Oprah gave confident reasons for being single till date and not considering marriage. She and Stedman Graham have been together, they got engaged in 1993, but never married.
They both believe not walking down the aisle was the best decision they could have made. “He and I agree that had we tied the marital knot, we would not still be together,” she said.
Oprah disclosed all this as she graced the cover of February 2020 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. She said:
In 1993, the moment after I said yes to his proposal, I had doubts. I realized I didn’t actually want a marriage. I wanted to be asked. I wanted to know he felt I was worthy of being his missus, but I didn’t want the sacrifices, the compromises, the day-in-day-out commitment required to make a marriage work. My life with the show was my priority, and we both knew it.
He and I agree that had we tied the marital knot, we would not still be together”
Winfrey believes her romance with Graham, 68, relies on the freedom and independence that exists within their partnership.
She wrote. “And because we share all the values that matter (integrity being number one). And because we relish seeing the other fulfill and manifest their destiny and purpose.”
Oprah initially thought Graham was a “player” when she first met him.
“I thought he was nice enough, but I wasn’t that impressed. He was polite, yes, and kind. The sort of guy who sits with an ailing friend. Tall and handsome, for sure. But actually too handsome, I thought, to be interested in me,” she wrote. “I figured he must be a player. So did all my producers. They warned me not to get involved with that Stedman guy.”
Yemi Alade shares her performance “on stage” makeup look, explaining how she gets performance ready with Maybelline and Vogue Magazine.
Viewers get to see her favorite make up product on the channel which has about 6.94 million subscribers.
Yemi Alade is the latest celebrity to grace Vogue‘s Youtube channel.
“I’m sharing some secrets, guys—get your notepads,” she laughs as she gets into her skin-care and makeup routine.
Acknowledging the fact that she has not always had a go-to beauty regimen, she says, “You should see my makeup from [the early] days. I’m not sure what I was thinking. It was like my own personal hurricane was hitting my face.”
Alade’s starts with cleansing her face with a special made charcoal soap. Then she moisturises with coconut oil before filling her eyebrows with a dark brown Maybelline pencil.
While there there is a constant growing number of bloggers and youtubers , CNN has taken recognition of these spectacular women for their hardwork which is paying off.
Linda Ikeji, Yemisi Odusanya (sisi Yemmie) and Chiamaka Obuekwe were listed as the highest paying personalities with large media engagement on their sites in an article by CNN.
Linda
“But Ikeji wants to do much than gossips, blogging, or owning a media empire. She wants to inspire other young girls to believe in themselves” CNN wrote.
There’s still so much I want to do that I haven’t done but am hoping, my life can inspire other young girls to go out their and fight for their dreams” said Linda.
Sisi Yemmie
“She offers her audience glimpse into her home life,sharing her various recipes and her family likes and dislike”, CNN disclosed.
Sisi Yemmie is also loved for her genuine contents with its touch of realness.
Chiamaka Obuekwe
CNN termed her ‘the travel blogger who goes off the beaten track. Her presence on social media has made it easier for people who want to go to interesting places to connect easily.
Deshauna Barber was an American beauty queen (miss USA 2016), motivational speaker, and captain in the United States Army and the first woman actively serving in the United States Army Reserve.
“I have just accepted an offer to become the President & CEO of the nation’s leading (501c3) nonprofit organization advocating on behalf of all service women and women veterans”, she said.
According to nextgen; ‘Captain Deshuana is a logistics commander in the United States Army Reserve. She currently commands the 988TH Quartermaster Detachment Company in Rockville, Maryland. She commissioned as a Quartermaster Officer in 2011 and has been serving her country ever since. Deshauna has a passion for our men and women in uniform and has spent much of her career focusing on advocating for soldiers suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).’
Her motivational speech shows how much she care cares about humanity and a life of integrity.
This is a cup a tea we’re happy to sip on. Vanessa Braxton, founder of Black Momma Brand which sells vodkas and teas, is taking steps to list her business on the New York Stock Exchange, Black Enterprise reports.
The New York native started Black Momma Vodka in 2013. In 2016, she opened a manufacturing facility, becoming the first African American woman distiller, master blender, and operator of a nationally distributed vodka in the country. She eventually transitioned to making teas, then flavored agaves, and eventually opened several storefronts, becoming the owner of one of the only Black-owned tea and beverage manufacturing facilities.
Now she’s headed to the New York Stock Exchange. Braxton plans to take advantage of a provision in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2012. The JOBS Act helped small businesses secure funding by lessening many of the securities regulations that made it harder for them to receive equal funding as corporations. The legislation also enacted the CROWDFUND ACT, making it possible for companies to use crowdfunding to issue securities.
