Karrueche Is A Reminder That A Break Up Isn't Meant To Break You, Sis
A heartbreak can be both a gift and a curse. While on one hand, you're forced to confront your brokenness head-on, on the other hand, you also have a chance to rebuild. You will never be the person you were before your hurt, but that's good news for you, sis.
God has a funny way of using pain to push us into our purpose, and that's exactly what happened when Karrueche let that hurt go and let God handle it instead. On a recent episode of D.L. Hugley's radio show, the actress opened up about how she transformed one of her biggest obstacles into a major opportunity to thrive.
Karrueche explained that after a very public breakup sent both her life and her mentions into chaos, she had to make a very important decision. She could either salvage what was left of who she was or become the person she wanted to be. She explained:
"It was hard. It was very hard and I came to a point in my life where I was just like, this has happened, it is what it is, what are you going to do? Are you going to go back to Nordstrom and sell some more clothes to D.L. [Hughley]? No! I'm tired of that, alright?! [laughs]"
You can't give something you don't have, and this is especially true when it comes to love, and Karrueche eventually started to see this deficit in her reality.
"I was too busy with the riff-raff and this and catering to other people that I didn't take care of me. I wasn't focused, I wasn't career-driven. I looked crazy. I didn't look like this. I didn't. I was stressed, I wasn't working out, I wasn't drinking water."
The Claws actress told the hosts that after the fact, she could see that the baggage she was carrying was truly the thing that was blocking her level-up. Co-dependency is one hell of a drug, but once Karrueche realized that she was playing second fiddle in her own life, she knew it was time for a change:
"As humans, being in a relationship is hard enough as it is, but it being publicized, and it being on such a huge platform, for everybody to see — I unfortunately during periods of that time, I didn't present myself in the best way because I didn't love myself, because I didn't put myself first."
Now, Karrueche is with a man who puts her love on top, but only because she took the time to love herself, first. Karrueche says that although her journey was hard, the light at the end of the tunnel has offered a marvelous glow-up. The actress says that she's in the healthiest relationship she's ever had, both with herself and her fiance in training. Saturday, Victor Cruz took to Instagram to express his love for his bae and it gave us all the feels:
"I'm a grown-ass man and still get butterflies every time I think about my lady. This love thing has no age bracket."
Take it from Karruche, darkness don't last always, sis. The light at the end of the tunnel is you.
Watch the full clip below!
Karrueche Opens Up About Creating A Life For Herself After Dating Chris Brownyoutu.be
Featured image by Instagram/@Karrueche.
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.
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