LeToya Luckett Says Being Kicked Out Of Destiny's Child Helped Her Reconnect With God
Every loss is an opportunity to level up; just take it from LeToya Luckett, who said that one of the most devastating times in her life was only a blessing in disguise.
In moments of despair, we're quick to blame God, but it's important to know that God will never allow you to go through pain without purpose. LeToya learned this firsthand at only 19 years old after being suddenly removed from Destiny's Child after 7 years of performing for the group. On a recent episode of her Facebook Watch show If Not For My Girls, the singer opened up about the experience and proved that sometimes your loss is actually a win. She explained to her co-hosts:
"When I came out of DC, out of Destiny's Child, there was a moment of 'OK, what do I do next?'"
Although the news sent her life into a tizzy, it was proof that sometimes God will push you into your pain for the sake of your purpose. It wasn't until later in her life, when she met a friend who encouraged her to reconnect with her spirituality that she was actually able to find peace. The woman, who LeToya described as a "motherly, nurturing spirit", is a prime example of how God will sometimes speak through others to get to you, you just have to be ready to listen.
"[She] comforted me and told me, 'Dust yourself off. Let's go to church. Let's go to these women's conferences. Let's pray together.' She helped me to build my prayer life. I got a better understanding of who God was to me."
God puts people in your life to be either a lesson or a blessing, and if you're lucky enough, you'll meet people who will be both. In the past, LeToya has been open about how her departure from the group left a number of lasting emotional wounds and said that although it "hurt", she's now able to see that everything that has happened has all been for the better.
"I feel that God places people in your life because I know that I've had so many different angels, as I like to call them, that I feel God perfectly — in His timing, in His perfect timing — placed these women in my life for a specific reason."
Today, LeToya credits both the people who have come into her life as well as her pain for allowing her the opportunity to be uncomfortable.
"I started to build a relationship with God and I found comfort in that instead of comfort in trying to figure out what I wanted to do next. I had to seek Him first before I could make any moves."
A devoted husband, a precious baby, and a platinum-selling album later, it's safe to say that LeToya is doing "So Good", and it's all because she let go and let God figure out the rest.
To watch the full clip, click below!
Featured image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
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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