I first glimpsed non-monogamy in the real world as a record-store cashier. My co-worker, Mel, was the essence of cool: lanky and laid-back, she had a pinup bombshell of a girlfriend. They checked other girls out from behind the counter together, and talked about their separate affairs. Mixing romantic partnership with sex gossip (and music nerdery!) seemed like the apex of relationship bliss. If only I’d been born without jealousy, I thought. I never imagined that years later, without a lick of resentment, I’d be… Read more

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing Chantal Rochelle: on-air host, producer, and all-around digital content creator. In her current role as the Brand & Content Lead of BuzzFeed's Black culture and entertainment vertical Cocoa Butter, Rochelle ultimately aims to "push the culture forward" by producing content that reflects the true diversity of African diasporic people. As a Shorty Awards finalist and a Forbes 30 Under 30 listee, Rochelle has been recognized many times over for her distinct voice and… Read more

R&B singer Queen Naija teams up with Dreamville starlet Ari Lennox to get revenge on a cheater in her newest single and video, “Set Him Up” (out April 15), after finding out that both she and Lennox are being two-timed by the same guy. The lyrics, both sultry and smooth, read like a text conversation between best friends, making it the perfect women's empowerment single. According to Revolt, The single is expected to appear on Naija’s deluxe version of her 2020 project misunderstood...still. Throughout the video, Naija… Read more

Over the last few years, retro fashion has taken over every catwalk, magazine, and Instagram post. Last year, trends of the 2000s made their way into the nostalgia scene. Bikini tops as shirts, wide-leg pants, chunky sandals, and Juicy tracksuits have made a comeback. Early 2000s pop punk music is the backbone of the e-girl and e-boy fashion trend. These nostalgic comebacks hurt (except for the pop punk trend; it was never a phase, Mom!), but they are not the most egregious trends rising from the dead, where they should… Read more

TW: This article discusses the murder of a Black trans woman and violence against transgender folks. On Sunday, April 4, a Black trans woman named Jaida Peterson, 29, was found dead in her hotel room in Charlotte, North Carolina. After responding to a call for a welfare check on the room, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police reported Peterson’s death as a homicide, with a murder investigation currently underway. Peterson is the 14th known transgender or gender-nonconforming person to be killed this year, as cited by the Human… Read more

A new study has shown that people underestimate the pain women are in. Both men and women believe women exaggerate the pain they are in and are likely to dismiss it. According to a study written in The Journal of Pain, researchers found that gender does matter when it comes to the perception of pain and the corresponding treatment options. The study shows that both men and women exhibit this implicit, unconscious bias about the intersection of women and pain. The research shows that gender stereotypes played a role.… Read more

If nothing else is important for a young woman to learn, it’s that loving yourself should always be top priority. This is a message that anyone who views Maddie Dragsbaek’s content can attest to. Having the pleasure to get to know Maddie a little deeper, join me as I uncover the ins-and-outs of what makes this woman so special. I got a chance to view your short film, Aphrodisia, and I really enjoyed it. What was your favorite part of making the film? I think my favorite part of any video production process is always… Read more

Norwegian artist/writer Jenny Hval and multi-instrumentalist Håvard Volden make meditative, experimental music together as Lost Girls, and Menneskekollektivet (which translates to human collective) is their first full-length. Fraying the seams of Hval’s solo stylings—ambient/electro-pop anchored by intimate singing with soliloquies—here, the mood is more exploration and improvisation. And it certainly is a mood. The 12-minute title track opens with soft, existential contemplations spoken over protracted synth notes… Read more

The United States military prides itself on protecting the nation and preserving tradition. The prevalence of sexual assault cases in the armed forces, however, reflects a struggle to protect its own female members and an urgent need for change. The issue of sexual assault in the military has been addressed by U.S. legislators in the past, including in a 2013 meeting among senators and Pentagon leaders. But the issue has recently gained urgency among national leaders due to factors including the #MeToo movement, the… Read more

Katy Kirby grew up a choir girl in her Texas hometown, and she takes that learned musicality into unexpected places on her debut full-length album. By juxtaposing soft, gentle vocals and rich harmonies with snuck-in lyrical jabs and complex indie melodies, there’s something surprising in every song. “Traffic!” is a shimmery pop number that features a bouncy, octave-jumping chorus and quick-witted lines about a self-absorbed character. The languid tune of “Secret Language” is inspired by the waltz-like cadence of… Read more

