Roll Call! 12 Women Entrepreneurs To Keep On Your Radar In 2020
While #BlackGirlMagic may be trending on social platforms, we as Black women know that our magic has been around for centuries. Being recognized as a powerful Black woman in today's society is growing to become the norm in comparison to how far we've come, but we have so far to go. Women of color, specifically Black women, are running nearly half of all registered women-owned businesses and unfortunately, according to Forbes, less than 4% of Black women entrepreneurs make it to the million-dollar mark. These women below are changing the narrative.
With Women's History Month coming to a close, we cannot let the month go by without recognizing Black women entrepreneurs who are out here doing their thing, especially while Miss Rona is in town. From public speakers to world-renowned yoga instructors, check out this list below of xoNecole-approved badass Black women to watch this year:
Maura Chanz
Have you caught Yara Shahidi's IG TV series, "Unguided"? If you have, then you've met Maura Chanz and have already witnessed her creative genius. This Los Angeles-based rising creative initially took a leap of faith after graduating from Spelman College and jumping into the industry as the apprentice of Black Lightning creator Mara Brock Akil. Maura is also the owner of TRIBE, which is a community garnered specifically for women of color seeking fellowship amongst our sisters.
Alechia Reese
International speaker, creative brand strategist, world traveler - what doesn't this woman do? Alechia Reese, author of Eating Elephants: Winning Life One Bite At A Time, is a survivor of domestic violence and makes it her mission to connect dope women around the world with her passion for communication, entrepreneurship and leadership. Catch her on the move and speaking at widely recognized conferences and brands from BlogHER to Microsoft and moderating the Imara Retreat, an annual women's retreat in Africa to build and connect Black women.
Trinity Mouzon Wofford
When you're the brains and beauty behind a beauty brand, when do you have the time to be a columnist for Inc. and keep the aesthetic flowing perfectly on your Instagram feed? We don't know how, but Trinity does it. As the owner of Golde, Wofford has been recognized in INC Magazine's "2019 Female Founder 100" list and Forbes' "30 Under 30". Need we say more?
Raynell Steward
You may recognize her as YouTube sensation Supa Cent, but she's making headlines in the beauty world for the creation of The Crayon Case. Awarded at the BET Social Awards for Social Hustle, CEO Raynell Steward has been flexing her entrepreneurship brain by using her social presence to entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Within one hour, Steward successfully sold $1.37M worth of beauty products in 2019. That's what we call a boss.
Sukie Jefferson
Sukie Jefferson is the lead operator and founder behind Sukie's Candle Co, exotically scented premium soy wax candles - made fresh to order and individually hand-poured. Jefferson's products have been recognized in GQ, Black Enterprise and Vogue UK, and should definitely be a Black woman brand to add to your household.
Dana Chanel
Remember those encouraging notifications you would get every morning from the Sprinkle of Jesus app? Yeah, that's Dana Chanel's doing, but she's been doing a whole lot more since then. After creating the number one Christian mobile app in the world, Dana has shifted her focus to developing generational wealth through family businesses with her latest venture, Jumping Jack Tax, a platform created by herself and husband Prince Donnell as a means to provide a virtual tax preparer. Aside from being relationship goals with her bae, Dana Chanel has truly embodied being a boss babe by creating a space for other women entrepreneurs and keeping true to your faith while building a business.
Lalah Delia
"If you walked away from a toxic, negative, abusive, one-sided, dead-end low vibrational relationship or friendship — you won." The words spoken by bestselling author of Vibrate Higher Daily: Live Your PowerLalah Delia drops gems throughout her book about moving forward and being in-tune with yourself spiritually and mentally. Delia is also the founder of Vibrate Higher Daily, a vibrational based-living online community and mentoring program through women empowerment.
Jessica Jones & Wendy Lopez
These two women are bold, beautiful and Black registered dietician nutritionists, and Jessica Jones and Wendy Lopez are on a mission to help women of color learn to eat intuitively through a "healthy plant-powered diet". By putting their health first by encouraging women to maintain healthy nutrition through their joint venture Food Heaven Made Easy, Jessica and Wendy have created an accessible community and multimedia platform for people who want to create culturally relevant plant-based meals, but aren't quite ready to take the full leap as of yet.
