Her Choice
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Power to Decide and the Guttmacher Institute Launch New Interactive Resource Revealing the Gaps in Contraceptive Access Across the United States September 16, 2026 jloewenberg September 16, 2026 News Release Use link On
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“I’ve prepared a lot. I’m taking this very seriously, because it’s still very rare for women to get Netflix specials. I had to have sex with so many executives over there.” So begins comedian Mary Beth Barone’s new Netflix special, Galaxy Brain , with a joke about just how exceptional a woman appare
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“I manually adjusted my age preferences on the apps, sliding the scale far enough left that it could be framed as a cultural statement.”
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Midlife adults are prone to this disorder, especially women.
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Depending on where in the world you are, the weather may be changing as summer slowly transitions into fall . That means two things: New York Fashion Week , and it’s time to prepare to put summer clothes at the back of your wardrobe and bring the warm, snug items to the front.
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Click to expand Image Cleaner at work in a Seoul metro station, Seoul, South Korea. © 2022 Shutterstock (Seoul) – Women in South Korea face systemic gender discrimination at every stage of their working lives, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
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“The best cure for a crush is to simply get to know the person”
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In an era when feminists were stereotyped as unattractive, the pioneering writer’s style created a Trojan horse Gloria Steinem obituary Gloria Steinem: A life in pictures When people wanted to dismiss Gloria Steinem, they spoke about how she looked.
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A social movement trailblazer who galvanized generations of young women and girls, Gloria Steinem passed away peacefully at her home on September 2, 2026.
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Unflinching campaigner for women’s and civil rights who galvanised a generation of activists Gloria Steinem, who has died aged 92, was a writer, community organiser, political campaigner and a charismatic feminist activist who called herself “an entrepreneur of social change”.
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We would like to hear your tributes and memories of Gloria Steinem – whether you met her, or appreciated her work Gloria Steinem, the American feminist and journalist whose activism helped push through greater rights for women around the world has died, aged 92 .
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Famous for the 1963 exposé in which she worked as a Playboy Bunny, her books and journalism took on many varieties of discrimination Gloria Steinem, the American feminist and journalist whose activism helped push through greater rights for women around the world has died, aged 92.
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Jury consultant experts say gender is one of the weakest predictors of how a jury decides. Here’s what matters more.
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Midlife adults are prone to this disorder, especially women.
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“Adding geologist to my resume after hitting rock bottom.”
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On Women’s Equality Day, the unfinished fight for constitutional equality extends far beyond abortion. State equal rights amendments—and, ultimately, a robust federal ERA—could reshape how the law treats pregnancy, motherhood, work and family life.
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For 250 years, women have been fighting for inclusion in the nation’s founding promise of equality. The Equal Rights Amendment would finally guarantee that equality under the U.S. Constitution—and could give Congress and the courts powerful new tools to address discrimination in education, employmen
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Who says you can’t transform your skin overnight? I can’t lie, TikTok influenced me. I finally found the three-step skincare routine that actually works for my skin: Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser , Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM 400 , and SK-II Essence .
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A teenage girl watches a 30-second TikTok video by @Clairebear describing "a day in hell" in her life, "ADD edition": “I get up and go to work and realize I don’t have gas in my car. I get to the gas station and reach for my credit card and remember that I don’t in fact have my card because I keep t
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Multi-talented artist Serayah McNeill is choosing herself. The new mom shared a lengthy statement on Instagram on Monday (August 24) explaining that she’s ending her engagement to rapper Joey Bada$$ due to ongoing infidelity.
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Jacqueline Lamba lived in the shadow of her French poet husband and was essentially erased from modern art history. A groundbreaking biography Jacqueline Lamba: The Forgotten Surrealist (published April 7, 2026, by Merrell Publishers) from art historian and author Salomon Grimberg, repositions Lamba
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“You’ll never have worse cell service than when you’re looking up a coupon for the store you’re currently shopping in”
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An expert on politics and gender weighs in on the combative CNN segment hosted by Abby Phillips.
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I know we’re still very much in the thick of summer—temperatures are high, vacations are still being booked, and my sandals haven’t exactly been retired yet—but my mind? It’s already somewhere in October.
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Thousands of fans, writers, nightlife legends and artists walked between the legs of a towering inflatable Madonna last month—a fitting monument to four decades of Madonna's subversive expression of female sexuality and autonomy.
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Angela Simmons is stepping into her entrepreneur era in style. During a recent appearance at the pre-launch of her skincare line, Renuéx by Angela Simmons , at Earn Your Leisure’s Invest Fest, Simmons stepped out in a look that might just have you opening your wallet to invest in her latest venture.