New year, new album, new Julien Baker. No longer strumming away in her bedroom, her third solo LP is arena worthy. The requiem “Song in E” will have fans raising their lighters while ethereal opener “Hardline” could be a lost Lorde track. In the four years since her last record, she has become more self-assured and introspective. (“Highlight Reel” is a glitchy romantic revelation.) “I’ll believe you if you make me feel something,” she sings on “Faith Healer,” which questions the escapism behind our vices. It also… Read more

What is an evening of pampering yourself without a face mask, a warm bath, and a few candles to burn? With the steadily expanding market for luxury candles, finding a good candle at a decent price can feel like an investment these days. But U.K.-based candle company Trippy Tuesday will definitely make it worth your while. Like so many other artistic adventures over the course of this past year, Trippy Tuesday was born out of one of our world’s darkest periods in modern history. It was during Britain’s first quarantine… Read more

On Tuesday, April 13 the CDC and FDA recommended US distributors “pause” inoculations using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six women developed blood clots. Within two weeks of being given the vaccine, these women developed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets. This combination requires more specialized treatment than what is typically administered, and the typical medication prescribed for blood clots is actually dangerous for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis… Read more

Over Easter weekend, an unretouched photo of Khloé Kardashian wearing a leopard-print bikini surfaced online and became a viral news story. At a time when there are plenty of important things to focus on, a photo of a woman in a bikini should not have caused such a stir. On a surface level, there was nothing wrong with this picture; it was taken by the Kardashians’ grandmother, it shows Khloé wearing what appears to be a genuine smile, and her body looks healthy. The real story is what lies beyond that surface: a… Read more

When Lauren Hough announced on Twitter that her new book of essays, Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing, contained 312 “F” words, I knew I wanted to read it. Hough had to build herself from scratch after leaving a cult that, by design, rendered its members incapable of living meaningful lives with normal relationships. Her experiences take readers across the globe, and include a near-slide into homelessness, clashes with the criminal justice system, and a stint as the most amazing bouncer in gay history. You’ll laugh, cry,… Read more

Welcome to the side of TikTok that empowers women, attacks creepy old men in the comments, stays body-positive, and lives life unapologetically. The key players on this side are Mia Khalifa (@miakhalifa) and lots of bisexual women. They all make light of the terrible things they have gone through as a generation, while motivating their mutuals to do better. Here is a list of 10 more women on TikTok who are inspiring their followers with their authentic and down-to-earth content. It’s a take on that meme “What’s a scene… Read more

It is no secret that stress and anxiety can wreak havoc in our lives. And these days we are all feeling more stress than usual. The good news is that you can actually train your brain toward greater well-being through mindfulness practice. Mindfulness practice is an action you can take to elicit the state of mindfulness. Mindfulness is 1) the state of consciously and deliberately noticing what you are attending to in the present moment instead of remaining on autopilot and, 2) doing so without attaching judgment.… Read more

It’s the time of year when poets of all backgrounds come together and are celebrated for their work. National Poetry Month was created in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, in the hopes of uplifting and showcasing work capable of capturing the imaginations of the general public. And in that same spirit, here are some amazing women writers who speak to the soul and will make you want to tap into your highest self. 1. Amanda Gorman There's no question that Amanda Gorman should be first on the list. She has had such… Read more

An NYC-based woman named Maddy Park raised $100,000 within a couple of days to provide free cab services to local Asian American residents who may be scared to travel on public transportation. The surge of anti-Asian hate crimes has left many fearing for their lives and scared to ride the trains. Park decided to take matters into her own hands after a tense trip on the subway. “Last week I took the train. It was a 30-minute commute, and I realized every minute of that commute I was terrified,” Maddy Park told WABC. “I… Read more

Art is a medium that has the power to bring people together and to share the lives and experiences of those who may feel unheard and forgotten about. With her talents as both an artist and a storyteller, Jennifer Mack-Watkins’s exhibit "Children of the Sun" provides a look into the world of being a Black child growing up during an era of struggle, fear, and uncertainty. This exhibit is meant to provide a space where Black children can be celebrated and uplifted. According to her press release for the exhibit,… Read more

An award-winning actor and producer whose career is skyrocketing, Rachel Brosnahan is best known for starring in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Here, she dishes on why Midge Maisel isn’t a feminist, how she manages acting as an introvert, and why mid-century women had a hard time peeing Zimmermann Dress; Bondeye Jewelry Earrings. Rachel Brosnahan exudes total composure. She hasn’t missed a beat in our conversation since we hopped on the phone, and her gracious answers contain almost zero filler—no ums or likes; she doesn’t… Read more

