Just Me Magazine May 2020

JUST ME MAGAZINE MAY 2020

You don't have to be a celebrity to be a star

Miss Ultimate Voluptuous April Rene'e Rose

THIS ISSUE A WORD FROM THATGIRLOLIVIA STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS MISS VOLUPTUOUS PAGEANT ROAD TRIP GAS-SAVING TIPS WWW.JUSTMEMAGAZINE.COM

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A WORD FROM THATGIRLOLIVIA STOP COMPARING

MISS

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VOLUPTUOUS PAGEANT

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Nathan Pearcy, Photographer Atlanta, GA April Rene'e Rose

GAS-SAVING VACATION TIPS

A W ORD

FROM

DON'T STOP NOW

By ThatGirlOlivia Ahhhhhhh...this is so crazy...this is so frustrating...this is so hard...this is so scary. The words that cry in my head on and off throughout this whole battle. I have been climbing for so long. Fall, get back up...fall, get back up. This cannot possibly be the way, the answer, the solution. That is what I told myself when I fell for the 50th time right before I started Illinois Media School in May of 2019. I was at my last attempt my last here goes nothing charade. And then I heard my voice...no like really heard my voice. My entire insides begin to do a crazy thing, and I was listening to this time. All my falls lead to this...I mean these doors of opportunity that I was so afraid of walking through because I was afraid of my success for some odd reason.

The ability to keep going even when times get hard when food is slim to none when life seems to hit you the hardest is the greatest strength one can have if you ever want to achieve anything. Some times we as human beings forget that we are actual HUMAN, and when we fail subconsciously, our pride is stepped on, squashed, or shattered. Some of us give up at that point, but I say DON'T STOP NOW. Put back on your socks, and your shoes pull your pants up and put on your favorite top cause its time to continue that journey to the top. If you believe it, then you can truly achieve it. Honestly, I think what you say with your mouth shall come to past. Right now, we are in turmoil and the world as we know it has taken a turn for the worst, but you and I and us and them and her and him and we do not have to take the same terminal turn. We can overcome this.

We can read between the line and adjust adapt to what is being present and use what GOD has given each one of us so that we can continue and achieve our greatest potential. So I say to you DON'T STOP NOW. I'm not.

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others Almost all of us have this one common destructive daily habit: to compare ourselves to others. We compare houses, jobs, phones, cars, relationships, money, and social position, and so on. What this habit does is creates negativity within us, and this may also reflect in our behavior. So what should we do?

How can we get rid of this habit of comparing? If this is what you are now thinking, then the three tips given below will surely prove helpful.

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Compare yourself to Yourself and motivate yourself to do better.

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UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEVER WILL WIN IF YOU DO NOT STOP COMPARING

IF AT ALL, COMPARE YOURSELF ONLY TO YOURSELF

Even if you keep repeating this in your mind, and realize this consciously, it will help. Despite whatever you do, how hard you put in, and how hard you strive, there always has to be someone who is better than you or has more than you.

Rather than comparing yourself with others, please develop the habit of comparing yourself to your self. Sit back and wonder how much you have progressed, how much you have grown, and how close you have reached your aims.

Of course, you may feel good if you buy a new smartphone, which is better than your colleague has. But pretty soon you will find someone who has a phone better than yours.

So, understand that comparing is futile..

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This habit will help you develop kindness, appreciation, and gratitude towards yourself as you notice how much you have done, and all the hurdles you have crossed. So you will be feeling good about yourself without feeling less of others.

It will be a good idea to make this a habit, say by spending a few minutes every weekend to write down how much you have achieved, how closer you now are to your life goals, what you have learned, and more.

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LEARN TO BE KIND

Perhaps you never might have even imagined so, but the way you behave with others also has an impact on how you think about yourself. If you have this habit of always criticizing and judging others, chances are bright; you will also criticize and judge yourself often, even if unconsciously. So, try to help others and be kinder to them, and you automatically will learn to be more helpful to yourself.

Just try to focus on the positive things in life, the positives in others, and the positives within yourself. The more you start seeing only the good things in others and yourself, you gradually will stop comparing, and lead a happier and more satisfying life.

