

Viral Illustrator Kaylani Juanita Is Immortalizing Black Lives One Drawing At A Time
It was only a week ago that we learned the identity of Nia Wilson, the 18-year-old girl who became another victim of senseless violence after she was stabbed and murdered by a man, who has now been identified as John Lee Cowell, in a Bay Area train station.
Her sister, Latifa, who was also injured in the attack, was left only with the memory her sister being viciously stolen from her by white privilege and then publicly persecuted by mass media.
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The violent deaths of black Americans flood our timelines, as these visualizations have become a genre of porn in this digital age. The images that we consume on social media alone are horrific enough to trigger PTSD in our already fragile mentalities. Nia's death is proof that black lives are at stake, and senseless violence does not discriminate.
Oppression is officially mainstream, but there is one warrior of justice whose mission is to incite change in our social and political landscapes through an unlikely method.
With a pen in her hand and passion in her heart, 25-year-old Kaylani Juanita seeks to use art as her weapon of choice on the tumultuous battlefield of injustice that we encounter every day as black women. The California native recently came into the the spotlight after her illustration of Nia Wilson went viral on social media.
The young artist hopes to continue to use her art to tell the stories of those who have been otherwise silenced, most importantly, black women. "I wanted the illustration to portray Nia as young, innocent, vibrant, and warm because that's how I saw Nia when Latifa spoke, that's how I view little sisters. It's my response to people who've warped Nia's image with misleading pictures of her, as if certain photographs justify the murder. I wanted to use Latifa's quote to remind people of Nia's humanity, and to remind people that Latifa had to defend Nia's dignity hours after Nia was murdered," Kaylani told ELLE, "Black people shouldn't have to constantly defend their humanity, especially in situations like this. We should say her name, Nia Wilson, and we should tell her story."
xoNecole had the opportunity to talk with the young visionary about the inspiration behind her melanted illustrations, as well as her identity as a biracial artist and why our voices are necessary to the conversation about the future of our country.
Kaylani Juanita
Kaylani told us that she was barely out of kindergarten when she discovered her affinity and lifelong passion. She said, "I've always loved art. My mom said I used to draw on the walls if she didn't keep an eye on me. I don't remember when I actually fell in love with illustration. The earliest memory I had was in the second grade. I had to draw a picture of what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I drew a very detailed colored pencil drawing of myself as a police woman with very curvy hips. I remember not wanting to be a police officer, but really enjoying drawing myself as one."
Creating visuals that represent and amplify the voice of a generation was not always Kaylani's vision for the future, but during her college career, she realized that it was necessary. "I went to school for illustration and my program focused on editorial art," she told xoNecole, "Most of my class assignments consisted of reading a political or science article then creating a mock editorial illustration for the article. Currently, I spend most of my time making art for picture books, which has to be child-friendly. But I make time to illustrate personal art about political topics".
The inspiration behind her socially charged artwork comes from her own life experiences. Kaylani shared that one of her biggest challenges has been overcoming depression and anxiety as a biracial woman in predominantly white professional spaces. It became her mission to fuse her bold and playful artwork with important political statements.
Kaylani was able to combine her passion with her purpose, and says that her art is dedicated to empowering others and allowing them to feel represented. She said, "I illustrate different types of black women and children because there's a very visible lack of us in mainstream art (comics, graphic novels, cartoons, picture books, editorial illustration, advertisements, surface design, posters, etc.) Growing up, I consumed a lot of these things but never saw myself in them unless it was tokenized representation. I want black people, specifically black women, black lgbtq+ folk, and black children to see themselves when they see my art."
"I want black people to see themselves when they see my art."
Although her mission is not one that's easily accomplished, improving the social landscape for minority groups is a challenge that Kaylani has accepted with honor.
The artist told us, "Artwork is important to our political climate as WOC because it's easily accessible and a great tool to help spread a message. You can add your perspective through aspects like the style, or medium, or composition. Plus, it keeps the person and their story in circulation, which helps us remember people and maintain their relevance. Whether it be an illustration of a civil rights leader, or an illustration of a deceased loved one, it's always good to make art to prevent us from forgetting who they were and how it relates to now."
"Artwork is important to our political climate as WOC because it's easily accessible and a great tool to help spread a message."
If we don't remember our history, it will always repeat itself. Kaylani and other women who use their art to incite change are catalysts for progression in an oppressive society.
The young illustrator is proof that when our passion and purpose merge, we have a chance at making the world a better place, one piece of art at a time.
For more Kaylani, follow her on Instagram.
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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.
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.
Deanna Robinson Talks Redefining 'Wellness' For Black Women In Billion-Dollar Fitness Industry
Deanna Robinson, a health and wellness advocate and professional based in the Washington D.C. area has been helping Black and brown women reach their fitness goals for more than a decade. And with her brand of self-love and faith, she's redefining just what "fitness" means when it comes to women of all shapes and sizes.
