Category Archive: Lifestyle

Marchelle “Tig” Washington: Trigger Happy

Usually a story of triumph and courage is left to the professionals at Disney. One exception is the real-life tale of Marchelle “Tig” Tigner, a black woman who chose to be a survivor instead of a victim of her circumstances. Marchelle is the owner of Trigger Happy Firearm Instruction. She noticed a lack of female representation in the gun community and felt compelled to couple her military background with her passion for women’s self-defense to teach women effective shooting and firearm safety.

After overcoming a sexual assault, Marchelle decided instead of owning a “victim” status she would become a “survivor” and vowed to help one million women be prepared in the face of danger. Based in Savannah, Georgia, Marchelle travels around the country teaching women the fundamentals of firearm safety, shooting and dispelling the myth that women only want pretty and colorful weaponry. 

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Ibtihaj Muhammad: Devotion

Women face many conflicts in the sports. They are often underpaid, underrepresented, overworked and objectified. From the rise of sexual assault allegations to the physical and mental strain from competing, being a woman in sports is a tough job. However, no one makes this tough job seem easy like Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad. She made history after becoming the first Muslim-American woman to compete in the Olympics while wearing a Hijab in 2016. The illustrious member of the United States Fencing Team sparked many conversations about Muslim women in sports and most importantly in America.

US Ibtihaj Muhammad reacts competing against France's Cecilia Berder in their womens individual sabre qualifying bout as part of the fencing event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, on August 8, 2016, at the Carioca Arena 3, in Rio de Janeiro. / AFP / Fabrice COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Old Lady Gang: Taste the Community

The restaurant buzzed with excitement as hungry guests waited to be seated. “You see how bright it is,” one woman commented as she pointed at the rustic brick walls that had been painted white. “It’s kind of modern and kind of industrial at the same time,” she concluded. Her friend, rocking an auburn afro, nodded in agreement. “Of course it is. You know Kandi’s got style.”

Although the restaurant has been open for more than a year, it was still the place to be. Located at 177 Peters Street in Castleberry Hill, one of Atlanta’s trendy artistic neighborhoods, the restaurant has gained an increasing amount of popularity for its connection to reality tv star Kandi Burruss. But as I waited in line, seduced by the smell of home-made soul food and staring at pictures on the three family members turned managers on the wall, I couldn’t help but feel warmth of home. Despite her fame, singer-songwriter, actress, record producer and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss-Tucker’s restaurant seemed authentic and down to earth. “Welcome to Old Lady Gang,” an upbeat server announced as she escorted me to my table. A lively group of young adults sitting at the bar laughed heartily as I followed the waitress, wondering what all Old Lady Gang had to offer.

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Jeff Kinney: Stuck in the Middle

Middle School is a test of endurance, bravery and mental fortitude. The physical changes of the body combined with and pressures from school make for a lethal mixture of emotional volatility. The main concern of the average middle schooler consists of popularity, popularity and more popularity. Because there are attractive and physically-gifted jock types at the top of the social ladder, there must be a bottom to this social ladder. The bottom includes nerds and wimps like “Greg Heffley.” Heffley is the main character in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a fictional comedy novel by Jeff Kinney. Kinney that perfectly illustrates the perils of adolescence and the quest for acceptance and popularity. His writing reveals a unique brand of humor and child-like illustrations, gaining him a massive fanbase and readers for a lifetime.

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