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MISS Voluptuous Pageant The 2020 Miss Voluptuous United States Final was held March 13th & 14th in Chicago. The event was created by the team of Carmelkid Productions and hosted by radio show host, Lauren Ransom.

The ladies arrived in Chicago on Friday, where they had their official Meet & Greet at the Intermission Bar & Grill. They exchanged gifts and met their mentors for the weekend. Pink Erika was the official hostess for the event. Saturday morning, the girls were up bright and early for the Queens Brunch, where they met with each other's friends and family and toasted with mimosas to a fabulous weekend. Following the brunch, they were off to rehearsals with the coaches of Team DQ Pageant Prep & Image. The theme of the show was PURPLE REIGN - which paid homage to those we have lost to various forms of cancer.

Chicago artist, Darius Santiago serenaded the contestants to the famous song, written and performed by legend Prince.

The ladies then competed in On-Stage Interview, Fun Fashion, and Evening Gown. At the end of the event, four queens were crowned.

Alicia

Marlo

Indyia

April

EMCEE Lauren Ransom

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MISS ULTIMATE VOLUPTUOUS United

April Rene'e Rose

States

2020

APRIL

ROSE

ULTIMATE VOLUPTUOUS LoApril Rene’e Rose was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from Towers High School, April decided to attend Clark Atlanta University to pursue a degree in Business Administration. During her college years, she embarked on her career as a model.

April has been featured in publications and has graced the runway as a high fashion model. In 2008, April Rene’ e joined the U.S. United Pageant system in Atlanta, Georgia as the Director of the Youth Pageantry division.

She served in this role until 2011. She now serves as the Executive Producer for the U.S. United Pageant.

April Rene’e is the mother of two talented daughters, Jhai’lien (18) and Tay’lour (9). April still resides in Atlanta, where she works for a Fortune 500 company and holds a highly respected leadership role. April stands as an advocate for survivors of Domestic Abuse. Her platform is: Absolving the Silence: Speaking ours against Domestic Abuse.

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Whitney Collings Photographer

Alicia Davis MISS VOLUPTUOUS United States 2020 I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, in a single Christian mother household. I wasn’t allowed to wear lipstick or lipgloss.

Nor short skirts or hanging earrings. When I turned 18 years old, I couldn’t wait to put on some lipstick or lipgloss on my lips. I went right for the bright red lipstick, biggest hoop earrings I could find, I got a rose tattoo and another piercing in my ear. My mom was a little disappointed at the time. But I was super happy cause I broke all the rules on one day. Lol! But since I was 14 years old, I had been working and saving my money. So it wasn’t too much, my mom could say when I was out of her house and making my own money. So she quickly got over it, and she made a nice dinner.

I had my first daughter when I was 21 years old—my second daughter when I was 22 years old and married when I was 24 years old—happily divorced at the age of 26. We continued to stay friends and got along very well. Even though our marriage didn’t work out. Then at the age of 31 years old, I had my son.

Now I’m a 40-year-old single mother of three children, have been modeling for eight years, featured in seven magazines, radio interview with Hot914 Radio, has also been in hair shows as well as fashions shows.

I was diagnosed with Lupus in December 2013. I had pneumonia, blood clot in each lung, anemic, vitamin D deficiency, narcoleptic, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, depression, anxiety, and migraines.

I was a manager at a medical clinic for two years. My duties were a front desk, ultrasound tech, med-tech, surgical assistant, account payables and receivables, set appointments, scheduled employees, and trained in all areas.

Now with the COVID-19 being out. I had to quit my job due to the staff was leaving cause they were scared of the coronavirus. I no longer need to be there cause it could compromise my immune system by having the Lupus. So now I’m taking this time to forces on my family and me. I have always gone hard for other companies and other people. So now it’s time for me to go hard for myself.

Marlo Shaw MISS MVP INTERNATIONAL United States 2020 I am Marlo Shaw, Miss MVP International 2020 Queen.

Currently, I am a Brand Ambassador and working towards creating my digital multimedia platform. While Performing Arts has always been a part of who I am since grade school, the last few years have been an amazing journey of photoshoots, runway shows, acting opportunities, being crowned, and getting to know people. Projects included: Runway Shows during Milwaukee Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Essence Music Festival, Walk FashionMilwaukee, Female Takeover, Jammin 98.3 The Gathering Expo. Published model in magazines and websites, 3 IMDb Movie Credit as an extra, and an extra for a Harley Davidson Museum Commercial.

