
Curves Ahead: Savage X Fenty Vol. 2 Is A Lesson In Dynamic Inclusion

The Savage X Fenty Vol. 2 show dropped on Friday morning (Oct. 2), exclusively on Amazon Prime, and has been living in our heads rent-free all weekend. This year, Rihanna exceeded expectations with a virtual dive into the sultry, inclusive, and dynamic world that is Savage X.
"The emotion makes the story worthwhile."
As with its predecessor, Vol. 2 was saturated with mega-stars across entertainment, with a particular focus on people of the LGBTQ community. The show centered about ideologies of life, and loosely centered around three pillars: experience, emotions, and storytelling. Unlike the show last year, there were documentary-style elements introduced, such as intimate interviews with models and behind-the-scenes of the team's creative process.
The way Rihanna is able to mix sustainable and sensational is peerless. The bar is continuously pushed by her and the phenomenal creative team behind her. By curating a space that is primarily founded on inclusivity, she's built one of the most groundbreaking creative teams in the fashion industry. The breadth of women in the show is unmatched and has never been witnessed at a fashion show, much less a lingerie fashion show.
Savage X Fenty is creating a lane for not only themselves but everyone who doesn't fit that preconceived standard of beauty. The brand is manifesting a space that literally never existed before.
Known for having the most-inclusive size range in lingerie, Savage X Fenty seamlessly produces visually stunning moments that highlight the beauty of diversity in the human form. There were so many experiences in the show, from the garden of melanated women draped in floral shawls, to the den of black leather vixens, to sensual line workers in colorful lingerie at the factory; each scene exuded something different yet still presented a cohesive vibe.
It's more than a visually stunning experience, though. Every element of the show was detailed and immaculate. Interspersed between runway shows and musical performances were more in-depth interviews with celebrities like Willow Smith and Miguel, as well as her creative team and even Rihanna herself.
The peek behind the curtain of Savage X Fenty revealed more about the inspiration for the brand and its mission, one of the driving forces behind their inclusivity. With the introduction of a men's line, Savage X was able to expand their representation and clientele.
The Savage X Fenty brand is focused on showcasing sexuality in different forms, more specifically ones not shown in mainstream media. The current societal conversation around sexuality and what it means is a big portion of this show. By interviewing the models, who range from non-binary to heterosexual, there's a sort of education that's happening between the models and the audience. It's as if they are speaking about what Savage X has given them directly, in regards to how they view their sexuality.
"Displaying sexuality has become something that's way deeper than [the] surface for me."
By including so many different types of races, nationalities, ethnicities, and sexualities, Savage X Fenty is seemingly issuing a challenge to the rest of the industry. In an age where we expect brands to have morals and ethics, Savage X Fenty is dominating that lane.
Are you a member of our insiders squad? Join us in the xoTribe Members Community today!
Featured image via Gif
- 10 Can't Miss Moments from Rihanna's 'Savage x Fenty Show Vol. 2 ... ›
- Savage x FENTY: Show Vol. 2 - A Celebration Of Inclusivity ... ›
- Savage X Fenty Vol. 2: Best Moments and Products | Teen Vogue ›
- Rihanna celebrates diversity and inclusion in Savage x Fenty show ... ›
- The Savage x Fenty Vol 2 Show Proves Mullets Are Cool Again | Allure ›
- Watch Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 | Prime Video ›
- Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 on Amazon: Photos from the ... ›
- How to Watch Rihanna's 'Savage x Fenty: Vol. 2' Fashion Show ›
- Lingerie by Rihanna - SAVAGE X FENTY ›
- Rihanna promotes diversity and inclusion at Savage x Fenty Vol. 2 ... ›
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Self-Validation, No Meals After 5 P.M. & The Wellness Rituals That Helped Lizzo Take Her Power Back
Don't let the "weight release" fool you, Lizzo's transformation wasn't just physical. It was spiritual, emotional, and deeply personal. In her Women's Health cover story, the "Good As Hell" artist opened up about the low point that became the catalyst for radical change in her life, inside and out.
In the summer of 2023, Lizzo found herself at the center of what she calls painful allegations when some of her former dancers filed a lawsuit against her. The 37-year-old singer has denied their claims, and though she has experienced "backlash my entire career," going through such legal woes coupled with public scrutiny proved to be detrimental to her mental health, leading her to one of the darkest periods of her life.
She told Women's Health, "I got very paranoid and isolated. I wasn’t even talking to my therapist. I wasn’t present. I wasn’t open. I wasn’t myself anymore."
After spending months in isolation, Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, decided to go to a tour stop on the Renaissance World Tour. She was nervous that the public would shun her, boo her, or reject her, but instead, she was embraced. It shifted something in her and after feeling so in the dark, she saw the light again. "It made me feel like, wow, maybe I don’t want to die," she shared with Women's Health.
"That was the kick-starter to me being like, ‘Okay, Melissa, get your ass in gear and take your f*cking life back.’"
Her first step in Operation Get Your Life Back? Cutting out the external noise. She gave her team total control of her social media and stopped looking at comments. "My validation was from external sources, people telling me they loved me, or that I look good, and accepting me," she explained. "But if that’s all I’m getting my validation from, when it changes—and it will, because people are not always going to like you—what happens? Where are you going to get your love from?"
Lizzo continued, "I can convince myself that I’m beautiful, my body fine, no matter how big or small. But reminding myself that you can’t let others tell you who you are—that was hard work."
Lizzo started going to therapy again, she started practicing quigong meditation, reading books, journaling, and doing sound baths. She released unhealthy relationships, drank echinacea tea, and began incorporating Pilates as a means to "feel sacred" and "be gentle" with herself.
But what many have interpreted as a "weight loss transformation" after she popped out sharing she met her "weight release" goal earlier this year, Lizzo has clarified that it has been something deeper for her than the aesthetic of a smaller body. "I wanted to be big-girl skinny," she told the mag. "Every big girl knows what I’m talking about. Big-girl skinny is 250 pounds." According to her, it was her back issues that inspired her to take the physical part of her wellness journey seriously.
I DID IT! #weightrelease
@lizzo I DID IT! #weightrelease
Through her friend Kelly Rowland, she linked up with her now-trainer Marvin Telp and developed a fitness regimen that prioritized strength and intention. Her weekly schedule now includes moves like single-leg deadlifts, reverse flies, and lateral lunges, along with infrared sauna sessions and cardio. Add to that a change in eating habits after realizing her vegan diet no longer served her (to be fair, she wasn't doing the vegan thing the "healthiest" way).
All the meat substitutes, bread, cashew cheese, and soy left her bloated and lightheaded, so now she's switched things up a bit to fill the nutritional gaps. When it comes to diet, it's heavy on the protein and vegetables for Lizzo. A typical day eating looks like scrambled eggs and cauliflower hash browns for breakfast, Thai chicken salad or lettuce wraps for lunch, and turkey meatloaf with greens for dinner.
She also has a strict cutoff of no meals after 5 p.m. to support her GERD and give her body the time it needs before bed to digest her food sans the acid reflux. Of her relationship with food and wellness, she told Women's Health, "There's a balance. I think that's what true health is."
Read Lizzo's full cover story with Women's Health here.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock