

What's Your Net Worth? Mary J. Blige Only Has Eyes For Men Who Can Secure The Bag
"All I really want is to be happy. To find a love that's mine, it would be so sweet." - Mary J. Blige
But Mary and I both know that love would be even sweeter if homie is getting a check. Can I get an "Amen"? Hallelujah.
Mary J. Blige has had a tumultuous couple of years, but as always, she has prevailed and come through on the other side as the true boss that she is, even in the midst of a messy divorce. Although neither Mary or her ex, Kendu Issacs, have been public about the details of their settlement, it was reported that the Umbrella Academy star was ordered to pay $30,000 in temporary spousal support while they were coming to an agreement.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
In court, she alleged that Kendu spent more than $420,000 on travel expenses with his mistress, was driving around in a Mercedes that she pre-paid for, and since Mary was the sole earner in the household, a total of more than $10,000,000 in debt fell on her alone. In March of last year, their divorce was finalized and the singer is now making it clear that she won't be falling for the okey-doke the next time around.
Mary sat down with BBC Radio 1Xtra to talk about her newfound single life, which she says is like a breath of fresh air. She explained:
"I'm not jaded but I'm very careful right now. I love my freedom. I love being single right now. I'm in a great place. I'm not in a rush!"
The singer shared that although she hasn't given up on the idea of love and marriage, she definitely has some qualifications for the next man who wants to put a ring on it. For starters, he has to actually be able to afford the ring. After years of being the breadwinner in her previous marriage, Mary says she only has eyes for a man who can secure a bag.
"Well, he has to have more money than me, that's for sure because I'm not taking care of any more men."
And you can't be mad at that. We as women have to come to the realization that we are not gold diggers for seeking out a man with ambition. We are the gold, damn it.
It's 2019 and equality is the wave. Although anything a man can do, I know a woman can do either just as good or better, that does not include taking care of and financially supporting himself. You gotta do that by yourself, playa.
Black families, unlike other demographics, typically have a matriarchal household system. The woman is the head and the tail, expected to take care of everything (and everyone) that lies in between. But it's this fact that leaves a number of us not only taking care of our men but the financial responsibility that comes with them.
I don't have statistics, but I think we all have an aunt, sister, cousin, or friend who is guilty of supporting her man as a mother would for her child. Hell, I'm certainly guilty of it, and Mary J. could probably write a whole album about the pain that comes with raising a grown ass man. But please know, there's trouble in dating a man for his potential. You can't expect to benefit from the fruits of a man's labor if you're still trying to birth the man.
Join me and Mary on this journey of not taking care of anyone's grown ass son all 2019.
Featured image by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic.
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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.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Blac Chyna Opens Up About Her Initial Fear To Share Her Spiritual Journey With Others
Watching Angela “Blac Chyna” White’s transformation in real-time has truly been a sight to see. It wasn’t that long ago that she announced that she was reversing her cosmetic surgeries in an effort to go back to who she was before the world came to know her as Blac Chyna. In previous interviews, she stated that she was dissolving her facial and lip fillers, removing her breast implants, and getting a butt reduction, as well as removing the dimple piercings that enhanced her fame and controversial tattoos.
In a recent Tamron Hall interview, the mother of two said that she has “fully recovered” from the procedures. She is also celebrating one year of sobriety and opened up about being worried about how her new journey would be received by others.
“I’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, right, and of course, like, you know, coming out, I’m like young, I’m gonna do wild things as we all have,” she said.
“...I feel like by me being vocal and showing everybody you can change your life and things can get better, like through myself, that right there is an accomplishment, and that’s a part of freedom, too.”
But as she started on her journey, many people have shown her grace, which is something she’s grateful for. “And then the fact that people have been showing me grace, it’s like amazing,” she said. “And I feel like when I did it, I just did it. It was more so like spiritual thing and I feel like people see that, and I’ve always been like my authentic self, so what you see is kinda what you get with me, and that’s just kinda what it is.”
Chyna, who recently received an honorary doctorate from Sacramento Theology Seminary and Bible College, has also repaired her relationship with her mom, Tokyo Toni. The social media celebrity surprised her daughter on the Tamron Hall Show. Prior to the sentimental surprise, Chyna dished on the reconciliation and having a better understanding of her mom.
“I must say, some of the things I have to take accountability for because, like my actions. As a mother, you don’t want to see your daughter doing certain things ‘cause it’s like it doesn’t matter what my past was or what we’re going through, I didn’t raise you that way,” she admitted. “So, it’s like, okay, maybe I was a little bit wrong. Maybe I was acting out a little bit. But I feel like as we grow older, I kinda see more, and I understand more.”
Chyna will be starring in season two of Fox's reality competition show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
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Feature image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images