Though she is best known for her effortless vocals, singer Ari Lennox took time on Monday to address any of her social media followers who subscribe to anti-LGBTQ ideals. The S hea Butter Baby vocalist tweeted a series of thoughts in support of the LGBTQ community after an unknown situation prompted her to speak out. “I hate homophobic and transphobic people so much,” she began. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit Lennox then used her platform to delve further into why she used the word hate to describe her feelings after her mentions began to blow up. “I am also aware of how strong of a word hate is. So buzz off. If you’re homophobic and transphobic idfwu,” she wrote. “Please if you don’t support [the] LGBTQ community, you don’t support me,” Lennox continued. “You don’t support my family and the people I love. So all you delusional and fake-religious/self-righteous weirdos unfollow and unsubscribe.” “To be gay is beautiful. It is natural. One doesn’t have to experience trauma to be gay,” Lennox writes, dismantling the argument that anyone who is LGBTQ came to be so because of some type of sexual perversion. “Yes I believe people are born that way. Yes I hate people who hate gay people. If there is a God I believe he made us in his image and made no mistakes.” I didn’t hear God say ANY of what you homophobic and transphobic and bigots be talm bout — Ari Lennox (@AriLennox) September 3, 2019 The D.C. native went on to address the “gay agenda,” a thoughtless theory which suggests that the media and public figures are working together to tout LGBTQ ideals. “I don’t believe in “Gay Agenda.” No agenda can alter what is already innate. No religion or media or bully can convince me that true love is unnatural,” Lennox wrote. But her argument became personal once she shared her experience of watching her sister be ostracized by family members for marrying a woman. “I have family members that didn’t show up to meh own sister’s wedding because she married a woman. You can’t support your own flesh and blood because of unhealthy condition from religion and media. People really live their short lives in a mental prison, she continued. “People were gay from the beginning of time and will be long after we are gone,” she wrote in her last tweet. Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). After her tweets went viral, Lennox logged onto Twitter on Tuesday to respond to the criticism she faced by those who believe otherwise. “Also I’m not an atheist buy obviously if you church people feel so bothered by my views, why the hell you listening to my raunchy secular music? Once again foh” “going out of your way to express how you don’t agree with someone’s SEXUAL PREFERENCE is simply uncalled for…People love every opportunity to insert the STRAIGHT agenda,” she wrote. “It’s mind boggling how the media and religion has promoted A whole straight agenda for years and y’all can’t take an INCH of any type of diversity and spice on your programming.” Lennox’s thoughts remind us of the ways in which we dehumanize and dishonor one another. And as a Black woman, the recalling of watching family member’s withhold their support for their LGBTQ family members is not a singular event. There are so many of us with mother’s father’s, aunties, uncles, cousins, whom have had to live a double life in order to shield themselves from disdain all because of who they love. Until we can love and respect one another in dismantling internalized notions of respectability and white supremacy, we will never truly be free. [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”2054044″ overlay=”true”] ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : Kevin Hart Injured In Car Accident [VIDEO] Simone Biles’ Brother Charged In New Years Eve Triple Murder Actor Supports Transwomen, Reveals He’s Been “Trans Attracted” Follow @TheRSMS
Source: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com / WENN Malik Yoba turned heads last week after revealing that he is “trans attracted” and has endured an onslaught of comments both positive and negative. In the wake of the revelation, the veteran actor thanked fans for their support but is now facing allegations that he solicited underage trans prostitutes previously. In an Instagram video, the Empire star reached out to his fans and checked detractors who aimed some words at his children for his choice. View this post on Instagram Happy Labor Day Fam!! Thank you all who have reached out to me with love and support over the last 24 hours. Thank you @bet and all others who have spread this message of hope that it is ok to be who the FUCK you are no matter what other ppl say as long as you ain’t hurting nobody. Fear and shame should not be our gods. Freedom and love of all of HUMAN-ity should be the order of the day! SEE YOU IN DC FOR @transmarchondc AND Love + Trauma : The Trans Experience. Go to site for all upcoming details A post shared by malikyoba (@malikyoba) on Sep 2, 2019 at 9:30am PDT “I apologize to my own children because my kids got some foul messages with folks thinking that it’s okay because you don’t understand something,” Yoba said via an Instagram video. “Just because you don’t understand something does not make it wrong or does not make people wrong. I don’t even understand all of it, but I’m willing to ask questions.” A trans woman by the name of Mariah Lopez Ebony has since come forth to accuse the actor of soliciting her services when she was 13 and again at 16, blasting Yoba for confusing his love of trans women. Yoba has yet to answer the allegations. — Photo: WENN
