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Mary J. Blige's Latest MAC Collaboration Proves That She Is The Bag
Mary J. Blige has really been getting into her bag lately, and we have been cheering it on. She has not only been booked, but the Queen is busy to the max. In just the past few months, the music icon has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 BET Awards, starred in Netflix projects, launched her own production company Blue Butterfly Productions, and signed a deal with Lionsgate Studios. And really, she's just getting started.
Known for her sultry vocals and classic R&B tunes, Mary isn't just a celebrity to many of us who grew up on her. She was the friend and homegirl next door, always keeping it real and working hard to surpass the next milestone in her life. And as she's grown and endured in the public eye, particularly from a tumultuous divorce with her ex-husband, Mary is walking through the fire and proving her testimonial mantra of being just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine oooh.
She tells xoNecole. "That is the story of my life. I've been falling since I've been touring. Then I rise again and then I fall. Being in the public eye, people get to see you rise and fall so you have a responsibility to the little girls out there and I am very mindful of that."
"When you fall hard in public, people are watching to see how you come out of it. That is a time to be an example and a time to be a role model. Tragedy and triumph."
Nowadays, Mary is onto the next triumph of her life, signing on to be the face of MAC's new Love Me lipstick campaign. In commemoration of her seminal My Life album (which is 25 this year!), the songstress teamed up with the beauty brand for a limited-edition argan oil-infused lipstick, "French Silk", on Maccosmetics.com.
The campaign is filled with nudes and peachy tones, and the collection felt like a no-brainer to the Oscar-nominated actress. "With my Love Me nude lipstick in 'French Silk', it's all about me loving me and finding love for myself," she shares with xoNecole about her new signature nude.
"I am being a little selfish these days in loving me and taking care of me and the lipstick is definitely that– it's a nude that makes me feel confident and is my comfort zone and my signature look now."
This selfishness — as she calls it — really is just an intention to guard her time and energy. And while she may be serving us looks on the red carpet, or conquering the latest thing in Hollywood, loving herself and self-care is of the utmost importance. Her foundation remains grounded, even from the moment she wakes up. "I start my day loving myself," she says. "When I wake up in the morning, when my eyes open, I thank God for my life."
And her self-care doesn't stop there — Mary J. admits to spending at least thirty minutes meditating, reading, and praying before jumping into her day. "I demand the time to rest and be quiet," she says. "I keep myself spiritually grounded. Also, massages are important. Drink a lot of water. Stay positive."
While you may think that you have to have a lot of money in order to be Mary J. fabulous, she names "the gym and the way you eat" as her biggest beauty investments. She continued, "Whether it's the right meats and foods or not, you have to be right inside. It's easier to do more things when you are at your healthiest."
So even though Mary J's new collaboration with MAC is a step in the beauty direction, she goes to prove that life is truly cyclical. And that no matter what age, you can live life on your own terms.
To cop Mary J. Blige's new MAC x MJB collaboration, click here.
Featured image via Instagram/Mary J. Blige
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."