Sorry To This Man: Keke Palmer Has Mastered The Art Of The Classy Curve
These days, it seems like Keke Palmer just can't stop going viral and we are here for all of it.
Over the past year, sis has blessed us with the professional glow-up of the century after securing a permanent bag on the Sara, Strahan, and Keke Show as one of the youngest talk show hosts in television history, and it seems like the starlet has captured the eye of just about everyone in Hollywood, including but not limited to reality TV alum, Mike Johnson.
Mike, who made his television debut on the 15th season of The Bachelorette, recently decided to shoot his shot on national television and asked Keke Palmer on a date and her reaction was literally all of us.
Later, Keke explained that she meant no harm by her animated response and revealed the real reason she's so quick to curve:
"Well, first of all, I get real spooked about entertainers or reality [stars]…I don't know, it really scares me to date people in the industry. That's number 1. Number 2: He asked me in front of everybody. I felt totally like, ambushed. I felt ambushed. I felt like it was a big ol' gag. I've been duped!"
The awkward but hilarious predicament that Mike put himself in wasn't the first time a celebrity has attempted to lock Keke down, but sorry to those men (and women); at the moment, Keke is fully captivated by her career. In a 2016 interview with the Yes! Girl Podcast, Keke revealed that dating as a child star-turned industry icon has been "terrible for her" and she's often had to fight to see through her potential suitor's ulterior motives. She explained:
"When I tell you dating is terrible, it's so terrible because, like, there are times where it will be industry situations and I can tell that the guy is more excited about my career than I am. I've dated guys in the industry that are like, 'I can't wait until you do a movie like Catwoman and movies like that,' and I'm like, 'Are you good? Because I don't like you getting turned on by where my movie career is going!'"
Keke says that after a lifetime in the spotlight, she has also had to learn the hard way that men can be gold diggers too.
"Then there will be other situations when I'm dating a guy who is not in the industry or maybe he's not that well known and he comes at me with that like, 'I'm going to get ready to do this and I got a lot of stuff going on and I'm working too' and it's like, I get it—you want me to know that you're not a loser. Please stop overcompensating. So it becomes difficult sometimes to find that sweet spot of somebody who's not trying to compete with you, that doesn't feel insecure about your career and that's not trying to hi-jack your brand."
While we know the young starlet will one day find love, you can be sure, please know that she is not trying to find it on live TV. Although Keke and Mike didn't seem to make a love connection on the show, their cringeworthy exchange gave us with yet another Keke Palmer meme that made 2019 a little bit better.
So, thanks for your service, Mike.
Featured image by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for IFP
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