This is Us is a mega, gigantic, super hit on NBC for one reason and, really, one reason only: It features characters viewers know and love. And yet: Thee Seeason 4 trailer featured on this page makes it clear that upcoming episodes will give us a look at character we don't know — and maybe won't love. Indeed, NBC has now confirmed that This Is Us Season 4 will introduce fans to 10 new characters, many of whom will be played by very familiar faces. “It’s so strange, isn’t it? How just like that a complete stranger can become such a big part of your story,” Mandy Moore‘s Rebecca Pearson tells future husband Jack, played by Milo Ventimiglia, early on in this video. “It’s actually kind of terrifying, you know, how a single cross with one person you’ve never met can change everything,” she adds … as glimpses of new characters appear. So… who are these strangers? And how will they impact the This Is Us universe we've been watching for years? Most details are being kept under wraps, but we do know who they're played by: Asante Blackk Marsha Stephanie Blake Omar Epps Bahara Golestani Jennifer Morrison Timothy Omundson M. Night Shyamalan Julian Silva Auden Thornton Nick Wechsler Morrison is set to make her debut on the drama as a military woman, this much we know. We're also gonna guess that Shyamalan makes a cameo as someone working Kevin on his the latter's movie after he landed a role in a Ron Howard World War II movie co-starring Sylvester Stallone. But, again, this is just a guess. Epps, we can also confirm, will play a mechanic. “I would say that there’s a lot of secret new cast members who are going to be a big deal, coming up,” co-creator Dan Fogelman recently said about the guest actors joining the show. As for other non-series regulars you can expect to see on Season 4? Griffin Dunne will return as Nicky, Jack’s little brother who had a traumatic time while serving in the Vietnam War. Elsewhere, Ron Cephas Jones will beb ack as Randall’s dad in flashback scenes… Elizabeth Perkins will appear in the season premiere as Rebecca’s mother … and Phylicia Rashad returns as Beth’s mom. “If you think you know what’s coming next you don’t know us,” this trailer teases Season 4 of This Is Us premieres on Sept. 24 at 9/8x on NBC. Check out this revealing and intriguing sneak peek now.
Source: Lucianna Faraone Coccia / Getty Tonight’s episode of Love and Hip-Hop Hollywood picks up from Apryl and Moniece’s face-off [*cough* over Fizz]. Moniece says she doesn’t want Fizz, but it seems like she’s jealous of Fizz and Apryl’s relationship, or whatever it is they’re doing. In fairness, Moniece is also upset because Apryl and Fizz have been making moves with her son Cam, like going on a family trip to Chicago, without telling her. That’s actually valid. Apryl still denies that she and Fizz are a thing. Basically, we’re still in the lying phase. But anyway, they manage to get past the hostility and apologize to each other for their respective transgressions. This is clearly not over. But for now, they make amends and even decide to support each other when it comes to their music. Apple Watts is back. She’s the resident stripper-tryna-be-a-rapper. Every Love and Hip-Hop city has to have at least one. Anyway, she’s still working on her music but she isn’t affiliated with the manager she had last year, and definitely not that man who pretended to be her father. Now she’s seeking guidance from Yoyo, who has taken on the role of rap mentor April’s mentor through the literal Yoyo School of Hip-Hop. Next, we find a heartbroken Lyrica is kicking it with Princess and her best friend, Sia. This is the aftermath of Jason Lee leaking that info about A1 cheating with Summer Bunni while Lyrica was pregnant. Lyrica is in tears as she laments how hurt she was. Princess chimes in and says she caught Ray J “headed in that direction” when she was pregnant so she empathizes. Lyrica has A1’s phone number blocked at the moment but he has a show coming up and Sia suggests they run up on him. That’s not this episode, but it’s coming. Now we’re back at the Yoyo School of Hip-Hop. Yoyo thought she was going to connect Apple Watts and Summer Bunni, not knowing what was about to happen. Basically, Apple Watts was down with meeting Summer at first, but then she recognized who Summer was. Apple and Lyrica are cool, so Apple immediately calls her out and goes into fight mode. They go back and forth for a second, but you know security got this. Apple gets removed but she’s outside yelling about how she wants to deliver Compton Fists of Fury to Summer Bunni. Meanwhile, Summer is standing with Yoyo, going back and forth between crying and yelling back at Apple. Yoyo is telling Summer to pull it together because she’s going to have to deal with a lot worse as her career progresses. Blacc Chyna is in the studio with Brittany and they’re planning her music. The real point of this scene is for Blacc Chyna to encourage Brittany B to work on her relationship with her mother since they both have toxic moms in common. Brittany isn’t too sure about that though because she’s still dealing with the trauma from her mother’s crackhead-ish behavior over the years. But we’ll get back to this next episode. Let’s fast forward a bit. Now we’re at a party or showcase, or something. We find Misster Ray with Summer Bunni and Yoyo. We’re not sure if Apple is coming, but she probably is, because, Love and Hip-Hop Hollywood , but Yoyo mentions that Summer Bunni needs to be ready in case Apple shows up. Summer starts getting all teary-eyed again talking about how what happened the other day with Apple wasn’t called for and she’s tired of people putting stuff in #TheBlogs about her and calling her a homewrecker when they don’t really know her, yatta yatta. Yoyo tells her to snap out of it, once again, then Ray J and Princess walk in. You already know that Princess ain’t feeling Summer on behalf of Lyrica. And then…Lyrica waltzing in with Apple. That’s how the episode ends tonight. But it’s going down next week because Lyrica and Summer Bunni are going to have a war of words. RELATED POSTS ‘LHHHS6’ Recap: Apryl Has A Love Jones For Fizzle Pop ‘LHHHS5’ Reunion Recap: Moniece And Princess Love Do The Unthinkable
