Winter/Spring 2018

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FEMINISM WINTER/SPRING 2018

JUNE’S DIARY Get SAVAGE with TANK

MARGARET “SHUG” AVERY

In the Sister Circle with QUAD WEBBLUNCEFORD

Friendships & Girl Talk NURA Magazine 1

TEAM & CONTACTS Co-Founder/ Publisher Akilah Dia-Amadi Clark akilahclark@NURAMagazine.com

6 Nura Beauty: Drea Avent

Co-Founder/ Editor-In-Chief Crystal Davis crystaldavis@NURAMagazine.com

10 Nura Beau: Melvin Walker

Managing Editor Imani Camp

14 Black Sisterhood: Friendships & Sisterhood

Creative Director Christin ‘Loocie’ Glover

Writers Akilah Dia-Amadi Crystal Davis Janine Muhammad Latisha Carr Nicole Johnson

Content Editor J. Bella Graves Photographers Blair Lashley (cover) Beauty Consultants Khilia Chantal Sydney Hare Social Media Specialist Eric Jackson Public Relations Auntea Muhammad Subscriptions & Marketing Info@NURAMagazine.com

18 In the Sister Circle with Quad Webb-Lunceford

24 Free the Nip 26 THOT or NOT NURA Magazine is a lifestyle women’s feature for our sophisticated ladies of urban communities. You will find articles on world news, beauty, health, fashion, relationships, travel and business.

Our Mission is to empower women to find the best within themselves, to encourage high level thinking, and inspire them to take action toward a fulfilling life. You will find a balance of celebrity gossip as well as food for thought in life’s complexities.

Behind the Name: NURA The name NURA is derived from the Arabic language meaning “the Light.” Light is a metaphor for wisdom, knowledge, and truth. The purpose of light is to give a clear perception of what may not be seen otherwise. The best example is given in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. The men of the cave thought they knew everything there was to know about life until they were expose to light. Light in that example was not only a representation of knowledge but truth. NURA Magazine hopes to provide articles that are captivating yet rich with wisdom.

30 June’s Diary (Cover Story) 42 2018 Must Haves 44 Impact of Abuse 46 Tank talks Savage 52 Margaret “Shug” Avery 58 Journey to 30

Welcome to Nura Magazine

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Peace&Blessings Dear Readers, Our upcoming issue will explore a theme of “Black Feminism” in America. Our goal is to dissect the unique challenges faced by women of color.

Feminism is a movement that can be shared across cultures and around the world.

Common challenges include economics, gender roles, opportunities, discrimination, sexual harassment, and family planning. Each issue presents lifestyle choices that can make women’s lives tumultuous to navigate. As a nation, we have done well raising awareness and keeping women’s issues at the forefront. As a result, we are seeing political and media conversations shaped around birth control, equal pay, and harassment.

While African-Americans share majority of the same set of obstacles, we also face a unique set of challenges in our home, workplace, and abroad. The feminist movement does not factor in the cyclical behavior of men and women passed down through generations of oppression and depression. Domestic abuse should not be handled nonchalantly due to the lack of education and therapy in our community. Women are incomparably independent and running households because of the historical absence of men. Thus, how do we gain balance as they return?

Our natural hair movement is a hot topic resulting in much assimilation. Hair is once again big, bold, and curly! Depending where you work or attend school, big hair is not always accepted. Some places have gone as far as to create a dress code clause to enforce modest hair practices. We have our own fashion sense, and it is constantly changing. Should we continue to suit and boot?

Yes, feminism is feminism anywhere you go, but we must not scratch the surface in our communities of color. We must resolve the deep seeded evils that have permeated our culture for centuries. Afro-feminism must be a sub-culture that we treat like a diagnosis of health. One pill does not cure all illness. Instead, let’s create a conversation of Afro-feminism and spearhead that movement. We talk about it anyway; now let’s make it official by giving it a hashtag “#afrofeminism.”

- Nura Staff

By: Candice Renee Model : Khia Gaddy @a.ryze Photographer: Craig Gaddy @na2f.films Creative Designer: Ontavia Roulette (@rouletteont) & Brittnay Hill-Lee(@asap_blondieee) Stylist: Ontavia Roulette (@rouletteont) & Brittnay Hill-Lee(@asap_blondieee) NURA Magazine 5

NURA’S

Beauty

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE: Graduate of Long Beach State University Broadcast Journalism Major OCCUPATION: CEO of Drea Avent Productions, National TV Sportscaster & Model HOBBIES: Sports especially the NFL and shopping COMMUNITY SERVICE OR INVOLVEMENT: A cause that is close to my heart is homelessness.

I do a lot to help the homeless. I have joined with NFL Superstar Richard Sherman and his family to help the homeless. I am also passionate about urban youth. I want to help kids in low income neighborhoods; even more than I already have.

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NURA’S

Beauty WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOUR ADMIRERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU? I am very driven and ambitious. I love to stand out and be different. That’s why I started my own production company. I am the only person in sports interviewing athletes independently. I think it’s important for me to be a force on my own. TV networks do most of the interviews.

I’ve shown that I’m a force on my own with millions of views on YouTube independently.

I’ve gotten some of the biggest superstars completely on my own. I think that’s very important and I stand out!

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR CAREER? I love the relationships and trust that I have built with athletes, especially in the NFL. Those guys trust in my knowledge of the game and they trust me as a person.

WHAT HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED IN YOUR CAREER THAT YOU HAVE NEVER ANTICIPATED? I think the adversity that I have faced, has been more than people would imagine. It’s more than I’ve ever imagined. I’ve experienced rejection, setbacks, hate and non-believers. I knew this business was going to be tough, but had no idea that it was going to be as tough as it is. It’s highly complicated and competitive.

It’s also very subjective and not everyone is going to like you. I’m as tough as they come.

I’ve fought hard and I’ve been in some of the biggest events on national TV. Now I have my own business with my production company online; I’m a trailblazer. I’ve also gotten great

advice from celebrity friends in the business.

Shaquille O’Neil who is an NBA Legend called me and made me promise to him that I wouldn’t give up on my dreams. NFL star Martellus Bennett told me, “Drea there is nobody more you-er than you”. That means to me that I am one of a kind. Plus, my idol Jayne Kennedy told me that she was my biggest fan and to stay the course through any adversity. That’s just a few examples of what keeps me going.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN YEARS AHEAD? I hope to see myself as a business woman who continues to refine herself. I hope to add millions of viewers to my interviews independently with Drea Avent Productions.

WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR? I stand for hard work and most importantly treating EVERYONE the way they should be treated. I work hard and have become friends with celebs in the sports world.

However, I treat my favorite server at Denny’s the same as any athlete. I pride myself on that, and I’m really a woman of all people.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? I will continue to work hard!! I’m building a sports empire with my production company; it’s a ton of work. I also feel grateful to continue modeling and being glamorous as well! Underneath it all I’m a tomboy :)

Social Media Site: Instagram- @dreaavent Twitter - @dreaavent

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M E L V I N W A L K E R National American University / United States Air Force Model / Public Figure / Entertainer Guitar / Piano Regal Model Management

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R U N WAY

Beau

KING

NURA’S

One thing my audience may not know about myself is that modeling was not my original plan to becoming the public figure I had envisioned for myself. This life was introduced to me randomly by my former agent and I spent months on the fence contemplating if modeling was something I would be interested in longterm. I then started to consult with close friends and relatives about the idea of modeling and I received mixed responses which left me on the fence exactly where I started. One day I watched the film “Yes Man” staring Jim Carrey and this was a game changer for me. In the movie Jim said ‘no’ all the time to different experiences which lead him to realize how boring his life had become. After attending a seminar named “Yes Is the New No” he was then obligated to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity he encountered in life thereafter. Only then did Jim start to live life and feel alive. Watching this allowed me to free myself from the opinions of others and take full advantage of what any and everyone had to offer into my life. Then and then only did I feel my new life started and I’ve been on the runway ever since. Say ‘Yes’ to Life because it changed mine.

What I love most about my career is how often I meet new people. I realized investing in great people and building networks would be my strongest asset. Also, I love how natural it feels to do what I do. You hear the saying “Do what you love” and I realized early on in my journey that’s not an option that many people have. I feel blessed to be able to put myself in position to be available to all the opportunities that have come my way. One thing I’m a firm believer in is if you change your mind you can change your life and the world will conspire to make your wildest dreams come true. The fashion industry

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NURA’S

was introduced to my life quickly so I had to learn the ropes fast. From a young age, I was very outgoing and I feel my personality has made my transition to becoming a Model smooth and believable. I live my life knowing how many people we motivate and never realize what we are doing in the midst. I try and lead by example in my professional and personal life. I just want to be the light for anyone in a dark spot because I have been there myself. It’s all about the people and this is the most loveable piece of my success so far.

The fashion and entertainment industry can be tricky when it comes to personal branding and creating your lane where you’re most effective. One thing that I have experienced in my career that I’ve never anticipated is how being a creative can take you to many heights when you believe in yourself. Early in life I always felt like my ideas and what I had to offer the world was not worthy due to lack of training or experience. Now that I’m a few years into my craft, I realized everyone was gifted with certain qualities that comes natural and can be used throughout life to make us all great. Once I added value to myself by being confident and believing first, it made all the difference when I encountered other professionals. Everything has a focus and everyone has a gift, we must unlock the perfect you and only then can we all be successful.

Many years from now I hope to be able to look back and see how my legacy has left a positive impact on

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my community and all networks I function through. I hope to see myself grow in every area of life and my career. I feel like it’s not enough for just myself to become successful along this journey. It wouldn’t be worthy of my hard work, blood, sweat and tears. I want to gain status and use it to shine light upon people and organizations that wouldn’t normally be able to get the recognition they need to function on a higher level. I want to upgrade everything I do in modeling acting and music. My purpose in life is to be a builder of love and a fisherman of men. The more I can spread positive vibes and motivation to people, the better off the world will be. For anyone to make history one must be great in his-story!

I stand for the people who don’t realize their full potential because I was once that person.

Not having proper direction in my younger years, I had to live through others to see myself. I literally met so many people and took what good they had to offer while sheltering myself from the bad. I’m thankful for all who spoke life into me and now I’m simply returning the favor. I stand for many reasons and over time I plan to reveal my true purpose for becoming the public figure that I am. All things alive grow and every seed must be watered. All humans need energy to function I’m just here to remind everyone that the energy has to be positive to be the true you. It’s a frequency!

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Reflecting back, I went to a BBQ last Memorial Day weekend with a friend. It was the NBA Playoffs so most of the men went inside to watch the game, and the remaining women stayed outside near the fire pit and made s’mores. I was cozied up with about 10 other women whom I met just a few hours ago.

To kick off the conversation, we were posed with the following question, “What’s one goal you want to achieve by the end of the summer?”

Black is Essential Written by: Nicole Johnson

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BLACK WOMEN STAY THRIVING. Get you a black girl, whether she’s your significant other or your best girlfriend, you’ll end up in a better place. I promise.

We went around the circle and shared all of our goals.

They ranged from financial, professional, love, health, and everything in between. As we shared our thoughts, each of us expressed a sense of vulnerability. What was it about the group that we were able to share so openly? Caveat, most people there knew each other. Thus, it was something that allowed us to see and acknowledge one another, and be able to share without judgement. Because, let’s be honest, things were shared. It was assumed a safe space. It was very therapeutic.

I have had similar experiences with my own girlfriends. Moments like these are critical now more than ever. Like most women my age, we are having new experiences and making new memories that demand much of our time and energy.

Therefore, trying to balance it all is as difficult, and sometimes impossible, as trying to win an argument against a proud “Beyhive” member. Thankfully, what I’ve learned from my relationships with my girls is that there is strength in our vulnerability.

