
Keyshia Cole Talks About Making Peace With Her Past And Mother's Death While Filming Biopic: 'I Was Able To Tell My Mom Goodbye'

Singer Keyshia Cole has found solace in her past by revisiting pivotal moments that occurred in her life in the Lifetime biopicKeyshia Cole: This Is My Story.
In the film, the 41-year-old, who makes her acting debut by portraying an older version of herself, highlights various struggles she has gone through in Oakland, California, before becoming a Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum-selling artist. For context, Cole was placed in foster care by her biological mother, Frankie Lons, at two years old because the late star was battling a drug and alcohol addiction.
Leon and Yvonne Cole, close family friends, ultimately adopted the "Heaven Sent" vocalist and legally changed her last name to Cole. Despite the hardships, Cole reconnected with her mother and siblings numerous times, many of which were captured in the reality television show Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is.
In recent years, the duo appeared to have repaired their relationship when Lons sadly passed away in July 2021 at 61 from an accidental fentanyl overdose. Shortly after losing Lons, Cole's adopted father, Leon, tragically died after suffering COVID-19 complications.
During a recent interview with People magazine, Cole opened up about her healing journey and how it was reliving those moments on set with actress Debbi Morgan, who plays the role of Lons.
Keyshia On Her Healing Journey And Her Mother's Past Addictions
In the June discussion, the "Let It Go" songstress revealed that working on Lifetime's Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story helped her make peace with the unresolved issues she experienced in her life.
"This is like my way of making peace with a lot of things. I was able to relive those moments and make peace with it all. That was my goal," she said.
Further into the interview, Cole added that although she was reluctant to share the good and bad parts of Lons' story in the project, she decided to include it because she wanted everyone to know a more human side of her mother.
"Part of me was like, 'I don't want to show her in that way.' But she had fans as well and I thought it would be kind of selfish at this point," she stated. "And there's a lot of great things about my mom that they have never [been] seen. She was always joking or always going crazy, one or the other."
When asked how it was shooting the film with Morgan following Lons' death, Cole explained that she could always feel her mother's presence around, which gave her the closure she needed.
"A lot of the moments felt like she was there. I felt I was able to tell my mom goodbye because I didn't get to tell my mom goodbye. In an eerie way, I was able to speak with my mom. Maybe she could hear it," she said.
Keyshia On How She's Coping Following The Loss Of Her Mother And Adopted Father
As the subject shifted to how Cole is coping with losing her biological mother and adopted father, the "Love" singer disclosed that prayer and her children have made the experience a bit easier.
Cole shares Daniel Gibson Jr.,13, with ex-husband Daniel Gibson and a 3-year-old son Tobias Khale with ex Niko Khale. The "Shoulda Let You Go" vocalist revealed that being an active parent and her daily duties as a mother played a huge role in her journey.
"I'm good. I just pray and I'm so thankful to have my kids because they are my light," she stated. "Just being near them and being able to take them to school, pick them up, be a regular parent, that is a lot of my healing, being able to give my children something that I didn't really experience."
Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story is now streaming on the Lifetime app.
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Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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The Ordinary’s $13 Essence Gave My Dry Skin A Real Glow-Up
There are plenty of straightforward skincare steps.
Serums can target problem areas, moisturizers lock in hydration, and sunscreen protects against sun damage. Knowing the intention behind these steps makes my skincare routine feel intentional. However, I struggle to understand the purpose behind using an essence. It’s the only step in my skincare routine that I skip because I don’t see the point.
Do Essences Actually Work? What I Wish More Beauty Brands Explained
The idea of using it seems relaxing at times. How beauty gurus gently place essence on their skin looks like a relaxing experience. Still, no one ever explains what it truly does. Even most essence products typically don’t define their purpose. They usually highlight a key ingredient to draw consumers, like me, to purchase the product. This has often tempted me, but I couldn't point out its purpose.
These are the moments I wish essence products were more transparent than the item itself.
Why I Chose The Ordinary's Multi-Active Delivery Essence
The Ordinary has always been on my radar to try. Their products are affordable, and if I’m being honest, someone on my For You page is always raving about them. When they came out with an essence, I knew it was perfect timing. I received the item to find its purpose, and the number one detail I’ve always looked for.
Labeled at the front of the bottle, Multi-Active Delivery Essence states that it is a hydrating essence that helps prime the skin for better skincare penetration. It’s a small detail that allowed me to understand its intention and put it to the test fully.
How To Use The Ordinary’s Hydrating Essence For Glowing Skin
I applied the essence before skincare, as recommended. According to their website, the hydrating essence is supposed to provide intense moisture. They compare it to their Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% product. This sets the foundation for hydration to last longer on the skin and for skincare products to penetrate deeply, allowing the skin to have a brighter, luminous appearance.
My Skin After: A Natural Glow and Long-Lasting Hydration
Once I applied the essence to my skin, I began using my skincare. I figured mixing my serums with the product would be an excellent way for them to penetrate deeper, as promised in the descriptions. Once my serums had settled in, I followed up with a moisturizer to lock everything in and SPF to add some protection. I noticed my skin lay more smoothly. It was clear that incorporating the essence and letting things settle helped to create a natural glow.
Throughout the day, I monitored how my skin would react. As someone with dry skin, I sometimes have to reapply sunscreen or moisturizer to keep the hydration flowing. I didn’t feel the need to reapply since I had used the essence earlier that day. My skin maintained hydration, creating a luminous glow throughout the day.
This was a perfect situation for me, since long-lasting hydration can sometimes be a challenge for me.
Final Thoughts: Is This Essence Worth It for Dry Skin Types?
This product works perfectly for dry to standard skin types. However, I’m unsure if the experience will be as pleasurable for those with oily skin. The level of hydration that increases over time can become overwhelming for oily skin and might even lead to a breakout or two.
If you want to try it, I say go for it! The gift of beauty is that there is no limit to what you can play with.
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