Source: Lucianna Faraone Coccia / Getty Tonight’s episode of Love and Hip-Hop Hollywood picks up from Apryl and Moniece’s face-off [*cough* over Fizz]. Moniece says she doesn’t want Fizz, but it seems like she’s jealous of Fizz and Apryl’s relationship, or whatever it is they’re doing. In fairness, Moniece is also upset because Apryl and Fizz have been making moves with her son Cam, like going on a family trip to Chicago, without telling her. That’s actually valid. Apryl still denies that she and Fizz are a thing. Basically, we’re still in the lying phase. But anyway, they manage to get past the hostility and apologize to each other for their respective transgressions. This is clearly not over. But for now, they make amends and even decide to support each other when it comes to their music. Apple Watts is back. She’s the resident stripper-tryna-be-a-rapper. Every Love and Hip-Hop city has to have at least one. Anyway, she’s still working on her music but she isn’t affiliated with the manager she had last year, and definitely not that man who pretended to be her father. Now she’s seeking guidance from Yoyo, who has taken on the role of rap mentor April’s mentor through the literal Yoyo School of Hip-Hop. Next, we find a heartbroken Lyrica is kicking it with Princess and her best friend, Sia. This is the aftermath of Jason Lee leaking that info about A1 cheating with Summer Bunni while Lyrica was pregnant. Lyrica is in tears as she laments how hurt she was. Princess chimes in and says she caught Ray J “headed in that direction” when she was pregnant so she empathizes. Lyrica has A1’s phone number blocked at the moment but he has a show coming up and Sia suggests they run up on him. That’s not this episode, but it’s coming. Now we’re back at the Yoyo School of Hip-Hop. Yoyo thought she was going to connect Apple Watts and Summer Bunni, not knowing what was about to happen. Basically, Apple Watts was down with meeting Summer at first, but then she recognized who Summer was. Apple and Lyrica are cool, so Apple immediately calls her out and goes into fight mode. They go back and forth for a second, but you know security got this. Apple gets removed but she’s outside yelling about how she wants to deliver Compton Fists of Fury to Summer Bunni. Meanwhile, Summer is standing with Yoyo, going back and forth between crying and yelling back at Apple. Yoyo is telling Summer to pull it together because she’s going to have to deal with a lot worse as her career progresses. Blacc Chyna is in the studio with Brittany and they’re planning her music. The real point of this scene is for Blacc Chyna to encourage Brittany B to work on her relationship with her mother since they both have toxic moms in common. Brittany isn’t too sure about that though because she’s still dealing with the trauma from her mother’s crackhead-ish behavior over the years. But we’ll get back to this next episode. Let’s fast forward a bit. Now we’re at a party or showcase, or something. We find Misster Ray with Summer Bunni and Yoyo. We’re not sure if Apple is coming, but she probably is, because, Love and Hip-Hop Hollywood , but Yoyo mentions that Summer Bunni needs to be ready in case Apple shows up. Summer starts getting all teary-eyed again talking about how what happened the other day with Apple wasn’t called for and she’s tired of people putting stuff in #TheBlogs about her and calling her a homewrecker when they don’t really know her, yatta yatta. Yoyo tells her to snap out of it, once again, then Ray J and Princess walk in. You already know that Princess ain’t feeling Summer on behalf of Lyrica. And then…Lyrica waltzing in with Apple. That’s how the episode ends tonight. But it’s going down next week because Lyrica and Summer Bunni are going to have a war of words. RELATED POSTS ‘LHHHS6’ Recap: Apryl Has A Love Jones For Fizzle Pop ‘LHHHS5’ Reunion Recap: Moniece And Princess Love Do The Unthinkable
A Texas-based historically Black college is ensuring that all of its students have the support and resources needed to overcome trauma developed from past experiences. According to Dallas News , Paul Quinn College has launched a mental health campaign to help students address internal obstacles so they can thrive academically. Paul Quinn College is taking a progressive approach to mental health that leaves no student behind. #StudentHealth #News https://t.co/BOuhKi2O84 — The Fix (@_TheFix) July 10, 2019 At one point the school had one of the lowest graduation rates in the country and that prompted faculty members to get to the root of the issue. With the help of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, they discovered that the core of the problem was trauma and many of the students were suffering from PTSD. Students were carrying the emotional burdens of tragic past experiences from their upbringings and environments and some were carrying the weight of being first-generation college students on their shoulders. “We thought we were doing good,” said Paul Quinn College president Michael Sorrell . “‘We’re bringing you out of that environment and you’ll be safe. And life will be great.’ … It took us a while to understand that that was a product of trauma.” With a grant given to the school by Gov. Greg Abbott , the institution has been able to launch several programs and initiatives under its campaign. Incoming freshman and transfer students have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a counselor and the school has an on-campus mental health center which is overseen by Dr. Stacia’ Alexander . The center is decorated with images of celebrities who have been transparent about their struggles with mental health so that the students can see themselves reflected. “The thing we’re trying to get students to understand is that those traumas are real,” Dr. Alexander told the news outlet. “And they do impair or affect how you process daily information. And if you continue to ignore that, you’re going to continue to be impaired and not reach your full potential.” In addition to the counseling, there are several wellness and fitness activities that take place on campus. Initiatives like the one being led at Paul Quinn College are needed. Studies show that over 20 percent of incoming college students have battled with mental health disorders. SEE ALSO: Taraji P. Henson To Host Summit On Black Mental Health Super Beauty Founder TiffanyJ Aims To Empower Black Youth Through Book Series And Doll Line [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3881857″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Paul Archuleta / Getty This week on “The Real,” the ladies spoke about a topic that comes up quite often on the show. Good sex. Jeannie was saying that she really appreciates the way men open up conversationally after they’ve been physically, sexually satisfied. In response, Adrienne Bailon wondered if any of the other ladies had experienced a man being so emotionally overcome that he shed tears. Jeannie : When a man is in bed with you and he’s happy and he’s satisfied, he opens up and there’s thing and you get to talk to him about things where he’s not trying so hard. He’s just being him. Adrienne : Anybody ever cried after? I love that. That’s bomb. Tamera : Oh, the guys cries? Adrienne : They’re just overwhelmed with how much they love you, or how they feel about you or how bomb you were. They’re just like, sniffles. ‘That was amazing. God is good.’ This is going to get weird. Have you ever seen the movie Stella Got Her Groove Back and she’s in the shower and she sheds a tear. Has that ever happened to you? Tamera : Cuz it was so good…Yeah. Adrienne : I can’t be the only one. It’s not like [sob] literally a tear just comes out of your eye. I don’t even know how it happens. Jeannie : I don’t know if I cry. Because in that moment and it’s so good and you’re happy it’s like, ‘Yes Hunnay!’ Adrienne : You’ve never been so tense where just one tear.. it’s not like an intentional…it’s not emotional. Jeannie : No, no. Adrienne : I pray that upon your life. I really do. Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). The story blew up because you know, sex is salacious and we often don’t think about men connecting to sex emotionally. But according to several sources, it’s a normal occurrence. And the reasons for the tears are varied. According to Healthline.com , tears during or after sex are quite common. They could be tears of joy, relief, melancholy, or they could be—as Adrienne stated— a purely physical reaction. You can be overcome by your emotions and the physical release, coupled with the emotions you feel for that person could result in tears. maybe you’re grateful for the physical sensations you’ve just experienced. I think we underestimate how big of a role human touch plays in our lives. Then there’s the reverse where feelings of uncertainty, instability or regret can result in not so happy tears. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit The occurrence is so common that there is a scientific name for the condition. Postcoital Dysphoria (PCD) or postcoital tristesse (PCT). Symptoms include tearfulness, sadness and irritability after consensual sex. The tears could be the result of painful sex, anxiety about the relationship or the act, and triggers from past trauma, depression, and even the drastic shift in hormonal changes being so sharp, it produces tears. Have you ever cried during sex? Have you ever made or seen a man cry after the deed is done? [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”1764404″ overlay=”true”] This story was originally posted on MadameNoire.com . ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : August Alsina Hospitalized After Singer Lost The Ability To Walk Whoopi Goldberg Is Launching Her Own Fashion Line And We Love What We See So Far Whoopi Goldberg Hasn’t Been Seen In A Month Because She’s Been Battling With Pneumonia Follow @TheRSMS
2018 was a crazy roller coaster ride for Ariana Grande. She hit some extremely low points after she and Pete Davidson began dating, got engaged and broke up all within the span of about six months. And then again when she had to deal with the tragic loss of her ex-boyfriend and beloved rapper Mac Miler who passed away after an accidental drug overdose . But they say you can’t appreciate the good days until you have had some bad ones, and Ari definitely faced numerous difficult days. And with her losses came major gains. In February of this year, Ariana was taking over the charts. Literally, it felt like she was releasing a new banger every other day. Thanks to her whirlwind romance with Pete Davidson, her latest album Thank U, Next was born. And thanks to music Ari was able to find a bit of peace following Miller’s death. In her new cover interview with Vogue , Grande opens up about the making of her album along with growing up and dealing with grief. The Sweetener songstress started by revealing that her friends had actually convinced her to move to New York City from Los Angeles for the summer of 2018. “My friends were like, ‘Come! We’re gonna have a fun summer,'” she recalled. “And then I met Pete, and it was an amazing distraction.” “It was frivolous and fun and insane and highly unrealistic,” she said. “And I loved him. And I didn’t know him.” Ari then went on to explain how she isn’t good at real life — we all get it, adulting is hard. “I’m like an infant when it comes to real life and this old soul, been-around-the-block-a-million-times artist,” she added. “I still don’t trust myself with the life stuff.” Grande ultimately released her hit breakup anthem “Thank U, Next” which graciously called out exes including