There's definitely a need for women like Robinson, especially since recent research shows that between 47% and 55% of Black consumers' needs "are not being met" in the wellness space, and the U.S. fitness industry hit $32 billion last year and that it's important for Black women to see themselves prominently in the space.
As a health and wellness programming expert, licensed nutritionist, mom, wife, and former all-women's gym owner, Robinson has built up a body of experience that has culminated into doing something she loves via the FabBody Retreat, an experience for women ages 30-60 to be enriched via group activities, good food, and connection in the backdrop of tropical peace and tranquility.
This year's retreat was held in Grenada, with special guest and TV host icon Free Marie (BET's 106 & Park). Next year's event will be held in St. Maarten with plenty of opportunities to enjoy beach vibes, authentic and healthy dishes, and all the pleasures of being among other fabulous Black women seeking holistic wellness in paradise.
"My God-given purpose is to help serve, connect, and heal Black and Brown women," she said, taking her experiences serving corporate and individual clients via projects like the NFL's "Fuel Up To Play 60" initiative and the Nike Training Club live experience, to do just that.
xoNecole caught up with her to talk about why she chose the fitness industry, her success in launching and running the FabBody Factory, and how she's pivoted to use her skills to build impact on a larger scale in health and wellness.
xoNecole: What sparked your interest in a career in health and wellness?
Deanna Robinson: I have always been involved in sports, always been active in cheerleading, dance, [and] gymnastics. In my college career, I was a competitive cheerleader at the University of Maryland, College Park, and I've just always been passionate about physical activity, health, and fitness. I double-majored in kinesiology and public and community health, and it's always been a passion for me about others being well.
Out of college, I wanted to be a personal trainer, and I interviewed at a big-chain gym. I was really excited about getting this job, but when I had the interview, they informed me of what the split was—what the client paid, what I'd get as a personal trainer, and what the gym got. And I just thought it was a ridiculous split. I've always been into entrepreneurship as well, and doing things on my own terms, so I actually opened up my own gym in the community I grew up in called the FabBody Factory, an all-female gym in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
I was able to hire several trainers, offer group classes and personal training, and one of the things I was always a big proponent of is making sure that they got a better cut than they would get at larger chains.
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xoN: Talk a bit more about that in terms of starting a gym, especially one that caters to women. What was the process and motivation?
DR: I have worked out in big-box gyms before and just never felt comfortable. It was always really uncomfortable working out in a huge gym where men would be gawking at you or try to get your number when you're trying to focus on yourself in that moment. So I always wanted the FabBody Factory would be a safe haven where we didn't have to worry about our titties flopping when we're doing jumping jacks, it was just for us by us, and we could just [be] comfortable making ourselves a priority.
I was almost talked out of doing something like that because people would say, "You're cutting off half of your potential clientele," but I never had an issue. Women flocked to the gym, and I'd sometimes have to split classes. I might have to do part one of a class at one time and a second another time. It was majorly successful. Ladies loved it. And on top of this being all-women, it was all Black and brown women.
Culturally, we get each other, so it was a big social thing for us, too. We were able to fellowship with each other and get fit at the same time.
xoN: Your brand includes the concept of a 'Fab Body.' What does that mean for you---and just wellness---in general, for Black and brown women?
DR: FabBody in itself is not a look at all. It's more of a mindset and a willingness to invest in your mental, spiritual, and physical self. In promoting the FabBody Retreat, I actually had someone DM me and ask me, "Do you have to have a 'Fab Body' to come on the retreat?" and my response to her was that you do have a 'Fab Body.' Everyone has a Fab Body. It's more of a state of being—a sound, healthy mind, body, and spirit. It's not about aesthetics at all but about overall improvement.
xoN: You decided to pivot from owning a gym, which you ran successfully for more than a decade, to your current role in health and wellness programming and launching the FabBody Retreat. How did this come about?
DR: My gym closed last year, and the reason was because of where I saw myself going and where I wanted to be in the next 10 years. A lot of my time at the gym was selling and getting people to register for classes, and it wasn't as lucrative and fulfilling for me as it had been in the beginning.
Now I'm doing more consulting work with larger companies. One of my passions is programming, and that is where I see my future going. I'm moving more toward passive income, coming from my being able to use the knowledge I have from years in this industry and putting together programming that can reach the masses versus individuals.
xoN: What can people expect from the FabBody Retreat next year, and how does this venture continue your love for advocating for health and wellness among Black and brown women?
DR: One of the things that really sets this event apart from so many other retreats is that I have married everything that is important to me: wellness, my faith, and my community. God is a huge part of all of the events we do, and all are interwoven with faith-filled, intentional activities, and I think that's what makes it different. On Sunday, we do a service on the beach, and we always have a guest speaker—someone you can relate to where you don't feel like you're being preached to. It's an awesome experience, unlike any retreat I've seen.
It's definitely rooted in faith, but at the same time, there's a balance. We'll get on a boat and have a cocktail with an umbrella in it, and then we'll go back to wellness. There's a healthy balance.
Find out more about Deanna Robinson via Instagram @deannarobinsonfit and more on the FabBody Retreat via the website.
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