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THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS SUFFER IN SILENCE. When we own the courage to share our weaknesses and shortcomings, we find that we’re not the only one with the same struggle. You’re not alone in setting lofty goals or high expectations, and missing the mark terribly. Developing insecurities, we all have them. Some people have also experienced depression and/or anxiety.

However, you may have been the one who has learned to cope. These are the things we should share with one another.

Sharing your full self with your girlfriends allows you to be constantly reminded of the person you always wanted to be. In the throes of life, we can pick up self-destructive habits. We start heading down directions that take us further from where we want to be.

This is where our friends should gracefully remind us of who we want to be and where we’re supposed to go. From there is where we must make the final decision.

Some may say I don’t have many friends whom I can trust. Often, we’re looking in the wrong direction for friends. Honestly, my best female relationship is with my mother. I’ve learned how to love, forgive, and reconcile from her; some of life’s greatest virtues. As my older sister and I age, we become closer with experience and understanding. We have begun our journey of entrusting each other with our secrets, fears, and dreams. Between my grandmother and I, we have equally learned from each other. Although I was born into a family with these women, I chose them as my girlfriends. I see them in this light to aid me on my life journey. I decided to share with them and invite them into intimate parts of my life.

Lashes of Luxury Luxury Lashes

My mentor who is also a dear girlfriend of mine told me, “We are accountable to and for each other.” That is the essence of black sisterhood. Allow her to walk alongside and through life with you, and grant her the same. It is such a privilege.

www.emarieglamour.com 16

Winter/Spring 2018 | NURAMagazine.com Photos By: Clarke Sanders

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In the Sister’s Circle with

If you haven’t seen the new hit talk show Sister Circle starring Quad WebbLunceford of Married to Medicine, then you are in for a treat. TVOne’s Sister Circle is taking on conversations typically reserved for the kitchen, and bringing them to the forefront on television. The show centralizes on the perspectives of African-American women in our community. The show is informative; however the women keep it fun and edgy. While celebrity gossip is always a hot topic, the circle spends a substantial amount of time on societal matters such as social in-appropriation. The women also tackle conversations about women supporting and uplifting one another.

Quad WebbLunceford

When asked why the show was a fit for TVOne, it was a no brainer. TVOne is the only African-American based networks in the country. Quad Webb-Lunceford wants the world to know that African American are quite as capable as the FOX networks of the world, generating over 56 million viewers.

“

When we heard that TVOne was coming on board, it was just the icing on the cake. It was actually a great fit.

TVOne is the only African-American owned and ran television station. A lot of people don’t know that. When we went deeper and learned of the numbers in terms of the house hold viewership it was just perfect!

Interviewed By: Crystal Davis

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Quad wants the audience to understand that Sister Circle is not about race. The show aims to bridge the gap between races because women across diverse backgrounds suffer from some of the same struggles. Regardless of color, women want the best education, financial stability, and loving marriages. Quad believes we have been devalued as African-American women, thus the narrative shaped around women of color has been negative. Despite having some of the same struggles like equal pay, the African-American woman is still slightly more underpaid than a Caucasian woman. Quad commends women such as Helen Swenson, Executive Director of Sister Circle, because as a Greek woman, Swenson has a passion for bringing to light the social inequalities for women of color.

“

Quad’s love for women empowerment extends beyond the screen and into the kitchen. True fans will know that she has a deep love for cooking.

It began as she cooked for friends and evolved to publishing cooking videos on Instagram. Quad’s viewership expanded and her audience began requesting recipes for the corresponding videos. As momentum increased on social media, the cookbook Romance on the Table was born. Quad explains that she enjoys the title because the sole word “romance” allowed her to be extremely creative.

Readers will discover fun and flirty play on words. For example, dishes that take 20 minutes or less are called “Quickies,” appetizers are known as “Teasers,” and the vegetarian dishes are called “Going all the way.” If you haven’t realized thus far, this will not be your ordinary cook book.

I truly want people to become comfortable with the kitchen and actually change their outlook on how they view the kitchen. Cooking for some women is just a taxing overwhelming job. They look at it as not being fun or exciting, and definitely not being sexy. I want to change that. I look at cooking as a dance between the pots and the pans, and it’s all about keeping the timing and the pace.

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I don’t believe in pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes. I don’t believe in cherry picking the story that I’m going to tell or the persona that I’m going to put out there. That’s just too much to keep up with. I just don’t believe in lying. I don’t believe in fairytales or tall tells. I truly believe in keeping it REAL no matter how ugly it may be.

”

Romance on the Table will educate readers about dating, etiquette, plating techniques, and textures. It will also serve as a self-help book. Readers can expect Quad’s witty personality along with a few of her personal experiences and mistakes she’s made in the past. She wants her audience to know that she too has made mistakes in the kitchen and in life in general. “I just want people to not take themselves so serious. If you make a mistake that’s okay, we can pause that and start all over again,” she conveys. Upon releasing Romance on the Table, Quad plans to embark on a promotional book and cooking demonstration tour partnered with Williams Sonoma and various platforms such as Barnes and Nobles, and Amazon.

With all Quad has going on she is still a thriving original cast member on Married to Medicine which premiered November 5, 2017. In this last season, the audience is kept on their feet with shockers, jaw droppers, and more! Quad explains that this season gave viewers a deeper look into the marriages of Married to Medicine.

However, this isn’t new for Mrs. Quad, who always strives to keep it real with her fans.

The relationships with cast members are ever changing. However, Quad exclaims

Leave them in the dust. It’s not a mistake it’s practice.

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Crock-pot Butternut Squash Soup

that she is pretty solid on her decisions. “I don’t allow people to pressure me or push me into friendships that I don’t really think are good for me,” she explains.