Davidson, Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez and yes, Mac Miller. The song was released during the period in which it was made, which is one of the first times she had been single in a while. “I think that this is the first album and also the first year of my life where I’m realizing that I can no longer put off spending time with myself, just as me,” she explained. “I’ve been boo’d up my entire adult life.” “I’ve always had someone to say goodnight to. So “thank u, next” was this moment of self-realization,” she continued. “It was this scary moment of ‘Wow, you have to face all this stuff now. No more distraction. You have to heal all this s–t.'” Not only was Ariana putting out music because she had fresh inspo from her break up with Pete , but also because the studio was her safe haven. Miller passed away in September 2018 and Ari and Pete split the next month, with both of those dramatic events taking place back to back, the 26-year-old admits she barely even remembers making the album. “My friends know how much solace music brings me, so I think it was an all-around, let’s get her there type situation,” she said. “But if I’m completely honest, I don’t remember those months of my life because I was (a) so drunk and (b) so sad.” “I don’t really remember how it sarted or how it finished, or how all of a sudden there were 10 songs on the board,” she recalled. And while the Florida native is for the most part extremely open with her fans, she still prefers to keep that part of her life private. “I’m a person who’s been through a lot and doens’t know what to say about any of it to myself, let alone the world,” she admitted to the outlet. “I see myself onstage as this perfectly polished, great-at-my-job entertainer, and then in situations like this I’m just this little basket-case puddle of figuring it out.” “I have to be the luckiest girl in the world, and the unlickiest, for sure,” she said She went on to explain how she is currently working on celebrating the good, rather than always fearing for the worse . “I’m walking this fine line between healing myself and not letting the things I’ve gone through be picked at before I’m ready,” she said. “And also celebrating the beautiful things that have happened in my life and not feeling scared that they will be taken away from me because trauma tells me that they will be.” “you know what I mean?” she adds. But while she is currently on tour, we feel for her. “I was researching healing and PTSD and talking to therapists, and everyone was like, ‘You need a routine, a schedule,'” she said. “Of course because I’m an extremist, I’m like, OK, I’ll go on tour!” “But it’s hard to sing songs that are about wounds that are so fresh,” she admitted. “It’s fun, it’s pop music, and I’m not trying to make it sound like anything that it’s not but these songs to me really do represent some heavy s–t.” While Ari still has many shows left on her Sweetener world tour, we send all the love and well wishes her way. View Slideshow: Ariana Grande DESTROYS Haters Over Disgusting Mac Miller Comments!
Source: Lily Cummings / Lily Cummings Name: Ariel Pierre-Louis IG: couvertier_louis Agency: Dorothy Combs Claim to Fame: Ariel has been featured in ads for Ashley Stewart , Dia & Co ., Ave and Hue. She was also recently featured in the inaugural campaign for The Hours. Some models can afford to wax poetic about slurping ramen noodles in a studio apartment, but Ariel Pierre-Louis could not. “I’m not a model bitch. I am a Brooklyn bitch,” she told Hello Beautiful in an exclusive interview. View this post on Instagram Happy pride month to everyone except y’all ignorant mfs that still think hate speech is free speech and that we should ignore micro aggressions #AllThatShitIsViolent Photographer: @robertclydegrima #visiblyblack #visiblyplussize #afropoping #4typehair #happypridemonth A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Jun 7, 2019 at 1:59pm PDT The breakout model who has featured in major campaigns for some of your favorite retailers had a difficult time adjusting to the unusual power dynamics of the industry. Her biggest objection was the way finances were handled. Forced to care for her younger siblings emotionally and financially due to serious family issues she was frustrated with being expected to shell out cash to attend castings that could result in nothing more than a ‘maybe next time.’ View this post on Instagram @diaandco coming out with the fat visibility and I’m it fat @dianaross from the front Hair: @mideyahparkerhair @chuckielovehair Mua: @brianduprey Stylist: @theswaggiebum @ashleyfalcon Director: @the_rosaliz #visiblyplussize #fatpositivity #visiblyblack #4typehair #mydiastyle #afropoping A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Apr 8, 2019 at 12:47pm PDT “I’m not gonna say the name,” Pierre-Louis began, describing a scene many aspiring models have dealt with. “But they made me come all the way fucking down there and spend my hard-earned traveling money . At the time I wasn’t able to pay for weeklies [Metrocards]. Now I can pay for weeklies, so I came up. But I was hopping the shit [turnstiles] or had to get on the bus. But I paid my money to get there just in case. I wasn’t hopping nothing to get arrested or some shit before my meeting.” View this post on Instagram Y’all see them pointed toes right? #fatdancer #visiblyplussize #visiblyplus #visiblyblack #4typehair #afropoping A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Feb 23, 2019 at 1:26pm PST Pierre-Louis felt the expense, an extravagant one given her financial situation, was worth it because it might lead to her big break. View this post on Instagram As a survivor of DV I was more then happy to partner up and model for @impishlee to make and sell calendars to support @sffny If you care about victims of Domestic violence please donate and/or buy this calendar showcasing beautiful