Kelly Rowland Reveals Losing Her Mother Inspired A Complete Lifestyle Transformation
The most inevitably heartbreaking thing in the world is the loss of a parent. Although I am fortunate enough to have had both of my parents throughout my 20s, I can't help but think of the things they'll miss out on if they're taken from me too soon. Important moments like jumping the broom, giving birth, and raising children seem all the more intimidating knowing that my mom won't be there, and Kelly Rowland is living this experience firsthand.
The 38-year-old singer gave birth to her now four-year-old son Titan a month before her mother died and says that although the hurt doesn't seem to get easier, her loss has been a catalyst in her transformation. She recently told Romper:
"I changed my whole life after that, as you can imagine."
Grateful that Titan got to share four amazing weeks with his grandmother before her death, this time in Kelly's life was pivotal. She explained that while she was ending a chapter of her life that she shared with her mother, she was beginning a brand new chapter as a mother:
"I knew I was his first example of everything, and it's changed everything. Completely changed everything. I used to think people were so corny for saying that, and now I'm one of those people — but he completely changed my life and changed my outlook on things. My outlook on self, my outlook on life, my outlook on everything, and he will never know how he saved me."
As a result of her loss and newfound position as Mommy in Chief, Kelly says that she made the decision to level up her lifestyle in a major way. This included changing the way she ate, lived, and found balance in her everyday life. Now, as a part of wellness campaigns for brands like Fabletics and Cheerios, Kelly is on a mission to help other women to reclaim their lives, too.
"I just talk about it ... to any and everybody who will listen basically. I think it's important that we educate ourselves and educate each other, whether it's nutrition, or anything that comes to just living a healthier lifestyle."
According to Kelly, the road to wellness hasn't been easy, but being able to give her son the healthiest version of herself is worth fighting for:
"When you have the knowledge and you have the education, then you're able to give your body what it needs, you're able to give your heart what it needs, and you're able to be here for as long as you can with the people that you love."
Motherhood looks dope on Kelly, so we're wondering… Baby #2, is that you playa? The singer also recently shared that while Titan may have a sibling in the future, it won't be happening anytime soon:
"Oh my gosh, my son keeps asking me for a sibling. But it's just not [the] right timing."
Read Kelly's full interview here!
Featured image by Paul R. Giunta/Getty Images
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