Quad emphasizes the importance of having positive friends who uphold, support, love, and celebrate one another. If someone is doing the complete opposite, you may need to question if that friendship is worth keeping. Ultimately, if they are not pouring into you, that friendship serves no purpose in your life. She calls toxic people “energy zappers,” who pull away from your energy. It is okay to work on friendships and rebuild, but if the same problems persist then it’s time to walk away. Quad also notes that walking away is not an easy task. It’s important to learn when to let go and be okay with doing such.

Let this rich and creamy butternut squash soup get you through the chilly weather! No time to waste? Pop it in the crock-pot and go about your day!

Food brings people together and the kitchen is a place where everyone congregates. The kitchen is where difficult conversations take place, and we are living in a time where some of those conversations are gaining national coverage. Quad wants her viewers and fans to understand the importance of having the conversation around problematic and gut-wrenching topics. She also wants her audience to know that in order for change to take place, women have to ban together. Although, Sister Circle and Married to Medicine are two very different platforms, they both spark discussions on everyday issues that minority women face.

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 4 hours Total time: 4 hours and 15 mins

INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Make sure you are tuned in each week to Sister Circle, caught up on Married to Medicine and support Romance on the Table!

”

Quotes: Everyone congregates in the kitchen, that’s where the love begins.

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2 cups of vegetable stock 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1 carrot, peeled and diced 1 medium (uncooked) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced 1 sprig of fresh sage 1 white onion, diced ½ teaspoon salt, or more to taste ¼ teaspoon freshly-grounded black pepper, or more to taste 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or more to taste 1 pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg ½ cup of canned (unsweetened) coconut milk Optional garnished: extra coconut milk and a sprinkle of smoked paprika (or cayenne)

DIRECTIONS: 1. Add the vegetable stock, garlic, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, onion, salt, pepper, cayenne, cinnamon & nutmeg to a small (4-quart) slow cooker or large (6-quart) crock-pot.

2. Cook for 6-8 hours on low, or 3-4 hours on high, or until the squash is completely tender and mashes easily with a fork. Remove and discard the sage. Stir in the coconut milk.

3. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until it’s smooth or you can blend in a traditional blender. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper & cayenne if needed.

4. Serve warm, with optional garnishes.

Instagram, Facebook & Twitter: @AbsolutelyQuad

*Naturally vegan & gluten-free.

NURA Magazine 23 Photo by: @cala_maffia

FREE the NIP

Written by: Imani Camp

Television host and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen’s Snapchat nip slip was followed up by a simple ‘whoops’, but should more have been said?

Recently, actress Laverne Cox asked Rihanna, as a part of a magazine interview, what gave her the courage to wear that famous Swarovski crystal dress at the 2014 CFDA Awards—the see through one—where Rihanna’s nipples were exposed. We all remember that dress.

As Laverne put it, the dress was daring and elegant, and if I may add, iconic. Badgalriri’s response to the question: “I took advantage of my titties before they go south. I saw my window and I took it.” A girl after my own heart.

As a society we are so quick to gasp at the sight of a woman’s nipple. Many online retailers who sell lingerie often airbrush nipples out of their web photos, but why? Are people that afraid of anatomy? Men go to the beach or pool shirtless and nipples exposed, but no one bats an eye. Coincidentally, if you add a little more flesh and fat you have the same nipples, except they are on a woman.

Background photo by: Pablo Heimplatz

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Our idea of a woman’s body is so hypersexualized that when we see a fully exposed body part other than an arm or leg, it’s as though pigs are flying and hell has frozen over. Let’s not even mention the subject of breastfeeding. Maybe it’s time to consider treating titties the same as toes, alleviating the infamous gasp every time one or two are exposed, accidentally or not. If any woman feels her free spirit window is currently open, go for it, and free your nipples now before it’s too late. Be seen, not spectacled, and show ‘em what those titties are made of!

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THOT or NOT

After some years it seems we are still using the word THOT in our urban vocabulary? For those who have been under a rock, “THOT” is an acronym for That Ho (whore) Over There. Obviously offensive, who are they calling a whore? A THOT is a round the way girl, or woman who seems to have many sexual partners. It is perceived that she gets with men who can offer her gain like money or opportunities. In layman’s terms the word is used for women who dress enticingly, or constantly post revealing pictures and twerking videos on social media.

Webster’s dictionary defines a whore as a prostitute. A prostitute is a woman who indiscriminately engages in sexual activities for money. In other words she sells her body.

However, THOT is not a term used for prostitutes who we see at 2 a.m. on the avenue jumping in and out of cars with a busted weave. Instead it is used for everyday women who fall under the character type of promiscuity.

The problem is the imbalanced judgement of women and their private affairs as opposed to men. Men are often praised for their high body count, and women are given the side eye once they need two hands to calculate their sexual encounters.

Written by: A Free Spirit

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Photo by: Caju Gomes

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Photo by: Wesley Quinn

According to the National Women’s Business Council (2017), African Americans are the fastest growing women population in business ownership. By all means it’s safe to say that a word like THOT does not scrape the surface of what can be accomplished.

Come on get real, we all know that sex sells and African-American women are diversely beautiful. On top of that, they are curvaceous and know just what to wear to enhance their physical appeal. Let’s not overlook the fact that women experience a formidable and most unethical truth their entire lives. The more attractive you are the more likely you are getting what you want or need. Women nowadays go the extra mile to present themselves in the best light in spite of the pressure of a man’s quest for exotic fantasies.

At the end of the day, what does it matter that a women dated 22 men in the past 10 years and slept with them all. Unfortunately, you really don’t get to know a person until you pass go. Ultimately, men and women should not be held to a different standard, because they experience the same obstacles. What is most important is that safe sex is practiced to reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases.

Women are not whores because they dress sexy, post suggestive pictures, or even enjoy sex. The key word in the definitions above is indiscriminately. If a woman is just soliciting sex with no regard as to who or what, there is a problem. If a woman is sleeping with a man because of the financial gain, it’s not moral but-- it happens. The point is that we all have made choices that are not favorable to popular or modest beliefs. To call a woman a whore or THOT most certainly is an offensive charge and should be reconsidered.

