

Like Love & Basketball, Timbaland, and Bratz Dolls, for many of us, Raven-Symone was culturally defining in the 2000s (high-key, well before the 2000s). The child star went from rubbing elbows with Dr. Huxtable as Olivia on The Cosby Show to starring in her own Disney Channel original That's So Raven. To put it simply, sis has been doing the damn thing for over 30 years!
Recently, the 35-year-old made headlines for getting real about her weight loss journey and losing 30 pounds in three months. Although Raven first broke the news about her 30-pound weight loss last month in an Instagram Live, she went into detail in an exclusive interview with Good Morning America.
"I am low-carb as much as I can be. I do very minimal exercise and I am an avid faster. I make sure I have a minimum of 14-hour fast between dinner and…break-fast."
Throughout the years, weight loss has been a struggle for Raven and she admits to trying most things out there to drop the weight unsuccessfully. Most notably, Raven lost a shocking 70 pounds in 2011. But although news outlets celebrated her, Raven herself isn't proud of that moment.
"The way people were treating me while I was bigger was emotionally damaging so when I lost weight, and I remember the moment when I went on the red carpet, and in my head I was cussing everyone out. I mean, I'm like, 'Wow, now you want to look at me because I'm skinny?' Thanks."
Raven-Symone arrives at the 2011 People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
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However, the former child star says this time is different. This time, it's the bigger picture for her. In the past, weight loss might have been about attaining a certain size but now Raven's eye is on a different prize: her health.
"I'm not over here trying to be a little twig... I want to make sure that my body is healthy and prepared to deal with old age."
And while a minimum 14-hour fast might seem extreme, Raven assures the interviewer that she has done the research to educate herself and is fasting daily safely. When she opts for longer fasts between meals, Raven says that she drinks a lot of water, electrolytes, and reaches for the bone broth to sustain her.
She also credits her health goal and the support system she has in her wife, Miranda Pearman-Maday, with helping her stay focused on her journey. All we know is, sis looks damn good and we're excited for her to continue to live her best healthy life!
Raven is not the only star making headlines for their weight loss journeys. Below are four other celebrities staying on top of the health and fitness goals this year so far.
Ciara On Her 30-Pound Weight Loss
Ciara revealed she has lost a total of 39 pounds since starting her WW (formerly Weight Watchers) journey after giving birth to her third child, Win. She captioned a recent Instagram photo:
"Goodbye to those last 10lbs I've been working on these past 5 weeks, Hello to me-pre baby weight! I'm so proud of myself– down 39 pounds on my @ww journey! The @ww app really made the process easy and fun!"
And with how WW is set up, Ciara didn't have to be restrictive about what she ate in order to achieve her results. However, she and hubby do credit Peloton as their "favorite thing" to do together (and we're sure that hobby doesn't hurt). The WW ambassador also shared in a statement:
"Looking back on my journey, I feel so proud and fulfilled. Yes, I had a goal weight in mind, and I lost 39 pounds on WW!! But I have also gained so much more than what I had set to lose. I've enjoyed every step of the process, and loving my curves along the way that my baby gave me! I am honestly feeling stronger than ever and embracing life with my beautiful family and three babies – you can't put a number against that."
Tiffany Haddish On Her 50-Pound Weight Loss
Over the years, Tiffany Haddish has shed an impressive 50 pounds in her overall weight loss transformation. In a recent interview with Extra, she jokingly stated she was trying to "get my high school body back." Her favorite workout of the moment?
"At first, I was doing like 15 minutes running, you know, running on the beach for 15 or 20 minutes, or my Peloton. But then I got these Oculus glasses that changed the game. I'm kind of addicted to the VR and this app called 'Supernatural'…I'll do 20 minutes, or maybe 10 minutes in the morning, and I'm fiending to get back on."
In regards to where she is with her body now, she noted:
"I discovered I'm stronger than what I thought I was. I definitely have more endurance than I thought I have."
