

Kerry Washington Opens Up About Neglecting Herself While Portraying Various Characters On Screen
Actress Kerry Washington recently revealed the effects of neglecting her personal growth while embodying some of the most iconic characters onscreen.
Washington has been a part of the entertainment industry for about 29 years. Throughout her career, the 46-year-old has played in over sixty projects consisting of music videos, television shows, and films.
Washington's most recognizable work includes Save the Last Dance, Ray, Scandal, I Think I Love My Wife,Django Unchained, and many more. To date, the mother of two is currently starring in Hulu's hit series UnPrisioned alongside veteran actor Delroy Lindo.
In the March cover story for Marie Claire magazine, Washington opened up about why she struggled early on to get back to herself after wrapping up various projects and the steps she took over the years to combat those issues
Kerry On Portraying Various Characters
During the discussion, the Little Fires Everywhere star revealed that she chose acting as a career because she was "comfortable" portraying the lives of others.
However, Washington would add that when the shows and films would end, she found it incredibly difficult to transition back to regular life because she had to find "a self to go back to."
"I've made a career into being other people because being other people is comfortable for me," she said. "Being in myself, being with myself in my own body as myself, is a much newer adventure for me. When the job ends, the movie's over, and the incredible run of the historic TV show ends, it's important to have a self to go back to."
Towards the end of her statement, Washington claimed that with her past struggles, she had taken steps to prioritize herself as "the lead character" of her story.
Kerry On The Steps She Took To Prioritize Her Well-Being
Further into the interview, Washington disclosed that one way she prioritizes herself is by being honest about her journey and trusting that her "best" efforts in life and self-care are enough.
"One is lack of faith that everything's good. This idea that I have to do better or be better to be lovable or acceptable, as opposed to trusting that my best is enough. And then I have a history of healing around body image and perfectionism," she stated.
Washington continued the conversation by sharing that the work she has put in to prioritize her well-being consisted of "prayer, meditation, therapy, journaling, or spending time with other people in growth situations."
The American Son star also mentioned that since incorporating those practices into her life regularly, she could do a "self-inventory," face her issues head-on, and accept who she is as a person without worrying about unnecessary things.
"I have to be doing that work. As an executive, entrepreneur, parent, wife, for me to show up in those places requires that I'm willing to constantly be doing self-inventory and face my stuff," she said. "If I'm in a place of faith, self-love, and radical acceptance, s--t doesn't bother me. I can take a risk, and whether it goes well or doesn't, I'm good. It's about the journey, letting go of the result, and trusting your lane is yours. But if I'm not doing the work to be in a faithful place, then it's much harder."
Washington's recent admission to putting herself first regardless of the situation is a reminder that we all need.
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Feature image by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
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.
'I Want To Be The Color In My Home': Jackie Aina Gives Tour Of Her Posh Neutral Tone Pad
Jackie Aina is the embodiment of Black girl luxury, and her crib is no exception. Located in a ritzy area in Los Angeles, CA, Jackie’s home is equipped with all the things every fancy girl needs: an upscale kitchen, elevator, and fabulous pool. Luckily for us, the YouTuber opened up her home with the ultimate house tour. In a video on Tayo Aina’s (no relation) YouTube channel, Jackie goes from room to room, showing us her interior design style while also dishing on her life and career.
Jackie began making beauty content on YouTube in 2009, and from there, she’s grown her empire through collaborations with makeup brands like Too Faced. Now, she is the co-founder of the candle company FORVR Mood. The former Army reservist is known for her colorful personality, but her home is the opposite, which is on purpose. “Personally, because I have such a big, bold, colorful personality, I like to dress big and bold, I want to be the color in my home,” she said. “I don’t want my home to be the color. I want you to see me.”
She continued, “I want the house to be calming, and I want the house to blend in. I don’t want it to attract too much attention.” Her home may not be screaming look at me, but it’s definitely giving quiet luxury. Check it out below:
Breakfast Nook
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
Jackie revealed that she and her fiancé, Denis Asamoah, eat their meals at their breakfast nook daily.
Kitchen
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
“When my fiancé and I bought this house, I really wanted a double island kitchen, and the irony is like I don’t cook at all,” she said. Jackie explained that because she’s Black, African, and a woman, she’s expected to cook, and she doesn’t like doing what’s expected. “Why can’t I be good at other things? Like that doesn’t make me a woman if I don’t cook in the [kitchen].
Family Room
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
The star of the family room is the big, L-shaped white couch, and according to the YouTube star, her couch is so comfy you can melt into it.
Office
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
Jackie’s office houses the trophies and plagues that she received from YouTube and Shopify.
Backyard
Tayo Aina/ YouTube
The entrepreneur’s backyard has the same feel as the inside of the house. It has a gigantic pool and comfortable seating. “I’m very big on enjoy it while you have it,” she said.
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Feature image by Tayo Aina/ YouTube