Keke Palmer Reveals How Motherhood Has Transformed Her Life And Career
Actress and singer Keke Palmer has been gracing our television and movie screens with countless projects since the tender age of nine.
Many of Palmer's notable works aside from music and hosting include Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Akeelah and the Bee, Madea's Family Reunion, True Jackson, VP, Scream Queens, Hustlers, Nope, and a reboot of The Proud Family series titled The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. In addition to the professional success the 29-year-old has obtained in the entertainment industry, Palmer recently become a mother. The star welcomed a son, Leodis Jackson, with longtime partner Darius Jackson in February of this year.
Since Leodis' birth, Palmer has been vocal about her experience as a first-time mom and the various hardships that come along with it, including trying to balance a career. Alongside working on films and shows, Palmer created a digital television network KeyTV.
On March 28, during an interview with Elle Magazine, Palmer talked about how motherhood could affect her overall craft as an entertainer.
Keke Palmer On If She Would Include Her Son On Future Projects
In the discussion, Palmer recounted the different trajectories she has taken in her career and shared that the most personal route has been becoming a social media influencer because fans get a deeper look into her life.
"There are different ways in which I exist," she said. "I exist as a traditional entertainer, where it's movies. I exist as a host, which involves more of a personal flair to it and invites a little bit more of my personal life into it. When there's also the influencer aspect where you get a little more of a glimpse at my life."
Expanding on that topic, the "I Don't Belong to You" vocalist then disclosed that she is unsure if she would include her son Leodis in any of her content. Although Palmer didn't provide a particular reason surrounding her uncertainty, the new mom stated,
"I don't know how my baby will fit into that or if that's something that I'll even want. I don't know if motherhood will be part of that narrative or not."
Toward the end of her statement, Palmer revealed that because she may be unsure about involving the newborn in future projects now doesn't necessarily mean that she's ruled out any possibilities of what fate brings her.
"Only time will tell, but I'm definitely interested to see. I'm also the type of person that wants to share whatever changes and impacts me. I might be like, 'I have something to say, so here's a book.' I don't know. Or motherhood might be off limits, Beyoncé style. I don't think I'll know until I know," she explained while briefly mentioning Beyoncé's parenting style.
Palmer On Being a Mother and Praising Single Parents
This isn't the first time Palmer has talked about Leodis and the impact he has had on her life.
Earlier this month, the Alice actress shared that she has experienced a newfound appreciation for single parents since becoming a mother to Leodis, who was a few days old at the time, by posting an emotional Instagram video.
"I just came on here to say, if you're a single parent, pull out your cape. Matter of fact, clip off your angel wings because I don't know how you guys did it." Palmer said. "And I really don't want this to sound like pandering, or something like this, because I know there's a million and one reasons why somebody wants to be a single parent or has become a single parent."
Also, in the clip, Palmer went on to list various reasons why an individual became a single parent, ranging from a spouse's death to the person choosing to be alone. Palmer ended the video by explaining that she is "impressed" by her friends and family that are single parents because she realized that after having Leodis that it takes a "village" to raise a child and that many don't have the privilege.
"But when it comes to raising a kid, I've already learned in these short few days that it takes a village. And sometimes, that's a privilege. And I just want anybody out there that's a single parent that's been doing this, friends of mine, people that I don't know, family members of mine, I'm really in my heart, it brings tears to my eyes. I am just truly, profoundly impressed," Palmer shared as she teared up.
Since that post, Palmer has appeared to be tackling motherhood and her career just fine. The star updated her fans in another upload and expressed that her son has given her "a greater purpose" and how excited she is for what's to come.
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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.
We all have a dream life that we spend our free time daydreaming about. You know, the one with a loving partner, high-rise apartment, thriving career, and endless abundance. But as much as we can dream about it, there has to be a little extra sprinkle of “magic” to make it become a reality, and that’s when manifestation comes in.
The uptick in manifestation techniques is nothing new to the internet. Since The Secret and the Law of Attraction became available on YouTube in the early 2010s and fast forward to today, where #manifestationtok and #spiritualtok surging in popularity, it’s clear that there are a number of different ways to get what you want out of life with the right action, affirmation, and visualization.
Still, with so many ways to manifest, from scripting to the 3-6-9 Method, it can be hard to know which one to lean into. But there’s one new technique that’s promising to yield “instant results,” and we’re curious about it.
The "I Am Sure" Manifestation
@hothighpriestess Replying to @A I M E E 🖤 lG: hothighpriestess 🤍 this is the “I am sure” method #iamsuremethod
The “I Am Sure” manifestation gained traction this summer by TikTok creator Sara Perl of @hothighpriestess, who initially introduced the method.
In her original video breaking down the concept, she detailed the steps to use the technique for those looking to “manifest overnight.” To do so, start by stating “I am sure,” followed by “your desired manifestation in the present tense.” If there’s a job, promotion, or text from a crush that you want, then you’d say, “I am sure that I got X job,” or “I am sure that I make a $100K salary.” Repeat this out loud 10 times, or for faster results, write them down on a piece of paper and say it back to yourself whenever the desire comes up.
Using your words and speaking in the present tense, affirmatively, “puts you in the frequency that has that desire,” as Perl states. “We know our thoughts create our reality, but our words create our reality even faster.”
No matter how you choose to manifest your dream life, there’s nothing like channeling a powerful affirmation and some faith to get what you desire. In every instance, though, allow yourself to dismiss any doubt that may try to cloud your hopes in good things coming into your life, and don’t hold too tightly onto the “how” or “when.” Trust the process and know that the “thing” that you desire is just waiting for the perfect time to enter your life.
Happy manifesting.
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