Sherri Shepherd On Her 20-Pound Weight Loss
OK, but have y'all seen Sherri Shepherd lately? Sis looks tf goodt! The comedian and current Dish Nation co-host spoke previously about her 46-pound weight loss but also went on another weight loss journey this year. Sherri has lost 20 pounds this year so far. Health is wealth for Sherri and in April, she told PEOPLE:
"At 54, this is best I have ever felt. My goal is to be living a long and active life with my son Jeffrey, who shares the same birthday as me."
Thanks to an active lifestyle and a weight loss program, Healthy Wage, Sherri was able to meet her goals and then some.
"I walked 3 miles, four times a week, did Zumba in my backyard and I started boxing. Now, I roller skate three times a week and I'm also taking pole dancing lessons, and call myself a pole-dancer-like-ish woman!"
Exercise is important but diet is integral. Sherri says she does a combo of intermittent fasting and keto diet.
"I had already been off sugar for two years; so I then made the difficult decision to give up dairy, pork and beef. I love eggs with avocados, onions and peppers and grilled chicken and salads. I love to make kale chips as a snack. I also started cooking my meals, which has made a huge difference because I know exactly what ingredients are in the food I prepare."
LeToya Luckett On Her 30-Pound Weight Loss
LeToya Luckett is on a weight loss journey to lose a total of 50 pounds after giving birth to her second child with her former partner, ex Tommicus Walker. So far, the singer/actress has shed 30 pounds. In addition to an active lifestyle, she also credits Body Complete RX for helping her meet her goals:
"Here we are month 3 update on my weight loss journey with @bodycompleterx 🙌🏽 I'm officially now 30 lbs down and feeling sooooo good y'all!! Their trim system is theee truth! So happy I'm starting to feel like myself again. Only 20 more pounds to go!"
Featured image by Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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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Does hearing the phrase, “you’re such a good girl,” during sex turn you on? If so, you might have a “praise kink.” When I hear the term praise kink, the church girl in me wants to immediately play “The Lady, Her Lover and Lord” while riding reverse cowgirl. But that’s not what is meant by the term praise kink.
A “praise kink” is a sexual fetish that focuses on overt praise, exaggerated compliments, and an outpouring of verbal affection.
What Is a Praise Kink?
The concept of praise kinks isn't new, but thanks to TikTok, a lot of people are now realizing they might identify as praise kinksters. Currently, the hashtag #praisek1nk is trending with 568.9 million views, with tons of creators posting about their love for compliments and words of affirmation during sex. I, too, love a good compliment during sex. I once had a lover sing my praises about how good I was at a certain bedroom activity. His affirmations gave me WAP, but does that categorize me as having a praise kink?
How To Know if You Have a Praise Kink
Just because you love receiving praise doesn’t mean you have a praise kink. Someone with a praise kink experiences an intense level of sexual excitement from being praised or verbally affirmed by their partner during sex. You might have a praise kink if hearing your partner tell you how pretty you are makes you cum or if the thing that makes sex go from good to great is hearing your partner's thoughts about how good you are at giving head. And if, during solo play, the thing that gets you all hot and bothered is recalling the times your partner called you a good girl, it’s probably a praise kink.
Generally, a kink is a sexual activity that is needed for someone to enjoy sex. When it comes specifically to praise kinks, if you need reassurance from your partner that you're sexy, or good in bed in order to orgasm, you have a praise kink.
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Examples of Praise Kink Phrases To Try With Your Partner
If you’re new to the term and looking to explore, you probably have questions about what phrases to use. It may take a lot of communication and some trial and error to figure out what phrases work best for you and your partner. Ultimately, the best phrases to use vary from person to person and are based on what sex acts you and your partner enjoy, or what parts of their body they like complimented.
To get you started, here are some generic praise kink examples to try out with your partner:
Praise Kink Examples:
- You're such a good girl/boy.
- You're so good at [insert skill].
- You look so hot when you [insert activity].
- Your [insert body part] is irresistible.
- You taste so good. I can't get enough of you.
- You just have the perfect [body part].
- Just like that… you’re doing so good.
- Who taught you how to be so good at [something?]
While many examples of praise kink involve specific verbal affirmations, praise can also come in the form of brief words or phrases like “yes,” “keep going,” or simply a moan. No matter what type you prefer, praise kink is all about finding what feels good and exciting, and turns you and your partner on the most.
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Originally published on November 4, 2022