“Honey, you've got to look this up. Hank Williams was taught by a Black man named Rufus ‘Tee Tot’ Payne,” Frankie Staton, 66, tells me over video chat. “When Bill Monroe created bluegrass, he played with a Black man named Arnold Shultz. When Bob Wills created Western swing, he was trying to emulate Bessie Smith.” A talented singer and songwriter in her own right, Staton is also a walking roots music encyclopedia best known for co-founding the Black Country Music Association, a group which, from 1996 to 2003,… Read more

After making history as the youngest poet to grace the inaugural stage in January, Amanda Gorman will become the face for Vogue’s May issue cover. Becoming the first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, Gorman’s work as a poet and activist has led her to achieve numerous accolades, such as her 2015 release for The One For Whom Food Is Not Enough, her title as Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, and her organization One Pen One Page. In her detailed interview with Vogue, Gorman describes her journey through grade… Read more

Known for always keeping it real, Kai Foster is a content creator that wants to make an impact in the social media space—even if that means changing one life at a time. I had the pleasure of getting to know Kai and learn about what makes her content special. Who/what was your biggest inspiration for pursuing content creation? Kingsley was one of my favorite YouTubers growing up. I really loved how unapologetic and funny he was. Also, I was big into school-related content, like college and high school vlogs. I was like,… Read more

Two cases in which women were charged with murder after delivering stillborn babies in Kings County, California, have recently resurfaced and sparked outrage. Chelsea Becker and Adora Perez were each arrested shortly after their babies' deaths due to methamphetamine use during pregnancy. Their cases have since caused controversy among top legal officials and human rights groups. In 2017, a 29-year-old woman named Adora Perez delivered a stillborn baby at Adventist Health Hospital in California. The baby tested positive… Read more

Morgan Jerkins’ Caul Baby is an expansive, folklorish tale of two families—both headed by Black matriarchs—that intertwine for over 20 years. The Melancons are born with a “caul”—a special extra layer of skin that is said to portend healing powers for both the wearer and anyone who buys a piece. This family exists as pariahs in their home community of Harlem, selling pieces of their cauls to wealthy white folks while turning away Black women. One such woman, Laila, is turned away after requesting the caul to ensure her… Read more

In February, posters featuring musician St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark, in a velvety burgundy suit and a Michelle Pfieffer-in-Scarface blonde bob were plastered through city streets. “Warm Wurlitzers and wit, glistening guitars and grit, with sleaze and style for days,” the poster read. “Taking you from uptown to downtown with the artist who makes you expect the unexpected. So sit back, light up, and by all means have that bourbon waiting, because… DADDY’S HOME.” Daddy’s Home is the name of St. Vincent’s forthcoming… Read more

In our Fashion Nation series, we talk to people about personal style. Marisol MuroIllustrator, Marisoland.comLos Angeles, CA Walk me through this outfit.I found the butterfly caftan while I was thrifting in L.A. I love bold colors and prints and I like to make a coordinating accessory. I made that butterfly ring out of felt and wire—like a butterfly hopped off my dress and landed on my finger. The shoes are ’60s strappy shoes. I love to collect any kind of Mary Jane. Lately, I’ve been very into ’60s and ’70s styles but… Read more

Disembodied hair triggers an almost subconscious reflex of disgust in humans. While natural when attached to a scalp, an errant strand floating in a bowl of tomato soup or a damp wad clogging up a shower drain is enough to send a shiver down even the strongest of spines. So why is it that, two centuries ago, loose hair—and often, hair cut from a corpse—was the key ingredient in a popular household craft? The creation of art from human hair, or “hairwork,” reached its peak in the 19th century. “Hairwork” instructions… Read more

Up-and-coming rapper and singer Yung Baby Tate takes the art of the self-pep talk to higher heights in the music video for her latest hit single, “I Am.” The Georgia-born artist broke out onto the music scene six years ago with her melodic debut album ROYGBIV, and has since managed to make a name for herself in the rap game without straying too far from her R&B roots. “I Am,” track number two on Tate’s 2020 EP entitled After The Rain, is the women’s empowerment anthem we all need, feeling akin to a present day version… Read more

