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Rising Singer-Songstress Zonnique Pullins Pushes Her Pen To The Paper For Self-Care
In xoNecole's Finding Balance, we profile boss women making boss moves in the world and in their respective industries. We talk to them about their business, and most of all, what they do to find balance in their busy lives.
Stepping out of the shadow of two well-respected and highly accomplished parents in the music industry can be tough. Especially when they're Xscape member, Tameka "Tiny" Harris and Grammy-award winning rapper, actor and podcast host Tip "T.I." Harris. However, Zonnique Pullins has managed to quiet the noise of the haters and step into her own limelight as a solo artist.
Recently releasing two singles, "Winner" and "#FTCU", Zonnique has made a name for herself since her days on BET's Tiny and Toya and as a member of the OMG Girlz with besties Bahja Rodriguez and Reginae Carter. The Atlanta-bred princess is now recognized as a soulful songstress with the ability to throw a vibe to anyone who is willing to catch it. From her trap-inspired single "Nun For Free" with Young Thug to sexy R&B vibes in "Should've Been", Zonnique is a name for you to watch out for in 2020 if she hasn't been already.
The Growing Up Hip-Hop: Atlanta alum shares with xoNecole about how she finds balance between music, family and relationships with thanking God for seeing another day, journaling and working out with bae, Bandhunta Izzy.
xoNecole: At what point in your life did you understand the importance of pressing pause and finding balance in both your personal and professional life?
Zonnique: Taking the break I just took from putting out music was something that I didn't plan, but realized it may have been something I needed. I've been making music since I was 8, so stepping back for a while and taking time to myself to grow was helpful for me.
Courtesy of Zonnique
"Taking the break I just took from putting out music was something that I didn't plan, but realized it may have been something I needed."
What is a typical day in your life? If no day is quite the same, give me a rundown of a typical workweek and what that might consist of.
A typical day in my life is different, but I try to combine a little bit of work and family time together. I usually start my days off with what I have to do first, whether it's filming, studio, interviews, and/or meetings. I like to record at night, but I've been getting into doing it earlier in the day and when I finish I'm not so tired. I [also] go visit my family or my friends, who are really family.
What are your mornings like?
My mornings are always chill. [I] always thank God when I open my eyes, maybe just lay there, look around and think about my dreams for a minute. [I also] see what notifications I have on my phone and take it to the bathroom with me. When I open my eyes, I thank God first, do the regular routine of brushing my teeth. I honestly don't wash my face every day and I usually eat a bowl of cereal because I don't enjoy cooking. If I have nothing to do, I lay and watch something good to start off the day like Cheaters.
How do you wind down at night?
I love to watch a good movie or show until I get sleepy, then I turn on something I don't care to watch until I'm in a deep sleep - just to wake up in the middle of the night and turn the TV off.
When you have a busy week, what’s the most hectic part of it?
When I have a busy week, the most hectic part of it would just be the [act of] moving from place to place to get everything done [because] then you don't get a good amount of sleep because my nights end late and mornings start early. Probably, the most hectic part is traveling from one place to another [and] not being able to eat or rest except in between the little car rides. Especially on a press day in New York! I don't have an assistant but a person from my team is always with me to keep me on schedule.
Do you practice any types of self-care? What does that look like for you?
I never looked at it as practicing self-care until maybe a month ago when someone made me realize how much joy I get in writing in journals and reading. I've always enjoyed doing both since I was a little girl and still enjoy it now. I would say that is a form of self-care for me.
What advice do you have for busy women who feel like they don’t have time for self-care?
The advice I have is to just find time even if it's for five minutes. Sometimes it's just taking a breather and giving yourself the tiniest moment to step back from everything.
Courtesy of Zonnique
"Sometimes it's just taking a breather and giving yourself the tiniest moment to step back from everything."
How do you find balance with:
Friends? Family?
I find balance with my friends by visiting them when I'm not busy and talking to them on a regular basis. I honestly have such a big family and sometimes it can be difficult to make time for everything and everyone. I visit my family a lot as well but my friends and I like to meet up at least a couple of times a week.
Love/Relationships? Dating?
My boyfriend and I live together, so we're always together and do a lot including visiting my family. I don't really have to find a balance between being with him and doing my own thing and when we both have a free day we'll do stuff together and we also work together sometime.
Exercise?
I usually start my day off by going to the gym (before quarantine), so that's how I make sure to exercise. [My boyfriend and I] also work out together!
What about health? Do you cook or find yourself eating out?
When it comes to health, I like to work out as much as possible and I drink mostly water. Those two are the easiest things for me to keep up with, but the eating part is the hardest. I don't really eat pork or beef and in quarantine, I just learned how to cook. I still eat UberEats and DoorDash almost every day.
When you are going through a bout of uncertainty, or feeling stuck, how do you handle it?
I just take time to myself. I don't really like being around people when I'm feeling down, so I sit with my feelings and think of ways to solve my problem and then get back up again. I went through a lot of uncertainty while starting my career as a solo artist coming out of a group, and I just continued to work on myself and find myself more. When I have a creative block, I step back from the situation for a second to give my mind a break from overthinking and come back to the idea when it feels right.
What do you do when you have a creative block when writing music or creating in the studio?
When I have a block, I always ask the people around me for input. I love to create with other people and that helps me get back into the groove whenever I feel really stuck.
And honestly, what does success and happiness mean to you?
Success to me means being happy with the things you have done and/or accomplished [and] simply doing things you're proud of. [Being] happy to me is loving yourself, being happy with the person you are within, loving your own pretty and ugly side.
For more of Zonnique, follow her on Instagram.
Featured image courtesy of Zonnique
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
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."