Braxton started a WeFunder account that garnered over $2.1 million from nearly 3,000 funders, securing the money necessary to take the next steps to listing the Black Momma Tea and Cafe Brand. She also already has over 33,000 customers and has earned $2.9 million in sales.
Braxton plans to open distribution centers in several states. Her storefront in Wheatley Heights, NY will serve as the company’s headquarters and training facility for the almost 300 franchisees interested in partnering with what Braxton calls, “The Starbucks of Tea.” Black Momma’s Tea Cafes plan to serve tea, beverages and other pastries along with desserts infused with Black Momma Vodka. Her goal is to have 500 Black Momma Tea & Cafe locations over the next 5 years.
Congratulations Vanessa! We can’t wait to invest in this thriving business!
In 2011, NBA Veteran Al Harrington launched the cannabis company Viola. Viola is dedicated to producing ultra-premium products rooted in purpose and social equity. And in 2019, his team successfully raised $16 million to support the growth of the company.
In efforts to continue to grow and scale the business, Viola recently announced that Ericka Pittman, a 25-year marketing and branding maven, has been named the chief marketing officer.
Prior to joining Viola, Pittman severed as the chief marketing officer at AQUAhydrate Inc. where she was responsible for spearheading and directing the company’s marketing, sales functions and departmental goals, objectives, and operating procedures. Before, AQUAhydrate, she spent nine years at Combs Enterprises where she had many roles including vice president of the Chairman’s Office.
As the CMO, Pittman is now the first black woman to become a CMO of a multi-state cannabis company. In her new role, she will build Viola’s brand awareness amongst consumers and promote the company’s core values as Viola gives back to communities most affected by the war on drugs.
In a statement released by the company, Pittman shared her excitement as the newest member of the executive team. “As black female C-suite representation continues to grow within the cannabis space, I am excited to join efforts with such a dynamic company rooted in purpose.”
She went on to say, “Together with Al and the rest of the Viola team, our goal is to create ground-breaking category growth through superior product cultivation, innovation, authentic consumer impact, and inclusion. I’ve been carefully monitoring the exponential growth and opportunity within the cannabis sector and Viola truly brings to market not only a premium product, but an impactful brand mission led by a special group of minority industry leaders.”
In the same release, Harrington also expressed similar sentiments. “Having Ericka on board at Viola is a special moment for us as we look to place an emphasis on company growth and further place our stake in the ground as leaders within the cannabis industry. Ericka is a highly accomplished marketing executive and knows not only how to get the job done but more importantly how to take Viola to the next level. We couldn’t have brought on a more perfect fit to join Viola at this exciting time.”
As the cannabis industry continues to rapidly grow, the number of black business owners entering and making their mark on the industry is also growing.
By age 30, lot of women will more likely have a home and a thriving career. This period calls for a more super busy schedule than ever.
So, getting a healthy lifestyle becomes more challenging. Here are some tips to help:
1. Start Medical Screening
Regardless of your age, you should see a doctor for your overall health. Your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and even pelvic status should be known. You do not have to wait till you hit the 60s.
2. Don’t Joke With The Greens And Fruits
Eat healthy. Vegetables should consist of about 50% of your meal plan. Include multivitamin in your nutrition plan and take folate if you’re considering getting pregnant. Getting enough fruits and eating right generally would help you fight those age causing free radical caused by stress.
3.Exercise & Strength Training
Get advice from your doctor before you begin. At age 30 women begin to loose bone mass. Engaging in activities that stretch your muscle capacity can help you build and maintain strong bones even as you get older. And consume some calcium rich foods.
4. Get Gentle With your Skin
Your skin is not the same with a teenager anymore. Avoid using harsh chemical product. Use products that wouldn’t strip healthy oils from your skin. When we get older our skin get drier, so you should consider things that are hydrating and that help your retain moisture for a healthy looking skin.
Avoid harsh sunlight, and get a sunscreen as much as you can.
These list comprises the MAJOR steps to getting a long time healthy life as you age further. They are often overlooked as most women often depend on procedures like anti-aging cosmetics and surgeries, which of course do little to help the body internal metabolism age slower unlike the listed options above.
The 25 year old mother made headlines last year for having 6 children in 3 years.
Chidinma welcomed a set of quadruplets, three girls and a boy, after her first pregnancy which produced twins, a girl and a boy.
While celebrating their first birthday she shared their photos.
She spoke on how the journey has been thus far and her experience raising them.
