I once had a friend who told me that she would take a hot fudge sundae over sex any day…chile, I promise you that I absolutely cannot relate — and one of my favorite things in life is ice cream!
Anyway, her statement recently came back to my mind, and it got me thinking: I wonder how many people find themselves either preferring sugary stuff over sex or not having much of a drive for sex at all — and they don’t even get that it’s (eh hem) actually because sugar is causing all kinds of drama to their system to the point where their libido is directly suffering because of it.
If you think I’m doing the most by saying that, take a moment to check out 10 ways that science has proven that sugar can be a real cock blocker (pun very much so intended) when it comes to you having a truly fulfilling sex life.
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1. Too Much Sugar Drains Your Energy
If you’re someone who believes that coffee with a few sugar cubes (or sugar packs) is what gets you through the day, tell me something: how does it make you feel at night? Don’t be fooled: if there is one thing that caffeine and sugar have in common, it’s the fact that they can spike your blood sugar one minute and then totally tank it the next. Hmm, maybe that’s the real reason why you can’t muster up enough “fuel” for sex whenever you crawl into bed (if you drink more than 4-5 cups a day, that definitely could be the culprit. Real talk).
2. Too Much Sugar Stresses You Out
Sugar causes inflammation. When it comes to sex, that can be a problem because inflammation and stress are directly linked to one another, and stress is not your body’s friend on any level. In fact, sexually, cortisol (your body’s stress hormone) works to suppress your sex hormones and that can keep your libido from thriving. Goodness, wouldn’t you rather go without dessert sometimes and up your circumstances of using sex as a stress reliever or eat those donuts and have them stress you to the point of not wanting sex much at all?
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3. Too Much Sugar Can Make You Moody
Yes, there is such a thing as being a sugar addict (check out “Ever Wonder If You've Got A Low-Key Sugar Addiction?”). Some of the backstory on it is sugar has a way of stimulating your endorphins (your “feel good” hormones) when you first consume it; then, once the “high” wears off, you can end up feeling moody and irritable — until you eat some more sugar (see the cycle?). What’s really wild about all of this is that, at the same time, sugar has a way of suppressing your serotonin levels. Since it’s the chemical in your brain that helps you to sleep and since it also is essential when it comes to maintaining your sex drive…why would you want to do anything that intentionally messes with it? #uhuh
4. Too Much Sugar Lowers Testosterone Levels
Unless you just weren’t listening at all in any of your high school science classes, you probably already know that testosterone plays a huge role in the sex drive of a man (it actually helps us out too, for the record; in fact, women produce three times more of it before menopause than after). Meanwhile, sugar? It’s a testosterone hater. For instance, some studies show that consuming a lot of sugary drinks can cause testosterone levels to drop. Others even say that it can wreak havoc on PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and cause your hormone (including your sex hormone) levels to be all over the place.
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5. Too Much Sugar Feeds Yeast
Because I have a fungal sensitivity, something that I have to stay on top of is proactively avoiding yeast infections; like it or not, that means I have to watch my sugar consumption. What’s the connection? Well, since sugar can weaken my immunity and also since the “bad bacteria” that dwell along with the “good bacteria” that’s in my vagina like to feed off of sugar (which ultimately only makes a yeast infection worse), this means that too much candy can have my vagina itching and irritated — and who wants to feel that during sex (or pass a yeast infection on to their partner)?
6. Too Much Sugar Can Make You Dry
If you happen to be a diabetic, you probably already know that having high levels of sugar can also affect your natural lubrication. That’s because too much sugar, long-term, can end up damaging the blood vessels and nerves that are in your vagina — including the ones that help you to produce the lubrication that you need for sex to feel enjoyable. Not to mention that the damaged vessels and nerves can decrease stimulation, which can also dry you up. Pretty wild, right? Yeah, I know.
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7. Too Much Sugar Can Make It Harder to Orgasm
Here’s something that may surprise you. Did you know that a diabetic woman (who requires insulin) actually has an 80 percent more challenging time climaxing than women who don’t have diabetes? What it all boils down to is your neurovascular system plays a highly significant role in how aroused you get — and stay. And since high blood sugar levels can damage your nervous system…now you can see why you might want to even watch your “white foods” intake (since your body ultimately turns that into sugar, too).
8. Too Much Sugar Can Jack Your Breath Up
Listen, maybe y’all can do it, but I can’t. What is “it”? Kissing someone who has jacked-up breath (eww). And when someone eats a lot of sugar, it increases their chances of becoming that person. Why? The gist is that when you consume foods that have a lot of sugar (especially processed sugar) in them, that can cause bacteria to build up in your mouth which can ultimately lead to stank breath. And since there are studies to support that kissing ultimately makes sex better (because it causes you to feel closer to your partner) — why would you want to betray yourself of that?
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9. Too Much Sugar Can Affect How You Process Things Emotionally
One time, because I was curious, I did some research on how sugar affects the brain. There are a few ways, actually; however, what stood out to me, when it comes to sex specifically, is that it can lead to inflammation, and sugar can affect your memory and your attention span. That said, if there’s one thing that I try to promote, as often as possible, when it comes to sex, it’s being as mindful and present as possible during copulation (check out “Mental Foreplay Hacks That Ultimately Takes Intercourse To New Levels” and “How About Having A 'Mindful Orgasm' Tonight?”) — I mean, since the brain is the biggest sex organ that we have, after all.
10. Too Much Sugar Can Make It Hard for Him to Maintain an Erection
Last one. I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve had who are totally up in arms, and it’s because their man can’t maintain a strong erection. Why? Because his blood pressure is high. Why? Because he won’t put the sugar down. Yep. Something else that (too much) sugar has the ability to do is mess with a man’s blood circulation, and if his testosterone levels are already low — you could end up with a limp situation on your hands (pun intended and no pun intended).
