

Tabitha Brown Reflects On How One Phone Call To Her Husband Changed The Course Of Their Relationship
Tabitha Brown and her husband, Chance Brown, are commemorating a milestone moment in their relationship: their 20th wedding anniversary.
Over the years, the couple's journey has been proven to be a testament to how true love and an overall solid foundation are the keys to personal and professional success. An example of this occurred early on in Tabitha's career.
As the mother of two gradually grew popular as a social media influencer, television host, author, and entrepreneur, Tabitha made sure to retire Chance from his job as a law enforcement officer because of the many years he worked to help support her dreams. Tabitha's reasoning behind this was that she wanted Chance to focus on other endeavors he was passionate about and help him accomplish some of his goals.
In light of their anniversary on April 19, Tabitha and Chance participated in a photoshoot and opened up with PEOPLE about their past hardships and how her mother, Patricia, who passed away in 2007 from ALS, predicted the pair would reunite following their breakup years ago.
Tabitha On Her Mother's Predictions
In the discussion, Tabitha revealed that before the pair got married in April 2003, she and Chance previously dated in high school but ended up breaking up.
The 44-year-old shared that the split hurt Chance so much that he refused to be her friend. Tabitha disclosed that the pair would remain estranged in the 10th grade as she recalled seeing Chance at a basketball game with his new girlfriend.
"When we broke up in high school, he didn't want to be my friend. He didn't want to talk to me or anything. So in 10th grade, we were at a basketball game when me and my mom were sitting in the bleachers and Chance walked in. He was on the side of the bleachers and he was standing in the corner with his girlfriend at the time. I kind of rolled my eyes because they were all hugged up." she recalled.
Tabitha would add that during that instance, Patricia predicted they would get back together, but only after Chance would welcome a child with that said girlfriend, something the star didn't initially believe at the time because she never wanted to marry a man with children.
"My mom looked at me and she goes, 'I don't know why you rolling your eyes.' And I was like, 'What?' She was like, 'I'm going to tell you what's going to happen. That little girl's going to get pregnant, they're going to have a baby, but that is your husband.' And I said, 'Well, you don't know me very well mama, because I would never marry someone who has children,'" she added.
Following that day, Tabitha stated that her mom would make another prediction a few years later during their graduation. The Tab Time host explained that during their graduation, Patricia asked her to get Chance so that they could take a photo together. As Tabitha obeyed her mother's orders and got Chance, Patricia expressed that this image would be used at the pair's wedding.
"On our graduation day, my mom says, 'Hey, go get Chance. I want to take a picture of you two in your graduation gown.' So I go get him. She goes, 'I'm going to use this at y'all's wedding.' I was like, 'Mom, will you stop saying weird stuff? That's weird,'" Tabitha said while laughing.
Tabitha On Her Reconnection With Chance
Years later, as Tabitha and Chance attended separate colleges, the Feeding the Soul author admitted that her mother's predictions would come true.
Chance would welcome a daughter with his ex, and Tabitha remained in love with him so much so that she decided to call him up in the early hours and try to profess her feelings.
Tabitha explained that when she called Chance, she told him that aside from everything that went on after their split, she had a gut feeling that they were "supposed to be together."
"He was in college in North Carolina, I was in college in Miami, and I woke up in the middle of the night one night, and he was the only person I could think about. I called him at three or four in the morning and told the roommate it was an emergency," she said as she describes the measures she took to try to get a hold of Chance. "I told him, I was like, 'Listen, I know I probably sound crazy, but all the years you wouldn't look at me, you wouldn't speak to me, I always had this feeling in my stomach. I just woke up in the middle of the night, I'm here [in] Miami, and I think that I'm in love with you. I think that all those years, that's what it was. We're supposed to be together. I'm in love with you.'"
Although Chance didn't say much following Tabitha's revelation, she shared that they would talk it over the next night. Since Tabitha's declaration years ago, the couple would reunite, get married, and expand their blended family by welcoming two children.
Despite all the hardships Tabitha and Chance faced in their relationship, the star calls their love story a "beautiful journey."
A beautiful and inspirational journey it is to all. Happy anniversary Tabitha and Chance!