“It’s bn 1 hell of a bumpy ride.wn i had my 1st set of twins, the sleepless nights Koby n Kaira gave me, i tot i had seen it all.Hell NO! Not until i had d Quadruplets. While pregnant with dem, i had issues with my helps ( chai, dese helps know ow to misbehave at d wrongest time)😭😭.
I was soo frustrated that i sent dem home at 1c I took care of my home with d help of my darling hubby while heavily pregnant ( was abt 6months pregnant or so buh my tummy was as big as a normal 9months old pregnancy)..
Yes, i preferred to take care of my home n my 1st set of twins cos it was just easier having 2 grown ups misbehave just because they tot u were handicapped.
I needed to prove dem wrong or so i thought. I swept , mopped,cooked…i couldn’t help buh do dese things against my Doctor’s advice.My hubby, oh! My darling hubby…I will marry u again in ny next world.He bathed Koby n Kaira, fed dem, kept d house clean wn necessary, juloins me in d kitchen wn I’m cooking ,clean d kitchen after wards,asked me to go to bed so he cn stay up with Koby n Kaira until dey go to bed,still comes out every hr to check up on Us .Kneels by my bed side to pray for hrs evn thou sometimes he sleeps off while praying🤣🤣.All these were done after going 2ru d stress of work at his Work place.
At some point, False Contractions set in due to stress.hubby askes me to pack a few clothes cos would b going to LIFE HOSPITAL AWKA fir the medical team to take Proper care of me.I cried bitterly not because i was scared buh cos i considered a whole lot…i tot of things like:who will take care of my babies,?ow will they feed while in in far away Awka with hubby? Ow will dey go to school? Ow will my husband take care of my kids n still take care of me at 1c?oh! I cried soo hard.Little did i know dat God had it all planned out already.
We managed to take the kids to my Parents-in-la Pius Ifeanyichukwu Okafor Maureen Okafor , my mum Chukwu Gold n kid sis stayed with dem dia.By d way,thnk God for my parents in law, my kid sisChioma Paul n my mum.They took proper care of my babies.my mum took dem to school with d driver , sometimes alone, rushed home , prepare for work…My Swt mum,i love u chai…
” U know dat saying dat “A lady appreciates her mother more wn she starts aving her own babies” ….Very True.They jointly took care of my babies while we were away .wn Koby n Kaira came to see me at d hospital, i was super happy, dey added so much weight.They looked well taken care of.But i wondered ow my mother n kid sis were coping cos Koby n Kaira still wake every 3hrs to feed evn at night.Well, to cut d long story short, my sis managed to stop dat 🤣🤣🤣How? Dat’s a story for anoda day.
I Had my Quadruplet at 32wks n dat was d beginning of another journey. This past few months hasn’t bn an easy 1 .The 4 of dem cn decide to run temperature at 1c (especially after immunization) making me to to have up to 30mins sleep all 2ru d night.At a time i asked myself if Immunization was really necessary 😅.Dat shit makes dem sick like crazy😩😩.Everything with dem has bn a struggle.They all want equal attention, dey want to b fed at 1c, evn dis pictures eh, i planned using 3 diff outfits for dis photoshoot buh see me nah….we ended up with 1, with a lot of begging o! Koby n kaira ain’t left out o!
Life itself hasn’t bn easy at all.coupled with d fact dat i have to add my fashion dream to d whole thing.b4 i started, i had doubts, i wondered if it was possible to go to a proper fashion shool to learn with d time constraint n all…dia was no free time.i decided to learn online.YES! I learnt to do all dese without going to a fashion house.At night wn everybody must ave gone to bed, i ave 2hrs sleep n wake up to to go 2ru d internet n find thing dat will help me n my fashion dream.THE MIND!!! The mind has a big role to play inorder for success to b achieved. Trust me! It’s bn months n I’m here, waxing stronger by d day.I never thought i could do it buh here i am.
We are a year old today, now u cn see why I’m particularly happy abt dis birthday. It marks d beginning of freedom to a certain level.Shebi u see all dese ppl tapping upandan,let me say it 1c more, it’s not easy o! U will gt frustrated at some point but trust me l, if u keep pushing,you will b marveled at d level of strength u ave.
Happy birthday my swt babies. ” Chidinma disclosed.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, becomes a receipient of the first “Belle van Zuylenring” award
The award is a honorary prize set by the ILFU International Literature Festival.
She was given this honour because they believe she has a unique way, in which she knows how to represent and question the world of today and its ingrained thinking patterns.
She also delivered the Belle van Zuylen Lecture and had a conversation moment with Nancy Jouwe a dutch author and public speaker.
