advocate.
She recently launched the podcast The Relationship Chronicles with Nina Westbrook, and in the latest episode, she had none other than her husband on as a guest. The college sweethearts dived into important topics from marriage to children and how they navigate it all.
One of the topics they touched on was dealing with resentment in your relationship. The former MVP highlighted the sacrifices his wife has had to make in order for him to pursue a career in the NBA, and that’s why it’s also important for him to support his wife whenever he can.
“For me is respecting and understanding what your partner do and the time it takes,” Russell said. “Not kind of downplaying what they do, understanding the time and energy and effort they're doing to make sure whether it’s their job or making sure home is taken care of, and understanding that, I think that is the challenge of not being resentful.”
Nina agreed and also shared her thoughts on resentment. According to her, one of the best things couples should do is have their own identity and passions outside of the relationship in an effort to be fulfilled.
“I also think that when you’re in a relationship, that’s why it’s so important that each individual kinda pursue their own passions and follow their own dreams as I feel like it only becomes or leads to resentment when one person is not feeling fulfilled in what they're doing in their lives,” she explained.
“And so, they will start to look at the other partner who’s happy or excelling or promoting or moving along in their journey, then they’re left feeling stuck like they sacrificed themselves, their happiness, their career, their future and have not pursued it in the name of the relationship or their partner. So, it’s so much easier to avoid those feelings of resentment when you’re each equally pursuing your passions.”
The couple has many passions that they work on together and separately. Outside of basketball and his family, Russell has become known for his eclectic style and started the fashion brand Honor The Gift. Nina has her podcast, and she also started the mental health website Bene. Together, they run the Why Not? Foundation, which works with kids in underserved communities.
“I’m a firm believer that one person can’t be everything to you, so you have to sort of seek out those different friendships or groups or hobbies or activities that help to fulfill you,” Nina concluded.
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