People decide to become celibate for many reasons. Whether it's for spiritual reasons or waiting until marriage. Whatever your reason for practicing abstinence is your business, but know that you're not alone. There are several celebrities who have spoken about their celibacy journey. From Ciara and Russell Wilson to, most recently, Lenny Kravitz, each of them shared their journey with the world, proving that there isn't one way to look at celibacy.
Check out what these A-listers had to say about it below.
Lenny Kravitz
Lenny recently doubled down on his decision to be celibate while speaking to The Guardian. “Yes. It’s a spiritual thing,” he said. This follows his 2008 Maxium interview, where he first talked about practicing celibacy. "[It's] just a promise I made until I get married. Where I'm at in life, the women have got to come with something else, not just the body, but the mind and spirit,” he revealed at the time.
Ciara and Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson and Ciara
Photo by Stefanie Keenan/VF24/WireImage for Vanity Fair
The Wilsons revealed that they both were practicing celibacy before they got married. Russell opened up about their decision in a past interview at The Rock Church. “I asked her, ‘What would you do if we took all that other stuff off the table and did it Jesus’ way, no sex?’” he said. “I knew God had brought me into her life to bless her and for her to bless me and to bless so many people with the impact that she has and I have.”
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey shared that she was celibate prior to marrying Nick Cannon in 2008. In an interview with Mirror, she said, “It’s not that we had NO intimacy, we just didn’t have complete intimacy. It’s just me, and my feelings.” She continued, “I definitely don’t want to push it on anybody else, But we both have similar beliefs, and I just thought that it would be so much more special if we waited until after we were married. And it was, and it still is.”
Nick Cannon
Nick decided to abstain from sex again in 2022 after having his eighth child with model Brie Tiesi. “My therapist was one of the ones who said I should probably be celibate, and the reason why is because I had shared that news about Bre being pregnant,” he said on his now defunct daytime talk show. “And it was like, ‘Yo, I don’t know what to do.’ It felt like–I was trying to get a grasp, I got a new show coming out and that was the reason why I started my celibacy journey back then. So for anyone who’s thinking, ‘Oh, he wasn’t celibate,’ I was!”
He added, “I was like ‘Yo, I gotta get my life under control’ because I felt like I was out of control, and honestly that celibacy did help me through the journey of getting one with myself, being able to deal with this (the pregnancy) and so now everybody knows why I was being celibate.”
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj
Photo by John Shearer/WireImage
When Nicki Minaj appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2017, she revealed that she took a break from dating. “I’m just chillin’ right now,” she said. “I’m celibate. I wanted to go a year without dating any man. I hate men.”
Jordin Sparks
While guest co-hosting The Real, Jordin Sparks opened up about the self-love journey she went on before marrying her husband, Dana Isaiah Thomas. “I married Dana because after I went through therapy and I really worked on myself—I cut myself off from dating, and I went celibate,” she explained. "And I just was like, ‘I have so much love in my life. The next person who comes into my life in that way needs to add so much more than I already have.’”
Evelyn Lozada
Back in 2019, Evelyn Lozada shared that she got baptized and was now waiting to have sex until marriage. "I'm done with premarital sex. I felt like… [in] those relationships I lost a piece of me, every time I had sex [out of wedlock]," she told Baller Alert.
Yvonne Orji
Yvonne Orji
Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET+
Yvonne Orji has been open about her virginity. During her 2017 appearance on The Breakfast Club, the comedian opened up about how she found God in college and made a vow to remain a virgin until marriage. "Personally, I had plans to have sex when I turned 18. I was dating [a guy], and I had it figured out. But, I got to college at 17 in D.C., and then I got saved,” she explained.
Meagan Good
When Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin were married, they wrote the book The Wait, which talked about them waiting to have sex before marriage. When the former couple appeared on Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Sunday, the actress shared how a man who is willing to wait is husband material.