At the age of 48, I am still making my dreams a reality. While having the courage to pursue my dreams, my greatest support are my two adult sons. Being a single parent had challenges; however, by the grace of God, a strong mother, and talented sons, I can honestly reflect and admit I am blessed. My mother was a strong and faithful woman of God, who courageously fought stage 4 Breast Cancer for 9-10 years. My 2020-2021 platform is in the loving memory of my mother. I am honoring my mother’s life and journey as a Positive Breast Cancer Warrior.

The platform will offer wellness/mental health tips while combating life’s hardships. My passion in life is to empower, connect, and inspire by ushering people stories of trials and triumphs into the spotlight.

Joe Garza Photographer

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Indyia Taylor MISS VOLUPTUOUS North

America

2020

Greetings! My name Indyia Taylor-Brown a 43-year-old wife and mother of 3. I am the MVP: International North America, 2020 Titleholder. I have a B.S. in Business Administration & M.S. Human Service Administration. I have been working in higher academic for 15 years. I am the Brand Ambassador/CEO of "The Market Mixer," a brand development collective that promotes black-owned businesses/entrepreneurs in the Chicagoland/NW Indiana Area. My interests include dancing(Chicago Stepping), mentoring, modeling, directing, hosting, designing, swimming, and shopping, to name a few.

Interesting Facts: I am a Licenced Hair braider, life coach, notary, and the only child.

My platform: I represent the underdog, a class of beauty not recognized by the main steam.

I campaign for positive body image and self-worth. I want to reassure every girl/woman to feel liberated in defining the meaning of beauty and self-love. I want my rein to promote, produce, and reinforce a healthy way of living, detoxing negativity, daily affirmations, living in one's truth, and other positive outlooks that will help navigate through the pitfalls of life.

Quashing the status quo idea of what is considered socialist norms, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, and future generations are going to be a sight for sore eyes!

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Gas-Saving Trips for Vacation Season Given the trending of gas prices toward everhigher dollar amounts, many people are using more and more of their vacation budget on gas.

While no one seems to be able to make gas cheap again, there are still some things you can do to help save on gas this vacation season.

Here are some tips.

1. Slow Up, Speed Down When you are on the road, going slowly uphill and more quickly downhill is said to save fuel.

Because your car has to work much harder going uphill (especially if you are using air conditioning and have luggage and multiple passengers), whereas gravity is your friend to go downhill.

And speaking of speed, observing the speed limit, and not speeding also saves gas. It's safer, too.

2. Know When to Turn Off the AC While traveling in the heat without air conditioning can be downright dangerous, there are times when you can turn it off to save fuel.

For example, turning off the AC when driving uphill can reduce the power pull on your engine by quite a bit. Of course, you can leave the fans going, and the residual cooling effect lasts for a few minutes. When you're on the level or going downhill, turn the AC back on.

3. Tires If you have worn tires, get them rotated

before your trip or, if they are very worn, get them replaced. Proper air pressure is

said to be very important, too - look at the inside of the driver's side door if you are

4. A Vehicle Check-up Before your vacation, get your car thoroughly looked over. Make sure everything is running as efficiently as possible. Efficiency in your engine means greater efficiency in fuel usage.

Have the oil changed, get a "tune-up" if needed, and have all the fluids checked in addition to any necessary work on the tires.

5. Travel Light As mentioned above, much excess cargo can draw on the engine's power. It's said that every 100 pounds added to your car's weight will decrease the gas mileage by 1 percent. So try to be careful to use lightweight baggage carriers (such as duffle bags rather than heavy suitcases), and only pack necessities.

6. How You Drive When you hit the accelerator pedal, that's when your car is using the most gas. So try to avoid the speed up, fast brake

pattern that so many drivers fall into.

Instead, try to coast at a continual pace.

Keep the ride as smooth as possible to save on fuel.

unsure as to your tires' PSI (pounds per

square inch). Adding too much or too little air can both be a problem, so if you have a doubt, have your mechanic do it.

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