To make matters more complicated, we are living in a time where marriage is not a top priority. The dating scene is a web of distress for many, and everyone wants their independence. Popular culture, entertainment, and social media are often to blame for women thriving for negative attention to validate their worth. At the same rate, men are sampling women like a kid in a bakery shop. The option of being monogamous almost seems obsolete. In an oversexualized culture, men and women are more than likely going to have sex outside the confines of marriage. Dating with dignity is challenging even for the most wholesome individuals. No one wants to lease, let alone purchase “the car” without test driving it first.

Women can and will do what they want with their bodies. What happens between the sheets or legs of a woman is her business. If you happen to know her business, try to be less judgmental. Everyone has a story and a reason for the season. Do not encourage illicit behavior, but understand that there is a larger calling of a culture change that fosters the mentality of our communities.

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Reference National Women’s Business Council, 2017. Retrieved from https:// www.nwbc.gov

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Photographer: Blair Lashley Make Up: Khilia Chantal, Carlton “Picaso” Marshall Hair: Sydney Hare Designer /Stylist: Orlando Ortiz “King O”, Wardrobe (white vintage): Moxy Lounge Studio: Skyloft F

June’s Diary is a breath of fresh air for the new school R&B girl group lovers.

Founded by Kelly Rowland and Frank Gatson, the girls were chosen on the BET docu-series Chasing Destiny. A year and a mixtape later, fans are hanging on to their seats anticipating what’s next. On the contrary, the group is enjoying their newfound friendship while they develop their sounds and ballads. Not looking for instant success, what’s important to each of them is feeling good about the music they produce.

What is more remarkable about June’s Diary is that every member of the group brings rich talent and unique personality. Nura Magazine spent the day in Baltimore with June’s Diary, while they were on the R. Kelly ‘After Party’ tour, and developed a high respect and admiration for the young artists.

Now joining The Great Xscape Tour, June’s Diary has much to bring in 2018.

JUNE’S DIARY Written by: Crystal Davis

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Members:

Interview

HOW WOULD YOU GUYS DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND?

Ashly Williams Brienna DeVlugt

Ashly: It’s still developing. We’ve only been together for a year. We are still trying to figure out what our sound is. It’s so much music out there, we all have different taste.

Everybody is like ‘I’m so excited for you guys to come back because you’re bringing R&B back; you’re bringing back real singers’. Of course that’s important but it’s no secret that R&B doesn’t have a face, the way we were used to back in the day [90s and early 2000s]. There’s alternative R&B, new artists like Bryson Tiller, HER and SZA. We are just trying to hone in on what that means to us and then create our own lane.

Kristal Lyndriette Smith

HAVE YOU FACED ANY ADVERSITY AND OR ANY CHALLENGES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? WHAT IS THAT PROCESS LIKE OF GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND/OR YOUR JOURNEY AS A GROUP?

Shyann Roberts

Gabrielle Carreiro

Gabby: First and foremost, we travel a lot.

It is a shock to my personal system as well as to my family and friends. When you’re away from home a lot of the time you do miss family reunions, some experiences, or some party where everyone from high school came and you totally missed out. Sometimes, it’s a little difficult to cope with that. At the same time we are so blessed to be with one another and really love what we are doing.

Since we love each other and we share our talent with each other, things are a little easier to overcome.

Shyann: Just being under the limelight all the time. Somebody is always watching you; somebody is always right there. You don’t want to do the wrong thing because you’re like okay, someone is looking up to me. That’s kind of hard because you just want to be who you are, not saying that you can’t be. You just don’t want to rub anybody the wrong way or put anything bad in the atmosphere.

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Kristal: The basic adversities to the music industry itself. We’ve already faced some of those challenges, but because we have each other it’s been a whole lot easier to deal with.

We also have Frank. It’s just been really easy.

He makes us laugh so much. That definitely gets us through a lot. I think we are doing a pretty good job for it to be our first rodeo together as a whole.

YOU GUYS MENTIONED SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH IS A PLATFORM THAT IS NOT REALLY CONTROLLED. HOW DO YOU ALL COMBAT THAT OR IS THERE A STRATEGY OF NOT LOOKING AT COMMENTS? Shyann: Do not look at comments.

Brienna: We try! [collective laughter] Gabby: We try to make it a point to not look at comments at say YouTube videos or something that someone else posted. I remember scrolling through @ TheShadeRoom posts and scrolling through the comments. There could be a hundred positive comments but then you focus in on the one guy that’s like “I hate you” because of no reason and you’re like why? So, we do make it a point because it messes with your feelings but it also builds tougher skin.

Sometimes we will reply to the comments because it really makes us laugh but it isn’t controlled and that’s something that we have to deal with.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENTS SO FAR? [Collectively]: That’s hard.

1. Essence Fest 2. BET Awards, premiering our actual video on the awards show 3. Getting 4 new sisters!

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“My favorite quote that I always say to myself, “Do what you love, love what you do.”

- Shyann

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WHO ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS?

WHERE DO YOU THINK R&B IS SHIFTING?

Shyann: Whitney Houston, my mother and my uncle

Kristal: R&B is changing every day. I think for us, we want to make sure that we keep it fun.

We are young and we like to have fun. We’re into the things that are happening now-adays. But when you hear us sing acapella, you can clearly tell that we love R&B. Like the heart of R&B. So, we are trying to find a way to mesh the two and make it work.

Gabby: My mother (real life person that I have interacted with) Brienna: My family Ashly: Definitely my family, Whitney Houston, Brandy, Destiny’s Child, EnVogue, all the old greats, Aretha Franklin, and Pattie Labelle Kristal: Yeah that’s kind of all of them. My parents as well. My dad is a musician so he was a very instrumental part of me being into music. But everyone she said musically, we all kind of have the same taste. Gabby’s really into beetles, the BGs and Frank Sinatra.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST ADVICE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR? Brienna: The best advice that we’ve gotten was from New Edition. They told us no matter what happens, no matter the BS that you go through, even when you butt heads, you just have to stick together. You know, have each other’s back.

Shyann: EnVogue told us that we should just respect each other’s differences. We go with that all the time because we are different.

Gabby: My dad told me once that make sure this is what you want to do and that you love to do it and always make it about the music.

WHO IS SOMEONE THAT YOU WANT TO WORK WITH? Shyann: Missy Elliot Ashly: Pharrell Brienna: Timbaland Gabby: DJ Khaled Kristal: The Dream

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Shyann: Make it work for the group though. All those artists are single artists.

So it’s different. So when you’re listening to somebody you are only listening to one person. You have five ladies, [Ashly] Who all can sing. [Shyann] Exactly, so when it comes to stuff like that, I’m like how do we contribute all of that into one thing.

Kristal: I think it’s going to happen how it’s going to happen. It don’t think we are going to know. I don’t think anyone knows what it’s going to sound like or what it’s going to be like because like I said everyday it changes.

Ashly: It’s always funny when we hear stories about huge artists who put out songs that they didn’t necessarily like. Like Beyoncé put out songs that she didn’t feel would be representative of her career and that she just didn’t like and it blew up to the top of the charts. So, you just never know. Just do what you love and as long as you put your heart and soul into that music its infectious. People will catch on.

Shyann: My favorite quote that I always say to myself, “Do what you love, love what you do.”

Gabby: Also, genres melt together. The song “Good Time” that we open with has some jazz elements to it, some R&B and a little bit of hip hop. The chorus is kind of like EDM. So, it has all these elements to it. To call ourselves one genre is kind of wrong because one song can have so many different factors to it. That’s the beautiful part about it people don’t really know what they like.

ORLANDO ORTIZ “KING O” Designer/Stylist.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and currently residing in DMV area. King O has designed and styled for many celebrities, publication, television personalities, along with Fashion show productions. Currently King O is focusing on growing his brand “KING O DESIGNS” which consists of men’s and women’s wear. King O’s mission is to inspire everyone through the rays of FASHION, and continue to DREAM BIGGER than YESTERDAY.

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WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN 2018?

Kristal: New music, more touring, getting our faces out there and new visuals. We take it day by day.

Shyann: We want to take our time with our process because we don’t want to just put out anything.

Ashly: We have released a mixtape called Male Edition.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW EACH OTHER? WHO IS THE BOSSY ONE? – Brienna Gabby: She’s not bossy, she just knows what she wants and there’s no playing around Shyann: “Bossy” [with laughter] WHO’S THE MOTHER OF THE GROUP? – Kristal (in unison) Brienna: I think mom and bossy are the same thing.

Kristal: I really did think y’all were going to point at me and say I was the bossy one.

Ashly: I think Kristal is more of a guider. She tries to guide us.

Gabby: I agree, she’s like if you want to you could, and here’s my advice.

WHO’S THE GOOF BALL? – We are all goof balls. We are nuts.

Who’s the Vixen “Sex Symbol”?

– Brienna’s very sensual and confident THE OPTIMIST? – Ashly In most situations Ashly is like “Lets figure it out” she’s the most politically correct. She’s not going to attack anyone.

Gabby plays the devil’s advocate WHO’S THE MOST COMPETITIVE? – Brienna 40

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JUNE’S DIARY NURA Magazine 41

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The Impact of Abuse Written by: Janine Muhammad

I

n my practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Professor of Psychology, I am still amazed of the number of people who have experienced abuse. Students and clients alike, regardless of their gender, gender identity, race, sexuality, and age, I have yet to meet a student or client who has not been impacted by abuse. The abuse can take many forms, i.e. emotional, financial, physical, sexual, psychological, or domestic. The abusers also come in many forms. They may include an intimate partner, parents, extended family, siblings, or strangers. While abuse from strangers does happen, it is more common for abusers to be known to their victims.

I have always maintained that normalizing is a valuable tool for victims of abuse. To pathologize is to regard or treat (someone or something) as psychologically abnormal or unhealthy. As noted in the Solutionfocused Therapy Model, to normalize is to depathologize clients’ concerns and reframe them as everyday life difficulties. This does NOT mean that abuse is normal and should

be minimized. Rather, victims need to know that their feelings as a result of abuse are, (1) okay to have, (2) right, (3) fair, (4) on target, and (5) valid. Your feelings should not be pathologized, but the treatment that caused your feelings should.

Your abusers made him/her/themselves right and you wrong by justifying their treatment of you. If you have questioned your treatment, you were made to feel wrong. You were told it was your imagination, you are exaggerating, you made them do it, or you better not talk about it, it was you, you, and you. This is all because of you, the victim.

Where is the gateway to healing? The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan offered Eight Steps of Atonement. The first step is Point out the wrong. When feelings or flashbacks of the maltreatment arise, normalize your feelings by acknowledging them. Say to yourself or anyone you feel safe disclosing to that “The way I was/am being treated is abnormal. It was/is wrong.” This is your step one in your healing process.

Photo by: Chelsea Ferenando

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TANK

Interview

TALKS SAVAGE Interviewed by: Akilah Dia-Amadi Clark

WHAT DOES SAVAGE MEAN TO YOU AS IT RELATES TO THE NAMING OF YOUR ALBUM AND PROMO TOUR? Tank: We are going to compete. For me I’ve always wanted to continue to compete. I want R&B music to continue to have a space, especially my style of R&B and the things that I like to talk about. The emotions and the sexuality that I like to put into records, I want to fight to keep that alive. Sometimes you have to package it in a way that is a lot more aggressive than what it normally is. You are fighting for position to stand next to things that are a lot more aggressive, a lot more savage than what R&B is known for.

That’s why savage is that.