"That was a big issue for me because if he does leave me because I am not worth him waiting in his eyes, then he's not my husband," she said. "If someone does not think I am worthy of wanting to be the best version of myself, and wanting to get healing, and wanting to set myself up for success, if they won't do that with me, then I don't want to spend the rest of my life with them,."
Adrienne Bailon and Israel Houghton
Adrienne Bailon Houghton revealed that she and her husband, Israel Houghton, practiced abstinence before marriage. During an episode of The Real, the couple detailed their wedding night. “You don’t understand, we’ve waited for this moment. So I opened the door, and I had to kick Shane [The Real’s cameraman] out because he was following us around with the camera. Like, ‘You gotta go. Thank you for following us this far, but your time is up. Feel free to go to bed,'” Israel hilariously recalled.
Tamera Mowry-Housley
Tamera Mowry-Housley revealed that she was celibate before marrying her husband, Adam Housley. But before getting married, she learned how to please herself first. "So as you know, I've waited a really long time to have sex. But the thing is, is I knew what I liked and what I wanted because I can remember reading a magazine, actually it was ESSENCE, and it was about you know, sex education, pleasing yourself, and knowing what pleases you and what you like," she said on The Real.
So when she got married, she was knowledgeable about sex and what she wanted in the bedroom. "So even though I wasn't having sex I knew what I liked so I was in touch with myself. So, you know, once I got married with Adam and all of that, I knew what I wanted."
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Yep. I actually read one survey (that consisted of 2,000 people) that said folks tend to have twice as much sex while they are on vacation than they do when they’re at home. It makes sense too when you factor in that you have less to do (unless you’re traveling with those folks who act like you need an itinerary for every damn thing — and we all know one…SMDH), which makes you less stressed out, which makes it easier to feel sexy and to want to get sexual.
And so, in the spirit of that indeed being the case, I want to make sure that you carve out a corner of your suitcase or carry-on to include at least half of the following 12 things that are on this list — things that can help to make “summer vacation sex”…that much hotter, y’all.
1. Edible-Grade Sunscreen
GiphyIt can’t be said enough that, no matter how melanated you may be, your skin needs sunscreen. Not only to protect yourself from the risk of skin cancer (which 1 in 5 Americans will get in their lifetime) but from premature aging that can come from sun damage too. That said, if the urge arises to have sex outside somewhere, I did find some edible-grade sunscreen, in case you’re either worried about what sex in the sun will do to your skin or how all of the chemicals in sunscreen will affect your (digestive) system. The company is called Sky & Sol and you can read up on them here.
2. Flavored Lip Balm
GiphyIf you’ve ever wondered why your lips are so susceptible to being chapped, it’s because they don’t contain any oil glans to keep them moisturized. This is especially important to keep in mind when the weather is extremely cold or hot because that can do a real number on the sensitive skin that your lips are made out of. That’s why it’s essential to stay well-hydrated and to also keep some lip balm in tow. Lip balm is especially designed to moisturize your lips, reduce chapping, exfoliate, soothe irritation and protect your lips from UV damage. As a bonus, lip balm will also help to keep your lips super soft and kissable; especially if you get the flavored kind. #wink
3. Condoms
GiphyI’m still out here, literally shaking my damn head, that reportedly, only one-third of men and one-fourth of women use condoms (and even many of those folks don’t do it consistently). It can’t be said enough that if you’re not in a monogamous (married) or exclusive (dating) relationship where you both are getting regularly tested and are on some other form of birth control (unless you want to get pregnant) — you absolutely should be using condoms and, as a woman, you should not solely rely on your partner to have some that are ready and available.
Not just because you should be responsible for your body and health but because not all condoms are made equal, so you should bring along some that you prefer/enjoy. If you’d like a lil’ help picking those out, check out “These Are The Kinds Of Condoms Your Vagina Would Actually Prefer.”