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Was this meant to terrify you when it comes to sex? Absolutely not. According to the American Heart Association, as long as men consume around nine teaspoons and we take in around six per day, it’s smooth sailing. The main thing to keep in mind is moderation is key — and when it comes to this country and its sugar intake, many struggle with that.
And their sex life is probably suffering because of it. Straight up.
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So, we handpicked one hundred It Girls who embody that palpable It Factor moving through us as young Black women, the kind of motion lighting up the world both IRL and across the internet.
It Girl 100 became xoNecole’s most successful program, with the hashtag organically reaching more than forty million impressions on Instagram in just twenty-four hours. Yes, it caught on like wildfire because we celebrated some of the most brilliant and influential GenZennial women of color setting trends and shaping culture. But more than that, it resonated because the women we celebrated felt seen.
Many were already known in their industries for keeping this generation fly and lit, but rarely received recognition or flowers. It Girl 100 became a safe space to be uplifted, and for us as Black women to bask in what felt like an era of our brilliance, beauty, and boundless influence on full display.
And then, almost overnight, it was as if the rug was pulled from under us as Black women, as the It Girls of the world.
Our much-needed, much-deserved season of ease and soft living quickly metamorphosed into a time of self-preservation and survival. Our motion and economic progression seemed strategically slowed, our light under siege.
The air feels heavier now. The headlines colder. Our Black girl magic is being picked apart and politicized for simply existing.
With that climate shift, as we prepare to launch our second annual It Girl 100 honoree list, our team has had to dig deep on the purpose and intention behind this year’s list. Knowing the spirit of It Girl 100 is about motion, sauce, strides, and progression, how do we celebrate amid uncertainty and collective grief when the juice feels like it is being squeezed out of us?
As we wrestled with that question, we were reminded that this tension isn’t new. Black women have always had to find joy in the midst of struggle, to create light even in the darkest corners. We have carried the weight of scrutiny for generations, expected to be strong, to serve, to smile through the sting. But this moment feels different. It feels deeply personal.
We are living at the intersection of liberation and backlash. We are learning to take off our capes, to say no when we are tired, to embrace softness without apology.
And somehow, the world has found new ways to punish us for it.
In lifestyle, women like Kayla Nicole and Ayesha Curry have been ridiculed for daring to choose themselves. Tracee Ellis Ross was labeled bitter for speaking her truth about love. Meghan Markle, still, cannot breathe without critique.
In politics, Kamala Harris, Letitia James, and Jasmine Crockett are dragged through the mud for standing tall in rooms not built for them.
In sports, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Townsend have been reminded that even excellence will not shield you from racism or judgment.
In business, visionaries like Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye and Melissa Butler are fighting to keep their dreams alive in an economy that too often forgets us first.
Even our icons, Beyoncé, Serena, and SZA, have faced criticism simply for evolving beyond the boxes society tried to keep them in.
From everyday women to cultural phenoms, the pattern is the same. Our light is being tested.
And yet, somehow, through it all, we are still showing up as that girl, and that deserves to be celebrated.
Because while the world debates our worth, we keep raising our value. And that proof is all around us.
This year alone, Naomi Osaka returned from motherhood and mental health challenges to reach the semifinals of the US Open. A’ja Wilson claimed another MVP, reminding us that beauty and dominance can coexist. Brandy and Monica are snatching our edges on tour. Kahlana Barfield Brown sold out her new line in the face of a retailer that had been canceled. And Melissa Butler’s company, The Lip Bar, is projecting a forty percent surge in sales.
We are no longer defining strength by how much pain we can endure. We are defining it by the unbreakable light we continue to radiate.
We are the women walking our daily steps and also continuing to run solid businesses. We are growing in love, taking solo trips, laughing until it hurts, raising babies and ideas, drinking our green juice, and praying our peace back into existence.
We are rediscovering the joy of rest and realizing that softness is not weakness, it is strategy.
And through it all, we continue to lift one another. Emma Grede is creating seats at the table. Valeisha Butterfield has started a fund for jobless Black women. Arian Simone is leading in media with fearless conviction. We are pouring into each other in ways the world rarely sees but always feels.
So yes, we are in the midst of societal warfare. Yes, we are being tested. Yes, we are facing economic strain, political targeting, and public scrutiny. But even war cannot dim a light that is divinely ours.
And we are still shining.
And we are still softening.
And we are still creating.
And we are still It.
That is the quiet magic of Black womanhood, our ability to hold both truth and triumph in the same breath, to say yes, and to life’s contradictions.
It is no coincidence that this year, as SheaMoisture embraces the message “Yes, And,” they stand beside us as partners in celebrating this class of It Girls. Because that phrase, those two simple words, capture the very essence of this moment.
Yes, we are tired. And we are still rising.
Yes, we are questioned. And we are the answer.
Yes, we are bruised. And we are still beautiful.
This year’s It Girl 100 is more than a list. It is a love letter to every Black woman who dares to live out loud in a world that would rather she whisper. This year’s class is living proof of “Yes, And,” women who are finding ways to thrive and to heal, to build and to rest, to lead and to love, all at once.
It is proof that our joy is not naive, our success not accidental. It is the reminder that our light has never needed permission.
So without further ado, we celebrate the It Girl 100 Class of 2025–2026.
We celebrate the millions of us who keep doing it with grace, grit, and glory.
Because despite it all, we still shine.
Because we are still her.
Because we are still IT, girl.
Meet all 100 women shaping culture in the It Girl 100 Class of 2025. View the complete list of honorees here.
Featured image by xoStaff
Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson