

Newly Engaged Angie Martinez Shares Gems On Being Single, 'Me Time' + Defining Your Own Success
After umpteen years of speaking on the radio, Angie Martinez has been spoken for!
Earlier this year, the veteran radio mogul revealed to Latina Magazine that she's no longer a single lady during an interview about how she supported the new film How To Be Single. While Auntie Angie gave hardly any details on her new nuptials, she did have plenty of advice on how single girls can be completely happy without having a date.
Check out what she had to say to the magazine on how single girls can have the time of their lives, sans the man.
On What's Great About Being Single
I have to tell you something. I’m not single anymore and it’s fairly new but I was single for a long time in NYC. Well, I think the thing about being single is that there are other single women too. So there is a bonding that happens with other single women – there is certain support that you get from other single women and honestly, you don’t need a man to be happy. You could be perfectly happy in your life and great relationships and friendships and fun. If you’re young and you’re still exploring the world, you kind of should be single, so you could figure out who you are all the way first and mess up every now and then and do dumb things. But especially in this city, it’s such a fun city to be single in and you don’t have anyone to answer to.
ON WHAT SUCKS ABOUT BEING SINGLE
The worst thing about being single, is when you have to go to weddings or go to events where everyone is matched up with somebody else and they give you that look like ‘are you ever going to have a date?’ that kind of sucks or just in those moments where everybody has a lonely moment where it’s kind of like, your girlfriends don’t really cut it. But those are just moments; it doesn’t mean your life cannot be happy.
HER BEST ADVICE FOR THE SINGLE LADIES IN THE HOUSE
Just to have great friends – great girlfriends, great network of people to hold you down and to share life with and experience all of the city has to offer. You don’t necessarily need a man for that; you just need people who you enjoy being around for that. I just say, pick your friends wisely.
Back in October at a luncheon in New York, the "Voice of New York" also had some gems of advice for ladies seeking to be entrepreneurs while looking for something that fulfills them. Angie has found plenty of fulfillment in her career as a radio host and an entrepreneur through her website and book, Healthy Latin Eating. The healthy living advocate was able to share some helpful hints on defining your own success that can definitely be applied to any woman trying to forge a path in business while they're not actively dating. Check out what else she had to say.
Define Your Own Success
“Sometimes, we as women put so much energy into our career and then it doesn’t make us happy. You work so hard, but is that success? Like, how much money do you have to have? What is your purpose? What fulfills you inside? You start chasing something, but why? You want a million dollars? And when you get it, what happens? Answer me that. What happens?
[Tweet "You want a million dollars? And when you get it, what happens? Answer me that. What happens? -@angiemartinez"]
Have some "Me" time
“I know it’s cliché, but you have to take time for yourself. It’s the realest thing I wish I could have learned earlier. You need to give yourself energy. Because you’re giving out energy all day to your man, your kids, your work. You need to put some energy back into yourself. And also accept that it will never be [perfectly] balanced. It’s the truth! But if you give yourself enough time to be aware, then you would notice danger a little bit before it arrives. You will be constantly readjusting your life. Forever. There will never be a time when you’re like ‘I got it!’ It’s never going to happen!” “It’s always hard. What I just started doing maybe three years ago — once a year I go somewhere alone. And I’ve always been the type of person who hates doing things alone. I don’t go see a movie by myself, or have dinner alone. But when I take that trip without anyone, I come back with so much peace and so many ideas. I write, I read. [You have to] make sure you take those moments for yourself, because work and life can make you crazy. You’ll find little tricks that help you. A trick for me is taking a trip once a year alone.”
CHASE YOUR DREAM
[Tweet ""A lot of people get stuck chasing somebody else’s route" - @angiemartinez"]
“A lot of people get stuck chasing somebody else’s route, I see it all the time.” “You have to be authentic to who you are. Pay attention to your own spirit, your own gut, your own instincts. Learn from people but do you. Maybe you’re slowing yourself down trying to fit into a piece that’s not for you. There is no answer to everything. It’s just a job and if there isn’t one for you, you can’t let that stop you. You have to figure out another way. F-ck ‘em!”
Fail to Win
“I’m just deeply inspired by how [Oprah] left what she had, multiple times in her career and wasn’t afraid to do something different, something new, start over. Not afraid to fail. People were talking a lot during the first year of OWN and she said, ‘It’s cool, I failed the first year, I’m going to learn and pick it up again.’ To me that is super inspiring because it’s a journey. Failing is part of it and if you don’t fail, you’re not in the game and then you really have a problem. Failing is not the problem. Not being in the game is the problem.”
Exclusive: KJ Smith Talks Viral Wedding With Skyh Black: ‘We Did What We Wanted To Do’
Whether it was your group chat, social media feed, or your favorite media outlet covering the spectacle, I’m pretty sure you’ve come across the viral Black wedding between actress KJ Smith (Sistas, Raising Kanan) and actor Skyh Black (All the Queen’s Men, Sistas). From their grand entrance to Jay-Z, Kayne West, and Beyoncé’s song “Lift Off” to KJ’s standout dance routine and the endless celebrity appearances, it’s an addictive TikTok scroll you can’t help but delve into.
But what many people would be surprised to know is that the couple’s original wedding plan was nothing like what it grew to be. What started as her simply scrolling through posts to get ideas eventually transformed into what the internet knows now as #TheBlackExperience. In an exclusive conversation with xoNecole, KJ walked us through her planning process, the morning of her wedding, and what she thinks of the online response.
Some women have their whole wedding planned out, from the bridal gown and venue to the bridal party and playlist. However, KJ was not one of those people. “I didn’t foresee a wedding in my future,” she reveals. “I was just gonna be the boss chick, rich auntie. I didn’t force love in my life until recently. I never had an idea of what a dream wedding would look like, it was easier for me to elope.”
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
And to many people’s surprise, that was their original plan – until Skyh brought up a valid concern. He was raised by his grandmother and thought she should be at the wedding, and naturally, that led to KJ wanting her grandmother to be there as well – then her mom – and later her sister – and, you’ve gotta invite the besties too, right? From there, the guest list continued to blossom. Much like the updo and pop of color bold red lip, she wore on her special day, which was initially on her Pinterest board as a soft glam look with her hair hanging on her shoulders, KJ is okay with changing her plan if it brings her and her loved ones happiness.
So let’s get into the wedding, which took place in Malibu, CA. The first thing you should know about the celebrity couple is that they’re non-traditional. They know, and they don’t care. So, in true unconventional fashion, they shared the morning of the wedding together.
“I woke up with Skyh, we walked our dog, had black coffee, and said good morning to the people who stayed at the venue with us,” she says.
Now, it was time for hair and makeup. While she was getting glammed up, she had Black-owned McBride Sisters wine and champagne (which ties into The Black Experience theme) on deck with her mom and friends, had her besties help rework her vows, retried on every outfit (sis is very Type-A), took photos, and ended the early-celebration with prayer and meditation. It seems very non-Bridezilla, I said.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company,” she explains. “The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
Things moved quickly, and before she knew it, it was time to line up to walk down the aisle.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company. The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
KJ Smith and her bridal party
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Since everything started with their grandmothers, the couple wanted to ensure they honored them and planned to keep an element of their wedding traditional. Although we’ve all seen the reception videos and photos online, you may have noticed visuals from the wedding itself are harder to find.
“We planned for it to be traditional, but we’re not like that, so we tried to create those moments. We jumped the broom and had a salt ceremony (where the bride and groom individually pour salt into a glass container, symbolizing their lives becoming one.) But honestly, still, nothing was traditional about it.”
She goes on to explain that her mom caught the holy ghost coming down the aisle, her glam team was on deck, and she became so nervous with excitement that she had an anxiety attack – something she struggled with for years, she explains tearfully. Her friends had to literally cheer her down the aisle because of how overwhelmed she felt until she eventually calmed down.
“Skyh was standing there with his hand on his heart; we have our own little language, and I could feel the support,” she shares.
It was surprising to hear all these emotional moments happened before the party we saw online. That is until she once again got into the backstory.
“As a Black woman actress, for so long, it was popular to be mysterious and secretive, but that’s not who I am or what I like. Plus, we both wanted to create an experience for everyone there. We are the people who always host family and friends,” she says. “Like for me, the first order of business was getting sandals for the women so they can dance all night long. We had oxtail, D'ussé, and a coffee and sativa lounge – which is part of Skyh and I’s lifestyle and routine. We wanted to bring them into our world.”
Skyh Black (L) and KJ Smith (R)
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
She went on to discuss the dance routine she did for her husband at the reception, which has taken over the internet. Apparently, that’s another thing that didn’t go according to plan. According to KJ, she had promised a performance at their joint bachelor/ bachelorette party, but her outfit got stolen from her car. So, Skyh ended up performing for her – complete with a strip tease. Still, she never forgot her promise to dance for him.
