
Toni Braxton On Being Unapologetically Sexy In Her 50s: 'I'm Feeling Myself'

Legendary singer and actress Toni Braxton defies the age-related biases many women encounter after turning 50.
In the past, middle-aged women were often stereotyped as non-sexual beings, a perception rooted in the hormonal changes associated with perimenopause and menopause. Some of the effects women experience during this period of their lives include irregular menstrual cycles, mood changes, weight gain, reduced libido, and more.
Despite these challenges, the "Breathe Again" vocalist has made it her mission not to let aging hinder her from embracing her sensuality or captivating fans' attention with her mesmerizing looks on social media.
Most of Braxton's viral posts featured the 56-year-old showcasing her tight physique in swimsuits and revealing ensembles. Recently, Braxton made headlines after sharing a topless photo on Instagram. In the upload, the mother of two used her favorite pastime as an excuse behind the risque snapshot.
"I'm about to take a dip in the pool real quick," she wrote while asking her fans what they had planned for the weekend.
Braxton's initial explanation surrounding the viral upload didn't last for long because she was forced to address the photo during an interview with Entertainment Tonight as she and her adult sons Diezel and Denim Lewis attended the Bad Boys: Ride or Die premiere in Los Angeles.
Braxton On Feeling Sexy And Why She Isn’t Afraid to Age
During the discussion, the "He Wasn't Man Enough for Me" songstress shared that she posted the pic because she was fascinated with her appearance and wanted the world to see it.
"I was feeling myself, " she said. “I'm feeling myself, so I thought I'd show it."
Later in the conversation, Braxton added that she hopes her comfort in her own skin and lack of fear in showcasing it in her 50s will inspire others to embrace their aging journey.
"I wanted people to know that 50s is still sexy, and it's OK, and don't be afraid to age,” she added. “I felt a little some kind of way when I turned 50, but I'm OK. I'm alright about it."
Since then, Braxton has remained authentic to herself and continues to break the internet, most recently with a behind-the-scenes video revealing her red-carpet attire from the movie premiere. In the clip, a shirtless Braxton exudes confidence in a light-colored suit and strikes poses to Victoria Monét's hit "On My Mama." In addition to the upload, the "So Yesterday" singer penned the caption, "I look good, and I feel good!"
With this bold move, Braxton is reshaping the conversation about aging and appearance, which could inspire others to be themselves unapologetically.
Here Are Some Of Toni Braxton's Looks Throughout The Years
Toni Braxton At The 9th Annual Soul Train Awards
Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
Toni Braxton At 1997 APLA Tom Ford
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc
Toni Braxton At The 43rd Grammy Awards
Photo by SGranitz/WireImage
Toni Braxton At The 2016 BET Awards
Photo by Allen Berezovsky/WireImage
Toni Braxton At The 57th Grammy Awards
Photo by Dan MacMedan/WireImage
Toni Braxton At The "Bad Boys: Ride Or Die" Premiere
Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
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Feature image by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
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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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.
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Featured image by Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock