Gabrielle Union-Wade finally reveals reasons for leaving her judge role on “America’s Got Talent” in November 2019.

Speaking with Variety, the actress spoke out about negative moments she experienced while on the set of the popular competition show. She had raised concerns with producers but felt being looked upon as difficult.

Union discussed several issues like how the Executive Producer Simon Cowell’s smoking allegedly made her unwell because she is allergic to cigarette smoke.

The decision about whether to complain was difficult when someone is “coming onto a set and you are literally met with the very definition of a toxic work environment, and it’s being carried out by the most powerful person on the production,” she said.

NBC and AGT’s producers said they took her concerns “extremely seriously”, and they “had no bearing” on her exit.

They referred the BBC to media reports saying the investigation concluded that Union’s claims were unfounded.

“The investigation has shown that the concerns raised by Ms Union had no bearing on the decision not to exercise the option on her contract,” a statement said.

Though hesitantly, she raised the problem with producers, but was told that “effectively, nothing was going to change”, according to Variety.

“I ended up staying sick for two months straight,” Union said. “It was a cold that lingered, and turned into bronchitis, because I couldn’t shake it. It impacted my voice, which affects my ability to do my job.”

Cowell’s spokesperson told Variety that “when he was directly informed of the smoking complaint during the first couple of days of the season, he immediately changed his behaviour and the issue was never raised again”.

Union raised the issue of hair and make-up being inadequate for contestants from minorities. Although, according to Variety, roughly half of the hair and make-up staff were people of colour.

Her complains includes racist jokes and excessive focus on female judges’ appearances, including race-related comments.

A statement about the producers’ investigation into her comments said: “We have heard from contestants and talent alike that their experience on AGT has had a positive impact on their lives.”

“We continue to remain committed to having an inclusive environment for everyone associated with the show, and to upholding AGT as one of the most diverse programs on television.”

Gabrielle Union-Wade had initially signed up for AGT because it would give her “the experience of being a part of a show that hails itself as the biggest stage in the world,” one that is “super-diverse” and prides itself as “giving people the opportunity to shine where they otherwise probably wouldn’t.”

Watch her interview with Variety while speaking on her experience.

Instagram:Venus Williams

Venus Williams is not just one if the best tennis players you can find, she is also a pro when it comes to maintaining a good skincare routine. Before now, Venus has been featured in Vogue magazine, where she gave a clear look at her nightly skincare regimen. Well she is now teaming up with retailer Credo Beauty for a new line for sunscreen products aimed for women of color.

View this post on Instagram

It’s HERE! Clean suncare for every skin type and skin shade under the sun ☀️☀️☀️Shop my new sunscreen and sun serum – link in bio! #FaceTheDay #CleanBeauty

A post shared by Venus Williams (@venuswilliams) on May 21, 2020 at 10:25am PDT

The new partnership was announced this week with Credo Beauty. They  are known for their assortment of clean, natural beauty brands. This is the tennis champion’s very first beauty line called EleVen by Venus x Credo, an extension of her Eleven brand, which consists of athletic wear.

Williams understands the importance of protecting your skin from damage, using a sunscreen, “When I was younger, I was wild and too free, and I took it for granted that I had great skin,” she said. “But that is not the case now. I am covered from head to toe when I’m outside: long sleeves, long pants, and sunscreen. I try to protect my skin as much as I can,” she told Allure

Her love for her fellow women of color, is profound, as she got them in mind, because for her, this is a product specially made for them. “No matter what skin tone you are, you want your skin to look like your skin, and you don’t want any layers on top,” William said. “This [line] leaves no white cast and, of course, it’s universal for every skin tone and complexion,” she said.

Chaymeriyia Moncrief

Chaymeriyia Moncrief is a tech entrepreneur from Alabama, USA. She is the founder and CEO of the prepaid wireless carrier, Tesix Wireless™ Network.

At 24, Moncrief, turned down a $4.4 million offer for her company, and therfore raised over $5 million which her telecom company at the end 2019 had a $10 million valuation. Now, she is 25 years and has ventured into smartphones and electronics.

But this isn’t the first company Moncrief has started; she has been hard at work from an early age.

“I do have a branding agency and that is what I started at 12 years old, as a designer, and it officially turned into a business at 16,” Moncrief told WSFA12.

“I am a huge thinker and big dreamer,” she said.

Moncrief is the first African-American woman to launch her own line of smartphones, according to blackbusiness.com. Her electronic brand is called NSPRE™ Electronics featuring smartphones and other electronics.

She studied Business Management and Computer Science in Alabama State University.

In 2016, she launched a Branding Studio before stepping into the world of technology at 24 after

Before her present endeavors, she had earlier launched a branding studio.

Moncreif relates her bad experience with a cell phone company.

“You go in and they say your phone bill is going to be $98, but you are getting a $150 or $200 bill. I think the final straw for me was a $235 bill, and that is when I said I want my own company,” she told WSFA.

She went on to create her business Tesix Wireless, a telecommunications company that announced its launch in 2018. “The name [Tesix Wireless] comes from two things: Technology and sixteen because sixteen is when I started my entrepreneurship journey. The name has a personal meaning to me,” Moncrief said.

Chioma Uzoma is a public health educator, founder, the Medvocacy initiative (TMI) Africa.

Vaginal Candidiasis

Vaginal Candidiasis is a common Fungal/Yeast Infection that affects at least 3 out of every 4 women.
Research has shown that 75% of women will experience this at least once on their lifetime, hence the need to discuss this issue.
Vagina Candidiasis affects the Vagina and the Vulva (The tissue surrounding the Vaginal Opening in Women).

It normally presents with symptoms such as:
•Vaginal Rashes
•Vaginal Redness
•Vaginal Irritation
•Swelling
•Cheese-like, odourless discharge.

The Major cause is the Fungus *Candida albicans*.
This organism is responsible for most Vaginal yeast infections.

Your Vaginal naturally contains a balanced mix of *Yeast* and *Bacteria*.
Certain *Bacteria* (e.g *Lactobacillus acidophilus) help keep this yeast in check, because candidiasis infection will only set in when there is an overgrowth of Yeast cells.

Unfortunately, this balance can be disrupted. Overgrowth of the Yeast cells causes the Signs and symptoms of Vaginal yeast infection.

*CAUSES*
▪︎Indiscriminate Use of antibiotics:
In a bid to prevent Sexually transmitted infections, most women resort to taking Antibiotics after unprotected Sex.
Wide Spectrum Antibiotics kills a wide range of bacteria including the healthy Bacteria *Lactobacillus acidophilus* meant to keep the yeast cells in check.

▪︎Use of Contraceptives high in estrogen/ Hormone therapy increasing hormonal levels.

▪︎Pregnancy :This is due to changes in the Hormonal Balance/Hormonal Imbalance.
It should be treated in pregnancy as the infection may be transmitted to the Unborn child during delivery, causing *Oral thrush*.

▪︎Uncontrolled Diabetes

▪︎Impaired Immune System:

-Women constantly on Corticisteroids.

-Women with immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

*PREVENTION*
▪︎Regular intake of Unsweetened yogurt (These are rich in *Lactobacillus acidophilus*

▪︎Cutdown on Sugar Intake

▪︎Avoid unnecessary Antibiotics intake.

▪︎Wear undies made with cotton and avoid wearing extremely tight undies.

▪︎Avoid *Douching*: The Vagina is Self-cleansing, you dont need to jet water with soap into your Vagina to wash it. This only removes the healthy bacteria and hence overgrowth of the yeast cells causing infection.

▪︎Avoid Using scented or harsh feminine products as they cause irritation to your Vagina.

▪︎Avoid extremely hot tubs and water baths.

▪︎ Avoid staying in wet clothes.

*TREATMENT*
Self Medication is not adviced so you should see a qualified Medical expert immediately you notice these symptoms.

*Note*:
If infection becomes recurrent, lasts for more than 3 weeks or occurs more than 4 times in a year, do not ignore as it may be an indication for underlying ailment e.g Diabetes, Compromised immune system. Ensure to make an appointment with your Doctor.

*P.S*: Vaginal Yeast infection can be transmitted Sexually from a male who is infected with *Candida albicans*, to a female and vice versa.
However, it is not classified as a Sexually transmitted infection because anyone can be infected. At the onset of puberty, one can get infected without necessarily being sexually active.