womxn/femmes like myself wearing beautiful lingerie designed by @impishlee #supportdvvictims #sffny #helpstopdomesticviolence #visiblyplussize #visiblyfat #visiblyblack A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Jan 31, 2019 at 9:34am PST “I got so excited,” she explained. Her excitement was short lived as the agency she skipped a meal to audition for rejected her. The encounter started out positively. “They were like ‘you’re so beautiful ’ and all this great stuff about me,” she said. Shortly after the accolades came the disappointment. “But we might try to like put you in a development thing because you’re too big we don’t really sign girls this big,” the rep reportedly told her. View this post on Instagram I was just coming off of a milly rock that’s how u kno I’m from bk nyc Photography: @_isaacanthony Stylist: @beautybydefault and @zach_is_doing_fine Hair: @austinthorntonbeauty MUA: @sophieono #tbt #visiblyplussize #visiblyplus #visiblyblack #afroextensions #afropoping #4typehair A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Jan 8, 2019 at 1:53pm PST “And I swear to God I was smaller than I am today same height and everything just a little smaller,” deadpanned Pierre-Louis. The unexplained rejection stung, and she sprung into action to try and change herself to give herself a chance at making her dreams happen. View this post on Instagram #tb of when I modeled for @universalstandard with cornrows by @watchbrenottv looking black and plus asf #blackhairisprofessionalhair #visiblyplussize #visiblyplus #visiblyblack A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Nov 7, 2018 at 1:29pm PST “I literally freaked out, had an eating disorder and everything I literally lost 60 lbs in 2 or 3 months and then I contacted them, and they were like uninterested.” View this post on Instagram Hi @wmag Thank you for showcasing a black fat femmes form Photography: @_isaacanthony Stylist: @beautybydefault and @zach_is_doing_fine Hair: @austinthorntonbeauty MUA: @sophieono #visiblyplussize #visiblyplus #visiblyblack #fatvisibility #afroextensions #afropoping #4typehair #saggyboobsmatter A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on May 9, 2019 at 1:11pm PDT A larger version of the same body they were uninterested in would soon be featured by Issac Anthony in a spread in W Magazine , every curve celebrated for its distinctive appeal but at the time Pierre-Louis had no idea where her career was headed. View this post on Instagram Them: “bitch ur fat….” Me: …..and litt Them: Me: *mouth pop* u mad doggie u mad doggie *nicki’s bird voice* SB: and yes a hoe flexible and fat Editorials for @krowdmagazine photography @_isaacanthony styling/creative direction by @zach_is_doing_fine and @beautybydefault hair @austinthorntonbeauty make-up @sophieono #sexywhilefat #visiblyplussize #visiblyplus #visiblyblack #krowdmagazine #unedited #nophotoshop A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Oct 6, 2018 at 9:50am PDT Her experiences with body shaming motivate her to deliberately shatter her younger sister’s illusions about the industry. Recently she educated her about size bias why she couldn’t find her size at an event offering prom dresses. She works to unpack every airbrushed image uploaded on Instagram so that her sister will see the value in her own unique beauty. “It’s my little sister and I don’t want her to foster these ideas in her head that it’s normal to only see size one or two dresses,” she added. The self-proclaimed “Liberated Black woman,” discusses that and more on Instagram where is constantly uplifting marginalized people. View this post on Instagram Photographer: @devincruzphotography Mua: @lovemiyako #visiblyblack #visiblyplus A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Sep 3, 2018 at 1:15pm PDT She almost gave up after that experience. “I was like if I don’t get signed by 21 I’m not doing this shit no more. This is clearly not for me. This is not what I’m supposed to be doing then lo and behold a few day before my 21 st birthday I was signed and I was like okay this is what I’m supposed to be doing.” View this post on Instagram You want sexy? Lol @secondsight #visiblyblack #visiblyplus #couvertier_louis A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Aug 9, 2018 at 9:57am PDT When she did get signed, she reportedly had to deal with shady agency tactics including agents taking jobs she brought in and giving them to other girls on the agency’s roster. “I’m gonna have to be really honest because that’s all I can be I really feel like it’s because the other girls were a little bit more palatable. I was one of the only Black girls there. I’m gonna tell you what they do they pretend like you cost more money and they’ll they’ll offer these amount of girls for that same amount of money and all those girls were white and smaller than me. I think one of them were Black and she has two type hair she’s half white, so her hair was like really loose she got good hair quote un quote. They didn’t give it to someone whose more marginalized than me like they never did that shit.” View this post on Instagram #Repost @sorelfootwear with @get_repost ・・・ This Summer we're all about print mixing and our Joanie Lace Wedge in snakeskin adds a bit of edge to any look. #SORELstyle #visiblyplus #curve #visiblyblack #fentybeauty #statemgmt #couvertier_louis A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Jun 13, 2018 at 5:26pm PDT The lack of inclusion echoed her initial foray into a creative profession. Pierre-Louis began modeling after exploring acting. “I just really like to act I don’t know if it’s a trauma thing,” she jokes. The things she endured as a child and young adult that required the soothing effect the practice has on her were no joking matter. She reported physical and emotional abuse allegedly taking place in her household. She said these events were part