Nail polish will remain splattered across walls, on carpets, bought in “treat yourself” moments, as gifts for a partner and in a deep red on my grandmother’s nails. So, take time to inspect your manicure: the colors awaiting you on the wall of the salon as well as the inherent social, cultural, racial and political discussion bound to your hands.
In honor of Valentine’s Day — and my newfound appreciation for perfume — I wanted to delve into the history of perfume and the science behind the well-known aphrodisiac
It took me a long time to love my Ethiopian heritage. My pride in my culture and identity grew once I started to love my hair. Black people have a very emotional relationship with our hair. It’s clear from a young age what the cultural beauty standard was: white, straight blonde hair, blue eyes. Lack of representation plays a significant role in this. Even though I went to very diverse schools my whole life, I was still the only or one of the only Black people in my classes. It’s hard to appreciate your identity if there is no one around you that looks like you.
What used to be the largest lingerie retailer in the United States is now a brand name riddled with accusations of fatphobia, transphobia and ageism. Victoria’s Secret is attempting to redefine its influence by featuring models with a more diverse range of body types and skin tones in their advertisements. As they do so, the fantasy of a slim, tall woman with a 32B-cup bra size disintegrates – the fantasy that the company itself created.