FOR MORE INFORMATION/COUNSELLING:

*Contact*:
📞/ Whatsapp
07067125522

Northern Nigeria number one skincare therapist and one of the most successful in the country, Maryam Ali Adamu, Chief Executive Officer of Aljism Skincare Products and wife of Yusuf Gidado Idris, son of former Secretary to Government of the Federation during the General Sani Abacha regime has revealed her passion in life. In a recent interview with Potpourri she said her mission in life is to make women both beautiful and powerful.

On making women attractive, she said, “I believe no woman is unattractive as long as she has flawless skin. The skin is the largest organ in the body hence what a person consumes is equally as important as what they apply on their skin. I used to be troubled by skin problems like acne, spots, discolouration and sunburn. I decided to study skincare after my Masters in Law in England in order to find a solution to my own skin problems. Shortly after my two and a half years programme, I was able to start my own skincare line, using everything I learnt and it has been success story so far.”

When she came back to Nigeria after her programme in England, family and friends encouraged her to help other people by producing and selling skincare products to make others equally flawless. She started producing and selling skincare products in November 2017. She has helped thousands of men and women clear their skin problems.

Today, she is the most successful skincare therapist in Northern Nigeria. Her brand, Aljism Skincare has become a household name. You can hardly bump into 10 northern women without at least 8 knowing Aljism Skincare Products and its CEO, Maryam Ali Adamu.

On making women powerful, the Yobe State-born entrepreneur believes women must shed the toga of merely being comfortable as housewives, sisters or daughters and take their stand among men to control their destinies.

According to Maryam, the best way women can rise above mediocrity and pity is to support one another.

“Women have always been thought to compete with one another but I encourage the opposite. I believe collectively, women have a better and stronger impact in society. Due to the scarcity of women in business in the northern parts of Nigeria, the reality is raising one another up and encouraging and patronizing one another, is the greatest way to balance the equation.

“Women’s table has more strength when balanced by one another. Competing doesn’t allow growth rather it creates segregation. The stereotype of women not supporting women needs to be reversed. Women who support other women are more successful in business. Breaking the stereotype of women only serving as baby-making machines must become a thing of history,” she said.

Maryam Ali Adamu is a graduate of Business Administration and Law from the Coventry University, England. She’s from Yobe State. She is the daughter of Dr Ali Adamu (PhD) Standford and former Executive Secretary of the National Primary Education Commission during the General Sani Abacha regime and presently a business mogul into Oil and Gas.

Source: Vanguard

The highest top paid female athletes according come from Tennis players to Forbes. And Japanese Naomi Osaka has made about $37million from the past year.

Sharapova and Serena Williams were the top earners of the decade before Osaka came on the scene. The three are now the only women to rank among the 100 top earners in sports since 2012.

The 22 year old, has earned $37.4 million over the past 12 months from prize money and endorsements. That’s $1.4 million more than Williams has earned in the same period. The previous record was $29.7 million back in 2015 by Maria Sharapova.

The money Osaka has earned has put an end to Williams 4 year streak as the world’s highest-paid female athlete.

“I’m really interested in seeing a young business grow and adding value to that process,” Osaka told Forbes last year. “I tasked my team with finding brands that align with my personality and my interests.”

Tennis superstars Sharapova, Li Na, Williams and now Osaka are the only women to rank among the 100 top earners in sports since 2012. Every year since Forbes started tracking data, the highest-paid female athlete every year has been a tennis player, with Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis the top earners for most of the 1990s.

Osaka spoke to Forbes about her most recent marketing campaign with Bodyarmor that was just launched last week, “I always look outside tennis to see how other athletes are training and conducting themselves,” she says. “It’s no secret that some of the athletes that I have looked to in shaping my career are non-tennis players. I’m a big basketball fan, and what James Harden has done in the NBA over the last few years has been amazing. He’s definitely one of the most exciting players in the league, so being a part of this spot with him was really fun. I was also lucky enough to shoot this campaign on the same day as Skylar [before the pandemic], so we got to spend some quality time together. She is really down-to-earth, and we got along great.”