When we did the Sex Love & Pain 2 album, those moments stuck, and when I was in concert people would just go crazy. They enjoy the competition as well as me fighting for R&B music. They enjoyed that energy, and I have dedicated this whole project for this R&B music. Let’s make it as aggressive, straight forward and competitive as we can make it, sonically, lyrically, and visually. That’s what savage is. The tour represents taking it back to the old school. When you actually did a promo tour, you went door to door and campaigned for an album. That’s what the Savage tour is.

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WHERE WERE YOU TAKING THE AUDIENCE WITH THE TREATMENT OF THE VIDEO “WHEN WE?” Tank: I wanted people to open their mind in terms of sexuality without being scared. [The video] could have easily been in the club or two people in the room. It would have been obvious. Why not stir up a bunch of different emotions. Why not have a girl pleasuring herself and having a “cam” girl stimulating emotions that way. Why not have a gory scene with black water. It almost has an erotic kind of dangerous edge with some S&M (Sadism and Masochism). One girl is tied up and the other girl has her on a beach. She is dominating her. You have fire where you are like ‘okay we might really get burned in here.’ You have the vampire. It’s all meant to stimulate different parts of your sexuality, not just in a bedroom or in this conventional space. Let’s broaden our horizons and find a way to be adventurous in our sexuality. That’s what “When We,” the visual represented.

WHAT MORE CAN WE EXPECT? Tank: We are always going to do things that aren’t out there. Combining the classic with the current. We are just highlighting sexuality in that way, it’s not new. The last time we saw this is with Madonna. She was all over the place with her sexuality and it was such a ground breaking moment. It has yet to get back to that, so I was like let’s get back to that. Let’s make that happen right now today. If we go into the Savage video, how do we speak on the female savage? What does that look like for today? How do we highlight the different aspects of what everyone thinks savage is. Everyone thinks it’s wilding out with thoughtless and careless behaviors, but it can really be something different. If you think about a woman who was left by a man with two kids to raise on her own, she not only makes it happen, but she is flawless in it. It’s amazing how the kids want for nothing and become amazing people. Think about everything she had to go through to make that happen. That is savage behavior. Taking savage and putting it in a completely different space to what people are used to. That’s our challenge. Those are the things that we are going to make happen visually to go along with this aggressive music that we have.

HAVE YOU WITNESSED AN EVOLUTION IN R&B MUSIC? Tank: The young kids now are trying to compete as well. What happened with some of the levels of competition, because we have lost a lot of the emotion that goes with R&B music?

We definitely lost some of the fluid tempo that used to go with R&B. Back in the day you could go number one with a ballad. You could go number one with a heartfelt record. You could sing a song called The End of the Road and just take over the world. Those type of days have passed us because with the domination of Hip Hop you have to fight against that sonic, against that message, and against that shock value or whatever that is. You have to package your R&B now the way kids are coming into it. In a very Hip Hop dominating era, they want to be in the club. They want to be up the HOT 100 Charts. They want to be on the urban charts.

The music kind of reflects that. My job is to maintain the essence of what R&B was intended to be and where R&B is now. I don’t knock new R&B, I actually enjoy it because I’ve been a part of the evolution. I’ve been able to maintain what is current R&B and I’ve been able to get off my traditional R&B as well. I just feel like somebody has to maintain the history and I think it’s my job.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR LABEL R&B MONEY AND DEVELOPING ARTISTS. Tank: My label is about empowering the young R&B artist. Dante, Dontay, Dontea is a kid we threw in a studio and said go figure it out. He is a producer, singer, songwriter and rapper. He is all of these things. I’m not the type of executive where I’m going to give you a blueprint. One of my blueprints that I’ve used. No, you need to develop. This is the oldschool way of A&R and development. You need to get in the studio and you need to work out and grow. Grow your music muscles in terms of all of your gifts. You need to be able to articulate musically who you are and who you want to be. That was the mission for him and he’s figured it out. I’m like I’m not babysitting you. If you want this, you have to show me that you want it. And he has done just that. His music is the young kid’s R&B. It’s different.

There are wavy moments. It has emotional moments. It has aggressive moments. It has everything. It’s all of his emotions.

We signed another kid George Morris from the UK. It was the same thing with him. I’m trying to sign individuals. I’m not trying to sign carbon copies of myself. So far it’s going well. You will see Dante Dontay Dontae on tour and you will hear from George Morris real soon.

ARE WE HEARING WEDDING BELLS SOON? Tank: That’s savage right there. Getting engaged and locking it all down. Those are aggressive decisions. Being in a space where you have someone competing with you and wanting to have everything with you. We are both so like-minded, hungry and determined to be the best at what we are doing. That energy helps us to feed our professional career whether it’s what she is doing with beauty or what I am doing with music and acting. That relationship is helping to support, push, and give you good energy to be savage.

CAN WE PLEASE GET A TGT REUNION? Tank: I always say we are just a conversation away from making it happen. Only time will tell.

I’m moving in my savage direction so fast. Ginuwine is on the road. Lord knows what Tyrese is doing [laughter]. It’s just a matter of having that right conversation and getting back to doing it for the right reason. That’s what TGT is. TGT is inspirational, TGT is a culture driven selfless movement. TGT is a sacrifice. When we get everybody back to that state of mind then we will be in a place where it can happen again.

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Margaret “Shug�

Avery is best known for her role in the film The Color Purple.

Written by: Akilah Dia-Amadi Clark

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Thirty-five years later, the stunning actress is still referred to as Shug, a name that she proudly adopted as her own. Coincidently, the star and character share last names. Ms. Avery is grateful to the film that put her on the map. “It’s a blessing because there are so many very talented actors who have not received recognition on that scale due to lack of opportunity,” she explains. Ms. Avery attributes her success to luck and training.

She had been in the business for 20 years working theater prior to The Color Purple film. Her roots are in TV, film and voice.

Ms. Avery is now a proud cast member of Being Mary Jane, co-starring with Gabrielle Union and Richard Roundtree. She plays Helen Patterson, the main character’s mother who is sick with Lupus. Ms. Avery does not take her role lightly. She did much research on the effects of Lupus. She learned that Lupus affects African American women more than any other ethnic group. There is no cure, as it will go into remission and return unexpectedly with a vengeance, like cancer.

