Social media star, host, and entrepreneur Tabitha Brown is opening up about her interpretation of freedom and its significance in her journey to success.
The 44-year-old's brush with fame began over a decade ago after landing minor roles in films and television shows. In 2020, Brown solidified her celebrity status after various vegan food and inspirational videos went viral on TikTok.
The mother of two's online popularity led to numerous job opportunities, such as partnerships with Target and McCormick, a haircare brand Donna's Recipe, and a children's series Tab Time, to name a few. In a June interview on Amanda Seeles' Small Doses podcast, Brown shared details about her life before fame and what it means to have it all.
Tabitha On Freedom And Having It All
During the discussion, Brown revealed that since achieving success over the years by being authentic and remaining true to herself regardless of how that looked to others, she realized that the definition of having it all meant being free.
"For me having it all is being free," she said. "Like freedom, being completely who I am. No code-switching, no conforming, no shrinking myself to make anybody else feel big or comfortable. Being completely free. Not covering my accent anymore...Trying to constantly be a size two or four, wear my hair one way."
Further into the interview, Brown disclosed that despite mastering the freedom to be herself, it didn't come naturally in the past due to societal pressures and the influence others had on her life, including her late mother, Patricia.
"So, growing up in the south, I learned very early how to code switch right. I learned by watching my mama talk to people at the bank or white people, or bill collectors calling; her voice would change."
Tabitha On Her Early Beginnings And Her Breaking Point
Brown explained that hiding who she was or creating a different version of herself to obtain jobs ultimately took a toll, so much so that she almost lost herself in the process.
"I gave so much of myself away for so long that it's almost like I lost myself... And I know I have me again. I feel like I had a lost season that was a very long time," she stated.
"That's because the root of me has always been who I am. That's the person that my closest friends know, my family they know the true Tab...But when I moved to L.A., pursuing acting in 2004, my thought was I got to create this person to win."
Near the end of the segment, Brown shared that her breaking point occurred while working in corporate America. She explained that she fell ill after trying to show her worth to the company.
"It was a game of survival. I'm trying [to] help my husband [Chance Brown] and be a good partner and make money. ‘Cause I'm also trying to pursue this acting thing that's not really paying nothing yet. So I need this job, so I want to prove to them I am worthy. That used to be the thought which is also no freedom," she said.
Brown added that after coming to terms with what was happening and going on a journey to find herself again, she acknowledged that one of the leading causes of her autoimmune sickness was "not being free."
"When I found myself again, I realized there was so many things that were making me sick, and not being free was one of them," she stated. "When you're not free, you allow people to treat you any kind of way. You start to settle for things that you don't deserve. That's what I did for a very long time. But honey, not no more."
Brown's recent admission about her journey to freedom could motivate others to take that step in their lives.
Tabitha Brown On How She Had To Choose Herself To Have It All | Small Doses Podcast @iamtabithabrown
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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].”
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Colman Domingo’s Career Advice Is A Reminder That Our Words Shape Our Reality
When it comes to life, we are always here for a good reminder to shift our mindsets, and Colman Domingo just gave us one we didn't know we needed.
In a resurfaced clip from an appearance at NewFest shared as a repost via Micheaux Film Festival, the Emmy award winner dropped a gem on how he has navigated his decades-spanning career in Hollywood. The gem in question? Well, Colman has never identified with "struggle" in his career. Let that sit.
Colman Domingo On Not Claiming Struggle
"I’ve never said that this career was tough. I’ve never said it was difficult. I’ve never said it was hard," Colman said. "Other people would say that—‘oh, you're in a very difficult industry. It's very hard to get work and book work.’ I’m like, I’ve never believed that."
Instead of allowing himself to be defined by other people's projections about their perceptions of what the industry is or was, Colman dared to believe differently even if his reality was playing catch up with his dreams:
"Like Maya Angelou said words are things. And if you believe that, then that's actually what it is. Actually I've just never believed it. Someone told me some years ago, they said, 'I remember you were, you're a struggling actor.' I'm like, 'I don't.'"
"I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living..."
He continued:
"Even when I was bartending and hustling and not having opportunities or anything, I never believed that I was struggling because I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living and creating and being curious."
Colman’s philosophy of attaching to living instead of struggle has blossomed into an enduring career. He first made his mark on stage in acclaimed Broadway productions before transitioning to the screen, where his star began to rise in the 2010s following his role as Victor Strand in Fear The Walking Dead. From there, his presence only grew, landing memorable supporting roles in If Beale Street Could Talk, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and the hit series Euphoria.
In more recent years, Colman has stepped fully into the spotlight with standout leading performances in Rustin and Sing Sing, both of which earned him widespread critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations for Best Actor.
With all that said, Colman's advice is no doubt powerful, especially for those who are chasing their dreams, building something from the ground up, or have question marks about what's next in their careers. Words shape our realities, and how we speak about our journeys even in passing matters.
Words Create Our Reality & Colman Is Living Proof
"I tell young people that. To remember the words that you say about yourself and your career are true. So, I choose to make it full of light and love and it's interesting and every day I'm going to learn something new even if it looks like I don't have what I want but it's important to be in the moment... you really build on the moments moment to moment.
"And you're looking back at your career as I've been in it for what 33 years and you're like, 'Wow, that's what I've been doing.' And I've stayed strong to that so I think that is truly my advice."
Let this be your sign to give your path a reframe. When the path you're on feels uncertain, the journey is still unfolding. Like Colman said: "I wasn't attached to a struggle. I was attached to living."
That's a Black king right there.
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