April 3 marks Jane Goodall’s 87th birthday. The primatologist and anthropologist’s work has deepened humans’ understanding of primates and empathy for animals and the natural world. Goodall is an inspiration not only for the major strides she has made in chimpanzee research, human rights, and environmental conservation, but also for the trailblazing example she set for women in scientific fields. When she began her work in primate research in the 1950s, the field was dominated by men. According to CBC, primatology now… Read more

Season two of the saucy period piece "Bridgerton" will continue without Simon Basset, Duke Hastings, played by everyone’s favorite sex symbol, Regé-Jean Page. The Official "Bridgerton" page announced the break-out star’s departure in a heartfelt Instagram post penned by Lady Whistleton. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix) The star posted on his personal page that “It’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be your Duke. Joining this family - not just on screen, but off… Read more

The homepage for Crystal Cheatham’s app includes an unflinching command: “Ditch Toxic Theology.” “In toxic theology, followers are stifled instead of helped to grow into their best spiritual selves,” she explains. A gay, Philly-based Christian and longtime activist, Cheatham, 35, hopes to tip spirituality away from harm and towards healing with Our Bible, which offers free access to devotionals, podcasts, Bible translations, and other curated material for progressive faith-seekers. “We include content that’s… Read more

On March 26, Lil Nas X released the music video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” and the internet has not known peace since. “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” accepts and subverts the religious themes that resign queer people to hell. With this video, Lil Nas X accepts the fate prescribed to him, goes to hell and gives a beautifully executed lapdance to the devil while he’s there. Like many queer people, Lil Nas X experienced self-hatred in his teen years due to Christian messaging about the sins of queerness. i… Read more

Veteran journalist Brooke Baldwin has been kicking ass in the male-dominated TV news industry for over 20 years, most famously at CNN, where she hosts CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin. During her 13 year tenure at CNN which is about to end in mid-April, Baldwin has unflinchingly held power to account while covering the most consequential issues of our day, from politics to protests to pressing social issues like gun violence. On April 6, she will be releasing her first book, HUDDLE: How Women Unlock Their Collective… Read more

New Zealand recently passed a historic law that allows paid leave for employees who have had a miscarriage or stillbirth. This new law applies to the individual or couple who lost the baby, in addition to those who want to adopt or have a child through surrogacy. The state will now provide three days of paid leave, which doesn't affect or dip into their sick leave. The individual or couple can take a paid bereavement leave for a miscarriage or stillbirth regardless of how long into the pregnancy the fetus was lost.… Read more

We all love a good comeback story, don’t we? It’s a tale as old as time, and there’s a certain level of inspiration and hope that audiences can draw from the story of a person who, against all odds, manages to rise above their seemingly insurmountable circumstances. In Tina Turner’s case, however, the public’s obsession with her triumph over domestic violence has both catapulted her into mainstream success, and haunted her for a great number of years. In what will serve as her final farewell to life in the public eye,… Read more

If you are unaware of the now-dominating platform Twitch, you may be missing out on some worthy content. From rap battles, gaming, cook-offs, and even advice panels, Twitch has everything that you could ask for and more. Luckily for me, I had the chance to speak to a fellow Twitch streamer, YouTuber, and cosplayer, Krysta a.k.a. KrystalogyTV, about everything content creation, and gained some insight on what it means to have an identity online. You originally had a channel that went by the name "Kissabunni." Looking… Read more

KIDS—the second album from acclaimed Israeli rapper Noga Erez—radiates ferocious energy as it explores both political and personal reckonings. In contrast to her debut record, Off the Radar, KIDS delivers a hefty dose of plastic pop. “End of the Road” and “Bark Loud” are candy-coated explorations of mortality and self-worth, while “Story” feels like a danceable, stream-of-consciousness poem. Each track offers something unexpected; a swath of brass or the tender sound of a page turning. For those moments when you’re… Read more

Everyone experiences loneliness from time to time. Lots of people are currently battling it, especially younger people.The suicide rate amongst young people is at an all-time high. Loneliness is more prevalent than ever in the midst of this now year-long pandemic.I’ve struggled with loneliness throughout the pandemic. If you're still struggling with loneliness during the time of COVID, then check out these 9 tips. They have helped me and I hope they do the same for you. 1. Video chat with loved ones This includes… Read more