4. Crotchless Swimsuit
GiphyPacking some sexy lingerie? I certainly hope that goes without saying. If you’ve got a hot tub around, though and you want to “get it in” without getting totally naked (so that nosey people won’t see every damn thing), you do know that there are some crotchless swimsuits out in these streets, right? An example of one is here. Of course, you can always do what Beyoncé said in “Drunk in Love” and just move ish over to the side but…I’m just giving you another creative option…if you wanted one.
5. Blindfolds
GiphyIf you’d like to cultivate an atmosphere of mystery or anticipation, a simple blindfold will do the trick. There is another reason why I think they are great for summer vacation (sex) trips, though — if your hotel room doesn’t come with blackout curtains and you want to have a quickie or two without the room being so bright, putting on a blindfold can solve that “problem” too.
6. Waterproof Sex Toys
GiphyWho said that you have to wait until you get to your hotel room to engage in some foreplay? If you bring a couple of sex toys around, you can tease each other practically anywhere — and if they are waterproof, that includes in the ocean or pool. Some, you can pair up with your smartphone in order to stimulate your partner from just about anywhere. Whew, chile.
7. Homemade Sex Toys Too
GiphySpeaking of sex toys, you’d probably be amazed at how many things in your house can double up as one. A spatula or wooden spoon is great for spanking. A necktie, some tights and a pair of clothespins work well for BDSM (use your imagination, sis). An electronic toothbrush is its own vibrator. A string of (lubricated) pearls in between your thighs? Girrrl…GIRL. Oh, and cop a silicone ice tray that comes in different shapes.
When you are rubbing ice in the shape of fruit, flowers or even animals over each other’s bodies, you’ll be surprised by how the combination of the cold with the texture of the space of the ice will stimulate you (make the ice out of juice instead of water for an extra sweet treat!).
8. Portable Charger
GiphyI don’t know what took me so long to get a damn portable charger but it’s one of the best things that ever happened to me. What I personally purchased is the ANKER Zolo Power Bank, 20,000mAh 30W High-Speed Portable Charger. I can throw it in my purse, it charges fast, I can use more than once before needing to recharge it; plus, it complements most devices. A great thing to keep in mind, so that your sex toys don’t end up going out on you while you’re…wherever you are.
9. Massage Oil Candle
GiphyGoing through security at the airport can be a HEADACHE. And while, how long it can take, oftentimes varies on the airport you’re at and the time you are traveling (you can read more about that here), the process is going to be especially annoying if they have to go through your bags. Since you can currently only pack a quarter-sized bag of liquid products on your carry-on, my two cents would be to leave the massage oil at home and pack a massage oil candle instead.
That way, you can still engage in some temperature play (check out “Hot Sex: 10 Super Sultry Reasons To Bring Wax Play Into Your Bedroom”) while you’re on the road without going through any security hassle hang-ups. Some edible massage oil candles are located right here.
10. Wine Cooler Sleeve
GiphySay that you end up going on a wine tasting tour while you’re on vacation and you end up purchasing a bottle or you simply want to toast with some champagne but you’re not sure how to store the bottle. Did you know that there are wine cooler sleeves that are lightweight, portable and will help to keep your bottles cold without condensation for hours on end? A brand that comes highly recommended is here.
11. Rose Petals
GiphyI think there are a few reasons why rose petals are oftentimes used to create a sexy mood. Red symbolizes love and passion. Rose petals are soft to the touch. The scent of them is considered to be an aphrodisiac as well. For all of these reasons, bring along some fresh rose petals for your hotel bed. If you put a damp paper towel in something like a small Tupperware container and then place the rose petals inside of that, they won’t dry out quickly which will make them feel great once you’re ready to start rolling around in them (you can also keep them in your hotel room’s fridge to further extend their shelf life).
12. Mints
GiphyMorning sex. Outdoor sex. Whatever kind of sex — it’s always going to be better when your breath and his smell good. And just so you don’t have to lug around a big bottle of mouthwash, pack some mints. Altoids are always going to be my number one draft pick — yet go with whatever are your personal faves. They’re the perfect hack for unbelievable summer vacation sex. Wouldn’t you agree? Enjoy!
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