She and her directors used the common symptoms of coughing and tiredness to embody the illness throughout the filming.

Being Mary Jane is written and produced by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. The couple is known for their incredible writing and work on the sitcom Girlfriends. Ms. Avery was eager to work with the talented duo.

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“Having such an excellent, creative, Black writer involved, such as Mara Brock Akil, tickled me. In the past, the challenge for Black film actors was to make the written page realistic to our Black audience. We were always trying to act out what white people thought we would say. Its makes a big difference so right away I was attracted to it.”

As far as Gabrielle Union, Ms. Avery is a true fan. Ms. Gabrielle is such a sharp bright woman, and so professional. She is on it. I’m just amazed. Talk about memorizing. She has the longest speeches. I think she has a photographic memory. She is practically in every scene and that is such hard work.

I have always found it so unfair for award shows to combine television and film actors in the same categories. Television actors, many times, get scripts overnight while film actors, depending on the budget, have their scripts weeks or months in advance and get to shoot with unlimited takes.

For anyone yearning beauty secrets, Ms. Avery keeps it simple. “Take care of yourself,” she says before giving specific recommendations.

1. Keep your skin clean.

2. Get that junk (makeup) off your face at night.

3. Moisturize.

4. Drink lots of water.

5. Get enough rest.

6. Think positive. Act positive.

Ms. Avery thanks her stylist for trendy looks. “I have a wonderful stylist, Lola Wusu. She knows where my weaknesses are.” She believes that women should feel good as they are getting older and wear clothing that is age appropriate. She then adds “Young people can wear things that are not flattering as well. If you got your dress up to your twat and wear clothing so tight, no one has to use their imagination.”

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As far as reality television, Shug Avery believes some women are depicted as air heads, which can be embarrassing. She is open-minded to all forms of entertainment.

Today, we have choices which did not always exist. She loves this country for our freedom to choose but warns we must not take these freedoms for granted. We must stay politically aware and fight to keep these freedoms.

“What you use as a bar maybe someone else doesn’t. We have our choice. I don’t have much time for entertainment so I don’t choose that for my entertainment. Some of the reality shows make me depressed because I don’t like to see women of color being beneath what I feel they should be. But look at our president.” {Laughs} Weighing in on politics, Ms. Avery couldn’t get enough of the topic of President Donald Trump.

“He is such a negative man. I’m a civil rights woman. I marched back in the day. I still have a scar on my right arm from a German Shepard biting me when we were trying to sit at restaurant counters. I remember all that.

On a positive level, I think Americans are resilient and there are more people that do not think as he. We are going to get through this.”

Ms. Avery is a positive spirit and feels blessed to be working at her young age. She reminds us that with over 26,000 members in the Screen Actors Guild, nearly 1% are actually working. She then went on to the inequality of acting opportunities. Based on her experience the opportunities first went to “white men, then black men, then white women, then women of color.” She continues, “To be a woman of color then older…” Ms. Avery encourages all young actors to invest in training. She reflects on a scene in the color purple when it was 110 degrees in the south but she was wearing a raccoon coat surrounded by fake snow. The scene required skill not to wipe the sweat or swat a fly. As talented as she is, she notes that some success has been just plain luck. With that, she adds that you can’t take rejection personally.

Ms. Avery continues to be a beacon of light on and off the screen. She looks forward to getting back to her passion for comedy. Many do not remember her co-starring with Richard Pryor in Which Way Is Up? (1977). She currently has a running video series on her Instagram account as “Grandma” and it is quite comical.

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“I still have a scar on my right arm from a German Shepard biting me.”

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Dear Thirties, Don’t be bitter! As soon as I realized that I was approaching Chapter 30, I almost panicked. It doesn’t help that each day it seems as though one of my friends have gotten engaged, married, announced their pregnancy or found the love of their life on a dating app. Admittedly, this has caused me like anyone else to re-evaluate my life. Why haven’t I found my knight in shining amour? This was just one of the many questions that began to circulate in my mind. Don’t be like me. Don’t let ‘30’ send you into a frenzy. Your life isn’t over and no you will not be single for the rest of your life. It’s just a number, right?

JOURNEY

TO 30

As the season of marriage and babies’ approaches, those without can quickly go into crisis mode. Just because the stars haven’t aligned in your favor doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Your time is coming. I know you’ve come across the individuals who have found love in their latter years, yes latter years. There are plenty of people who have found love in their forties, fifties, sixties and even later. By no means am I saying that I or anyone else will have to wait until then, but I am saying: don’t lose hope. I had to realize that life isn’t a storybook with a fairytale ending. Life involves bumps, curves and headaches. It’s what you do after the speedbump that will determine your fate.

What you don’t want to do is settle for that guy or girl who is just not that into you. If you are questioning that person’s love or agenda every day or week, let them go. You shouldn’t have to fight for someone’s attention or decipher whether they are really into you. Leave the situationships in your twenties. If you just paused to wonder or question if you’re currently in a situationship, nine times out of ten you are and it is okay. They have gotten the best of us. Don’t trip. However, as you move forward be mindful of what you are putting out into the universe. What you give is what you will attract. When you begin to love yourself and know your worth that will ultimately attract someone who will do the same.

Your thirties should be filled with good vibes only. At this point in life, you’ve lost a few friendships and/or had your heart broken a few times.

If a person isn’t motivating or helping you advance in life, don’t spend too much time watering that relationship. Watch out for emotional leaches. They do exist. An emotional leach is a person who has a tendency to drain every ounce of energy out of you; your partner can be the worst culprit. Know when to draw the line. I know it’s easier said than done but hopefully this will offer some encouragement to just let it go. Leave all the bad habits behind. Only make room for those who want to be a part of your life and those that are adding to it.

- The 29-year-old

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