Autumn Myers
At just the age of 25, the former BuzzFeed social strategist is making a name for herself in the media industry with the launch of The Queen Sessions, a motivational content platform to uplift women of color with interviews, blog posts and more. Autumn Myers is also the digital media lead for Black-owned brand, America Hates US, where she served as the lead writer and touched upon topics of culture, entertainment and politics. Recently, The Queens Sessions released their own affirmation journal perfect during the quarantine to keep your dreams and visions manifested.
Leticia Hunt
Mommy-to-be Leticia Hunt is the creator of FOREH, an accessories brand that uplifts Black culture with HBCU-inspired pieces and tactical vests. Inspired by her own experience as a military veteran, the Tuskegee University graduate also serves as a podcast host for 2 Shots & Talk, a children's book author, a stylist and creative director. She emulates her own mission that with the right balance, you can truly do it all.
Shontay Lundy
Just in time for drop tops and summer sun, if Rona ever lets us out of our houses, Shontay Lundy has created the ultimate product for Black women. Black Girl Sunscreen is a product that every melanated queen should be carrying in her bag to protect our skin from harmful rays and avoiding that annoying while residue that other products that aren't made for us may leave. Finally, a skincare brand that caters exactly to our needs during the hot, unbearable summertime heat.
Codie Elaine Oliver
The importance of positive Black narratives in film and television cannot be stressed enough, and Texas-bred producer Codie Elaine Oliver has taken responsibility for showcasing Black love in an affirmative love on her show, Black Love which showed on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network, now available for streaming on Facebook Watch. Nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Director in a Television Movie, this film creative is one to watch as she navigates motherhood, Hollywood and developing content that creates the appropriate narrative for #BlackLoveMatters.
Featured image via Lalah Delia/Instagram
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
8 'Low-Pressure' Date Ideas To Bring Connection Back Into Your Dating Life
Tired of “splitting the bill” dating debates? Well, A new trend might just put an end to this discussion for good.
Hinge recently shared its findings from their second annual LGBTQIA+ D.A.T.E. (Data, Advice, Trends, and Expertise) Report, which showed that modern daters are ditching grandiose dates and trading them in for what’s been coined as “low-pressure dates,” to connect with new people, build trust earlier, and develop deeper, richer bonds.
According to the reports, "An LPD (low-pressure date) allows for a safer and more laid-back environment where daters can gauge potential chemistry IRL before exploring things further."
This isn’t to be confused with low, or no-effort dates. LPDs, instead, are “a relaxed environment with a focus on getting to know one another,” where the focus is more on forming genuine connections and understanding their background and values. Think less about the place and more about the person.
When it comes to low-pressure first dates, many daters prefer to engage in conversations about personal growth, identity, family dynamics, and societal issues. These topics often set a thoughtful and meaningful tone for the date, leaving room to extend it for a longer amount of time if it’s going well.
While this dating style might not be a fit for every single person looking for their next boo, it’s an option to remove the materialistic component of dating and focus on what truly matters, forming a new, lasting, and meaningful connection.
So if you’re ready to switch up your dating style, we’ve put together a few low-pressure dates for your next relaxed, connection-forming rendezvous, no bill splitting required.
1.Stroll Through a Local Market:
Explore a farmer's market or street fair together. The casual browsing can spark interesting conversations and provide opportunities to learn about each other's tastes.
2.Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
Discussing art or exhibits can lead to engaging conversations about personal interests and perspectives. The conversation can have a natural pace of pausing and exchanging notes on the art while enjoying each other’s company.
3.Bookstore Browsing
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Unleash your inner bookworm, browse your local bookstore, and discuss your favorite books or genres. You could even start a mini book club between the two of you.
4.Picnic in the Park
Pack a simple meal and enjoy a relaxed afternoon surrounded by nature. This setting encourages easy conversation and helps you get to know each other in a casual environment.
5.Coffee Date at a Cozy Café
We know how controversial coffee dates can be, but never underestimate the vibes of a chill, relaxed atmosphere. It’s a great place for meaningful conversations over a cup of coffee or tea and provides the perfect exit if sparks aren’t flying.
6.Walk or Hike in a Scenic Area
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Enjoying nature together can create a peaceful environment for meaningful discussion and shared experiences. Not to mention, you’ll get a boost in dopamine and epinephrine, giving you both a post-walk rush.
7.Attend a Community Event or Workshop
Many cities have endless local events, workshops, or classes that align with an array of interests. What a fun way to connect over a new hobby or skill that you both can walk away with.
8.Explore a New Neighborhood
Take a leisurely walk through a new part of town, discovering hidden gems and sharing your thoughts on what you see. Who knows, it could discover the place for your “how we met” story.
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