So, she hired her friend as a choreographer, learned the routine, made friends and family watch it endless times, and attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance show a few days before for a confidence boost. It ended up being a show to remember. But that wasn’t all the night offered. Lil Mo performed, and the guests received special goody bags featuring their favorite Black-owned products like journals, hair care, and more.
“We made sure everyone was taken care of all night. That kind of stuff makes us happy. I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives,” she says.
But naturally, the internet is going to internet, and while there were countless people praising the event and applauding the newlyweds, some thought it was too over the top. I was curious to know her thoughts on some of the criticism.
“It’s cool. We did what we wanted to do. I’ve decided to share my world with people. Just how I went on social media platforms and found inspiration, I want people to do the same,” she explains. “I don’t think it's fair to my supporters not to give that out. There’s so much I wanna share with brides, specifically Black brides. I love that people are adding it to their Pinterest boards."
"I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives."
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
“I’m happy with it because we did what we wanted to do. They can do what they wanna do. Don’t be cruel, though, because you will get blocked,” she said, laughing.
The more I spoke with her, the more her sense of freedom shined through. People are always going to have their opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s you who has to live your life, and it seems like the couple realizes that and embraces that power. She also stressed the importance of not living for others and the lessons life has taught her.
“I’ve been to countless weddings, and I’ve been in countless weddings. I’m a generally older bride. So when women in my demographic get married, and you and your husband are busy working people like us, you deserve to have the one you want to have,” she shares.
“This is what we wanted to do. Our loved ones love and support us. We did so much to honor them, but we also wanted to start our own tradition, legacy, and creation. I'm not going to be pulled back into ideas of the past when I’m trying to create a future with my partner. “
If you’d like to see more of the couple, you probably won’t have to wait long. Although no content is planned yet, she admits to being an oversharer. “Me being open and transparent about my experiences lets people know it’s okay to have flaws; it makes you human, and for many years, I didn’t believe that was okay. I had pressure to be perfect, and I’d crumble every time,” she explains to xoNecole.
Now, she owns her flaws and uses them as a superpower to connect with her community and feel and express her love.
“Some people give us [Skyh and KJ] a hard time because they say we just seem too perfect. I’m like, why is that a bad thing? I love the people I love. From my man to my mama, to my friends - unabashedly. We move through time and space how we want to move. If we did it another way, we’d let ourselves and our union down.”
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Feature image by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Savannah James Gives Us A Look Into Her Luxurious 'Beauty Space'
Savannah James may have become a household name by being married to NBA star LeBron James. However, the mother of three has garnered her own fanbase thanks to her classical beauty and style. If you’re one of her 2.3 million followers on Instagram, then you’ve had a front-row seat to her effortless style and mom life. Now, Savannah is giving us a peek into her bathroom, aka her “beauty space.”
Talking to Allure, the entrepreneur shed light on her beauty and skincare routine. While she enjoys glam, she knows that beauty comes from within and makes sure to instill that in her 8-year-old daughter Zhuri. “Whether you are done up to the gods or at home with a pimple patch and bonnet on, you're beautiful and it's enough,” she said. “You don't have to do any more than that if you don't choose to.”
Below are four essentials that make up Savannah's beauty space.
Vanity
@allure/ Instagram
The video starts off with Savannah showing us her vanity, and everything is organized and labeled. “I love makeup,” she said. “All of my things have been organized for me, which makes it easy to find the things that I need because it’s a lot in there.”
Affirmation Corner
@allure/ Instagram
As she continued showing off her vanity, she also gave us a glimpse at the affirmations she has on star sticky notes posted on the mirror. Some of the affirmations say, “I am loved,” “I am capable,” and “I am strong.”
Soaking In The Bathtub
@allure/ Instagram
One of her favorite ways to relax is by taking baths. “I take probably five or six baths a week,” she confessed. “It’s the best thing in the world. I go through bags and bags and bags of Epsom salt." She continued, “Usually, my kids and my husband know that if they can’t find me, this is where I am.”
Skincare and Haircare Drawers
@allure/ Instagram
In her bathroom, Savannah has two drawers that she calls her “go-tos.” They are her skincare and haircare drawers. The skincare drawer has items like makeup pads, gua sha, and wrist towels ( for when water drips down your arms when you're washing your face), and her haircare drawer includes scrunchies, clips, wig pins, and more. “I am obsessed with skincare. I’m a skincare junkie,” she revealed. “I just think it’s one of the parts of my self-care routine that is a non-negotiable.”
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Feature image by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images