Category Archive: Lifestyle

JOABG: The Rose that Grew from Concrete

Growing up in the wide-open spaces of Denver, Colorado can be an isolating experience. For a young Black girl, though, the silence can be even more stifling. Courtney Brooks, an artist, and the first curator-in-residence for the Atlanta Beltline, as well as the first Black woman public art curator in Atlanta---took inspiration from her surroundings, like her parents’ love for Black culture magazines like Ebony and Jet and soul vinyls. Now, she is eager to share her story -- and the story of other black women -- through her three-part art exhibit Journey of A Black Girl.

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Chrissy Teigen: Cooking Up Content and Change

Relatability is the essence of the Internet. No matter what you read, someone, whether it be an author, an actor, a random twelve-year-old on Reddit—or a political figure trying to secure your vote—is trying to relate to you. The basis of online interactions, particularly with strangers, is finding common ground. Celebrities often seem so inaccessible, due to their lavish homes and elegant lifestyles, but with the advent of social media, celebrities have taken to social media, relaying to their fans and followers insights of their daily lives.

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S. Lee Merritt: Breaking the Cycle

I love reading stories of resilience, especially the ones that highlight a person’s troubled past. It’s a story that many can relate to, but through the lens of a black man from the inner city, it’s a different level of compelling. Having seen firsthand so many of my friends grow up with one foot in the streets and the other in the classroom, these are stories that I relate toTo see people overcome immeasurable odds throughout their lives and come out on top is inspirational. Civil rights attorney and activist, S. Lee Merritt, is one of those people whose triumphant story needs to be told. 

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Mari Malek: Modeling, Motherhood & Making a Difference

Modeling is an industry that often reflects the epitome of Western ideals; the “traditional” supermodels are often white, skinny, not disabled, and cisgender. Even if models outside of the traditional scope are used (every now and then), problems such as colorism, ableism, fatphobia persist. However, as time goes on, new faces emerge on the modeling scene, like Mari Malek Mbaye.

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