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Here's How To Host Your First Dinner Party, According To TikTok's Viral Dinner Host
If you haven’t scrolled upon Olivia McDowell's TikTok famous dinner parties, you may need to reconfigure your "For You Page."
What began as a passion for hosting aesthetically themed meals for her closest friends has quickly become a viral sensation. With an astonishing 12 million viewers, women describe Olivia’s picturesque dinner parties as the “dream girls' night,” complete with classy cocktails, beautiful table settings, elegant outfits, and, most importantly, food plated to perfection.
Seemingly reigniting the feminine urge to host fancy dinner parties, Olivia has perfected the finer details. Overlooking the skyline in her beautiful NYC apartment, she never fails to make her signature handmade pasta dishes while simultaneously looking effortlessly chic in the wardrobe of dreams while doing so.
@oliviaamcdowell Replying to @nara0630 what should the theme of my next dinner party be? #minivlog #nycliving #dinnerpartyideas #caviarinnewyork
What I love most about hosting intimate dinners for close friends are the connections and relationships that form over food. They don't require a caviar budget with a high-rise apartment, it just takes determination and a little creativity. Watching Olivia’s journey inspires viewers to be a part of a community of positive and uplifting women who share common interests and tastes in food, fashion, and decor. Simply stated, she’s raising the bar of friendship goals.
If you’re aspiring to host a holiday-themed dinner party this season, check out the four tips that will guide you along the way.
Choose Your Theme
@oliviaamcdowell Replying to @emz.life.tsv what was your fav part? 🤍 hope this gives you some inspiration to host a fancy friendsgiving too! #hostingtip #dinnerparty #pastamaking
Set the ambiance with a thoughtful theme, which will indeed be your guiding light for less stress during the planning process. Establishing a theme sets the tone for everything else to fall in place, such as menus, table design, and presentation. For example, a holiday-inspired dinner party is a perfect occasion for elegant all-white decor paired with draped table cloths, pillar candles lit atop luxe holders, floating floral arrangements, and, for a personal touch, handwritten place settings.
Utilizing free resources such as Canva for menu templates and creating a “Dinner Party” moodboard via Pinterest is perfect for gathering dinner inspiration for themes, decor, and recipes for the special occasion.
Simplify the Menu
@oliviaamcdowell How to host your own pasta making dinner party — part 1: pasta making from scratch 🤍 Hosting dinner parties has become my favorite thing to do this year. More goes into it than you expect, the prep, planning, guestlist, tablescape, etc. but it’s always worth it in the end. What do you guys want to see next? #hostingtips #dinnerparty #pastamaking
Don’t overcomplicate the menu. A simple dinner party formula to use as your guide to making sure your guests leave full of food and joy is appetizers, salads, entrees, sides, desserts, and beverages. As a starter, assemble an aesthetic spread that your guest can nibble on while awaiting the main course with starters such as bread, cheese, jam, nuts, and fruit. A simple salad will do, complete with a light dressing right before your entree. For a main dish, pasta recipes always go a long way and also allows your guests to interact with one another, which leads to McDowell's third dinner party hosting tip.
Include an Interactive Element
@oliviaamcdowell Replying to @itstai.tv 🥹🖤 #girlhood
To break the ice and encourage guests to get to know one another, introduce interactive elements to the evening. Moments of interaction allow everyone to connect, like capturing content for social media or memorializing the essence of the night through fun Polaroids. Olivia also encourages her guests to participate in the pasta-making dinner process as a group, or if hosting a brunch, her friends indulge in building their own coffee bar as an opportunity for forming connections and conversation starters. Group board or card games are also great for laughs and healthy competition to help get the vibes flowing.
Don’t Forget the Dress code
@oliviaamcdowell Replying to @samantha_mendiz when all of your friends are the main character 🖤🥂 #dinnerparty #nycfashion
Tis’ the season for glamour and sparkles, so why not go all out with a super chic dress code? You can’t have a picture-perfect holiday dinner party without the coordinating attire to match. When planning, make sure to make the required attire specific yet broad enough for a range of personalities and preferences to comfortably partake while looking stunning doing so.
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Featured image by Justin Lambert/Getty Images