of what encouraged her to step up and take a bigger role in her siblings’ lives. This choice affected her relationship with her brother. “He didn’t like someone who was only four years older than him acting like a mom,” she shared. View this post on Instagram Color me a painting Photographer: @kqiix #visiblyplus #statemgmt #visiblyblack #curve #beachday #couvertier_louis A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Jun 9, 2018 at 5:15am PDT Acting was a way for her to temporarily excuse herself from the responsibility of survival. “By being different people, you could really dive into that without compromising yourself in any way,” she revealed. She refuses to compromise her identity to get gigs. She proudly displays a rainbow flag in her bio along with tongue-in-cheek visually references to her sexuality via strategically selected emojis. She described the “moral dilemma,” of capitalism and stated that while like other working models she is in no position to turn down jobs but she would absolutely draw the line at working with a “morally bankrupt” company. View this post on Instagram Make a @chnge Photographer: @blackout.jpg #statemgmt #curve A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Apr 21, 2018 at 5:45pm PDT “A lot of companies pretend to care and the spend half of their funding to make sure certain people don’t have rights,” she stated. She saw acting as a way to explore all the different sides of herself, but she was forced to draw the line there as well. “I just always like to do make believe as a kid it made me feel like I could express myself by being all these different people because I would say I’m multifaceted.” Sadly, the roles offered to the young aspiring actress who saw herself “Al Pacino but a Black woman,” were not multifaceted. View this post on Instagram I genuinely remember when I used to be soo terrified to wear anything remotely flattering especially with me being “so developed” at a “young age” (despite developing being a normal thing that we just sexualize especially for young girls and young black girls at that but that’s a topic for a different day) in fear a “street harasser” aka a male identified dust that would yell out something to embarrass me or come up to “talk” to me and it eventually turn into something threatening, literally I wanted to revert inward in shame until one day I literally decided I was going to take back my power because wether I was “nice” or not, answered them or didn’t ,they were going to do what they were going to do anyways…… be a harmful dust. So I got my self defense armory up n wether I have an embarrassing snappy comeback to say or I decide it’s not worth my time, I keep my confidence up and not allow anyone to dictate how I feel about me. So you can catch me outside on these bk,nyc streets literally doing me being fly and looking at these niggas like “who birth u?” Regardless of my reply Team: Photographer: @lydiahudgens Stylist: @littlelimedress Mua: @makeupbyslater #statemgmt #curve #blackfeminist #growingupagirl #growingupinbrooklyn A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Apr 18, 2018 at 9:10am PDT “There weren’t a lot of roles for women who looked like me and the ones that there were in my opinion weren’t serious enough. They were always like the sassy friend or just somebody who was like ‘mm mm’ and I didn’t want to do that.” Modeling presented itself as a way to increase representation while soothing her creative itch. “If people see more people like me maybe there will be more roles for people like me,” she reasoned. “I know that I’m light skinned and I know my privileges but I also know the representation of me doing like work with certain brands with my afro and me being a size 18 and being Black and tall from a certain type of class and background. When I was growing up I didn’t think anything was for me,” she said excitedly. View this post on Instagram Yes I am . #visiblyplussize #fatpositive #4typehair #afropoping #visiblyblack A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on May 20, 2019 at 2:10pm PDT “Like recently even though it hasn’t come out, yet I’m really excited I worked with a really huge brand that I used to look up to and hear fashion shows about on like Sex And The City and stuff. I was like there’s no way you know that’s not something they would do.” Part of why she thought that way was the unlevel playing field she entered when starting to model. A quick study she swiftly picked up on the fact that the most successful girls at her first agency were the ones with a preexisting financial advantage. View this post on Instagram They still trying to call us everything but fat ……. k @universalstandard fit #4typehair #visiblyblack #afropoping #visiblyplussize #visiblyplus #sexywhilefat A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Jan 18, 2019 at 12:11pm PST “Outside of like Naomi [Campbell] and Tyra Banks I really didn’t go out of my way to look at other models. I really didn’t know there was a whole industry of plus-size women so when I got into modeling, I thought that everybody who was in my agency or whatever agency was really just grinding and you figuring thing out. As I started knowing more and learning more about the industry, I found out a lot a lot of women who come into the industry tend to have a good background already. They’re so successful because they’re able to do all the shoots. They’re able to just travel to these events or pay to get into these events where certain people are. Whereas me I’m like ‘I hope you see my book that I just spent a grip on’. I’m over on Instagram posting pictures of me like ‘I hope this is enough.’ So, like it’s hard…it really is.” “We weren’t necessarily poor poor but we were like poor. My mom did her best to afford us things and we did have certain things but sometimes we only ate peanut butter crackers and ramen noodles sometimes we couldn’t put the heat on,” she recalled. View this post on Instagram Mood……. I’m exhausted from dayzzzzzzz of unboxing shit and trying to find a place for it in this new space Plus side tho I’m serving sexy sadness in this photo ….. ur welcome Photography: @_isaacanthony Stylist: @beautybydefault and @zach_is_doing_fine Hair: @austinthorntonbeauty MUA: @sophieono #fuckmylife #movingaintshit #saveme #sadgirl #4typehair #afroextensions #afropoping #visiblyblack #visiblyplussize #visiblyplus A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Jan 15, 2019 at 2:24pm PST “I mean for a long time we lived in a basement and in what was 1-bedroom basement where me my brother and my sister shared one bed. We eventually got a house which was great but because when you get a house you spend all your money trying to buy this American dream so you eat the same thing every day or you end up with no furniture or like your bed is on the floor. It was really difficult growing up in that environment. So, yea I didn’t think most things were for me I wanted those things I always wanted better things. I wanted to have good things, but I knew what it cost, and I didn’t think it was possible for me.” It didn’t help that her rail thin mother who reportedly had her own modeling career in her younger years wasn’t exactly supportive. “My mom came from like a generation where it was if somebody doesn’t come up to you and like discover you then you’re not it.” View this post on Instagram I’m waiting on holiday vacation desperately but looking fine asf Wearing @byashleystewart Mua: @redcarpetfaces #curvygirlbyashley #visiblyplus #sexywhilefat #visiblyplussize #visiblyblack #curvygirl #holidayseason #countdowntochristmas A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Dec 19, 2018 at 2:01pm PST Despite not having the mythical discovery her mother longed for, and switching agencies, her career has thrived. But even with major campaigns under her belt she doesn’t consider herself to be on easy street. “A lot of people think it is because they see me post a lot,” she says. “I feel like my agency is better they show me who they’re submitting me to they go out of their way to get feedback from the client. They make sure I’m good. It’s as if I’m their only client they want my ass working.” View this post on Instagram A lewk Outfit by: @secondsight #visiblyplussize #visiblyplus #visiblyblack A post shared by ARIEL A. PIERRE LOUIS (@couvertier_louis) on Nov 6, 2018 at 10:37am PST She wants to be working as well. She continues to try to help give her brother support and her little sister the healthiest environment possible. Additional income makes that possible. “I have kids to feed. They not my kids but I got kids to feed.” DON’T MISS: MODEL MONDAY: Tanya Angelique Talks Perseverance And Getting Her Start Through A Black Designer MODEL MONDAY: Quan Michelle Is Coming Back For Baltimore MODEL MONDAY: Aba Forewa Is Going Full Force [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3052344″ overlay=”true”]
Back in the simpler world of 2015, many believed that sexual misconduct allegations against Donald Trump would prevent the reality-star-turned-demagogue from being elected president. Obviously, that turned out not to be the case, and the current climate in the United States is about what one would expect from a country that’s presided over by an accused rapist. As a longtime denizen of the New York literary scene who once cohabited with Hunter S. Thompson, journalist and author E. Jean Carroll is certainly no stranger to bad behavior from powerful men. She details several traumatic encounters with toxic male behavior in an excerpt from her upcoming memoir that was published on Friday on New York Magazine ‘s website. One account has attracted far more attention than the other, as the alleged assailant went on to become the President of the United States. Carroll says she met Trump while shopping at Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman department store in “the fall of 1995 or the spring of 1996.” Both she and Trump were in their fifties at the time, and he was married to his second wife, Marla Maples. Carroll writes that Trump told her he was shopping for a present “for a girl” and asked for her help. He suggested lingerie and convinced her to try it on for him. Once she was in the dressing room, Carroll claims, Trump assaulted her. “The next moment, still wearing correct business attire, shirt, tie, suit jacket, overcoat, he opens the overcoat, unzips his pants, and, forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway — or completely, I’m not certain — inside me,” Carroll writes. “It turns into a colossal struggle.” Obviously, there’s nothing funny about this horrific allegation. But Carroll deserves credit for hitting Trump where it hurts and understanding that he’s more likely to be upset by the suggestion that he might be sporting a half-wang than by yet another allegation of sexual assault. After all, she is now the sixteenth woman to accuse the president of some form of sexual misconduct, and thus far, Trump hasn’t even come close to suffering any sort of repercussions. No criminal investigation, no impeachment, not even a formal censure. It’s always an act of bravery to come forward against a sexual predator, but when said predator is the most powerful man in the world and has been getting away with this sort of thing his entire life, calling him out publicly requires unfathomable courage. We applaud Carroll for coming forward and encourage anyone who might be in her position to do the same. After all, it’s becoming increasingly evident that our future relies on fearless individuals willing to defend the ideals and values that were once protected by law and order. View Slideshow: Stormy Daniels Spanked Donald Trump… and 14 Other Revelations from Her 60 Minutes Interview