These days, there are so many shows on streaming services that, with a click of a button, we have access to an endless supply of entertainment, making it quite easy to get lost in the sea of TV. But even in this day and age, female main characters are still sometimes portrayed as one-dimensional, or they are overshadowed by their male counterparts. Below are eight shows of all genres led by female characters who are nuanced, dynamic, and emotionally complicated — and, above all else, real. 1. WandaVision. This newest… Read more

Representation and its significance take center stage in Dawnie Walton’s debut. Inspired by the author’s own deep desire for an Afro-punk role model during her teenage years, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a fictionalized account of Opal Jewel, a Black singer ahead of her time navigating the world of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1970s. Decades later, journalist Sunny Curtis sets out to create an oral history of her idol—and is confronted with an allegation about the controversial event that catapulted Opal to stardom. The… Read more

Author and activist Jamie Margolin comes forward about being a victim of sexual coercion, abuse, stalking, and harassment at the hands of a student at her university—and how Title IX and reporting systems failed her As a climate activist, I have become used to fighting for the planet, but my freshman year of college, I had to fight for myself. The first semester of my freshman year of college, I made a friend who ended up being abusive. I was afraid to leave them for fear of them retaliating and trying to hurt me. When… Read more

Vibrant, haunting, and absolutely unforgettable, Girlhood by Melissa Febos is a modern masterpiece full of brutally honest self-reflection. “I’ve not found the research on how often we are touched by men without our consent, from childhood: belly and cheek pinches, shoulder squeezes, hands on thighs, unwelcome hugs,” Febos writes. “It is one thing to yell at a man whispering obscenities outside your window at midnight and another to reject a form of touch you’ve tolerated since infancy.” These essays will prompt… Read more

Josiah Wise, AKA serpentwithfeet, forged his creative identity in the fires of deliberate introspection and holistic growth, emerging triumphantly with DEACON, a grounded, neo-R&B album uniting his vocal training, gospel upbringing, and newfound warmth. Previous albums have traversed the melancholy and yearning he has known, and with DEACON, we are baptized into an era of unapologetic Black queer contentment. “Hyacinth” displays Wise’s vocal range, embracing melodies and piano accompaniments that are diaphanous,… Read more

“I’m rotting and I’m never coming back the way you knew me then,” Kalmia Traver (Rubblebucket) sings languidly on opener “Red Marker,” setting the radiant, springtime-trippy tone for Max Heart. What began as Traver’s solo side project, Kalbells has bloomed into a band featuring Angelica Bess (Body Language), Zoë Brecher (Hushpuppy, Sad13), and Sarah Pedinotti (Lip Talk), and their collective groove is definitely in the Heart. These 10 tracks are psychedelic in the most mind freeing, soothing, yellow-smiley-face sense… Read more

For fifty years, Beverly Cleary captured kids’ experiences with a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed spirit that was as rare in literature as it was real in childhood. The beloved children’s author died on March 25 in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, less than three weeks shy of her 105th birthday. Cleary was born on April 12, 1916, and grew up on a farm in Yamhill, Oregon. The town was so small that it didn’t have a library until Cleary’s mother—a schoolteacher named Mable—started one. Her mother also gave her advice that she… Read more

Has there ever been a more commonly visited scene in cinema than that of a funeral? The standing-over-the-casket, femme-fatale-in-a-black-netted-veil, umbrellas-shielding-the-protagonist-from-convenient-rain, religious-figure-droning-on-in-a-somber-tone image is overdone, to say the least, but writer-director Emma Seligman completely inverts this quotidien display in favor of a helter-skelter shiva in her debut film, Shiva Baby. In fact, almost this entire movie takes place at the shiva reception, inside a cramped home… Read more

Is it too late for us to apologize to Katherine Heigl? Would she even forgive us? Moreover, should she? Like many people, my wife and I recently discovered Firefly Lane, a Netflix series based off the novel by Kristin Hannah. The series follows two women (played by Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke) as they navigate the traumas and dramas of their lives. It’s funny, nostalgic, a little dark, and overall a positive reflection of female friendship. We loved it. “Has Katherine Heigl always been this good of actress?” I… Read more

In the years before her death this week at 80, actor Jessica Walter captured the essence of the 2000s with her embodiments of cold, distant, self-centered matriarchs on Archer and Arrested Development. But Walter’s career did not begin with Y2K. She's actually been making her mark on the entertainment industry since her first credited role in 1962 on the soap opera Love of Life. Walter's dramatic style and grace meshed perfectly with the over-the-top storylines of daytime drama. She possessed an ability to draw… Read more