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Women reveal how they reliably get off, either on their own or with a partner
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The famed strapless top is necessary for the summer season. From tube tops to blouses that just happen to be strapless, we’ve been keeping our eye out for the best way to style one from day to night. In the summertime, your days just feel longer with the sun setting later, giving us all more time to
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As salient as extreme heat and wildfires have been this summer, an important dimension has been mostly absent from discussions of it: gender. Climate change impacts are not gender-neutral. Heat affects different populations in different ways.
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“wow I’m so glad I turned that barely noticeable pimple into an open wound”
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Today, Paramount Pictures has released the final trailer for BY ANY MEANS , the upcoming crime thriller starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg. Inspired by real events, the film takes audiences to Mississippi during the 1960s, where Abdul-Mateen plays a young Black FBI agent investigating
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There’s one more item that Lauryn Hill should add to her list of iconic things she’s known for. In addition to the out of this world vocals and lyricism, acting skills, head-turning natural hair looks, and impeccable eclectic fashion sense, her signature makeup look is one to note as well.
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Few were surprised by the court’s ruling in West Virginia v. B.P.J. upholding a West Virginia law prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in sports corresponding to their gender identity. How the court justified its ruling, however, has troubling implications.
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There are officially 43 days left of summer (yes, I’m counting and dreading it!). But there’s one thing that makes the gradual transition to a new season a little easier: picking out new nail colors ! As the weather cools and summer starts to wind down, our editors are gravitating towards transition
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Meagan Good , you’ve been good to us for so long. With over three decades as an actress, our eyes have been on you since day one. After gaining acclaim from her leading role in Eve’s Bayou , we’ve seen her in a series of Black classics like Stomp The Yard , Roll Bounce , and nowas “Camille” in Prime
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Few athletes have mastered the art of game-day style quite like Jalen Hurts . Throughout his rise from college football standout to NFL superstar, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback has established a fashion identity rooted in sharp tailoring, modern menswear, and an unmistakable sense of confidenc
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The Trump administration is attempting to weaken one of the nation’s most important workplace discrimination protections—a legal standard that has, for decades, allowed workers to challenge hiring and promotion policies that unfairly exclude qualified people, even when those policies appear neutral
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Just because summer is beginning to wind down doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to. Brandon Blackwood is making the case for one last vibrant style statement with the launch of Verano: Summer Brights, the designer’s second seasonal drop following the success of his coveted Raffia collection.
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The rainy debut marked the start of America’s first women’s professional baseball league in almost three decades.
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The Supreme Court’s 2025-2026 term concluded earlier this summer, continuing the Court’s hard-right trajectory. This slide has sweeping implications for gender justice—and, in turn, the stability of our democracy.
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America's monuments tell us who matters. Yet on the National Mall, where presidents, generals and founding fathers dominate the landscape, women's contributions remain strikingly absent. The battle over a permanent Smithsonian American Women's History Museum exposes how contested women's place in ou
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Packing for Martha’s Vineyard is all about embracing effortless coastal style with pieces that feel timeless, versatile, and polished. Whether your itinerary includes leisurely mornings in Edgartown, afternoons spent at Inkwell Beach, or sunset dinners overlooking the harbor, your suitcase should be
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Please note that SCOTUS Outside Opinions constitute the views of outside contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SCOTUSblog or its staff. In one of the last decisions in argued cases this term, West Virginia v. B.P.J.
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In the last few years, travelers have been choosing restful vacations over adventure-packed ones. To meet demand, resorts are following suit, rolling out packages that prioritize sleep , longevity, and mindfulness.
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Midlife adults are prone to this disorder, especially women.
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We’ve been patting our weave since before Beyoncé said to . Itchy scalp while wearing braids and wigs is an unresolved issue in the Black community. Studies show darker skin is more prone to dehydration, with less ceramides and a higher level of transepidermal water loss.
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“just got hospitalized for being cringe. they put me in the awk ward”
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Singer Nivea recently announced that she’s been diagnosed with leukemia , but she shared the news without sadness or fear, because treatment so far has been positive, and so has her mindset. She shared the news while taking part in the popular Cadillac Chronicles .
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We The Urban 2026 Day-to-Day Calendar Joy. Love. Growth. This calendar tells you exactly what you need to hear to get through every day this year. Available at andrewsmcmeel.com $18 buy now Oura Ring 4 Ceramic Keep your body on track with a ring that measures over 50 health and wellness metrics, giv
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According to Blake Lively's allegations, Justin Baldoni repeatedly discussed his porn addiction and personal sex life, made comments about her body and improvised physical intimacy that had not been choreographed.
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"The double standards need to be eliminated."
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All the NSFW details on how to do this position, according to sex therapists.
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Trump's Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague Letter on July 10 warning schools they risk losing federal funds if they fail to protect students from sexual misconduct by school employees. The accompanying press release announced that the Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will open
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The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday, June 30, that states may prohibit transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, holding that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment does not prohibit such bans.
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When women think of their earliest beauty memories, their mothers often come to mind. From watching them put on their lipstick (then sneaking some when they’re not looking) to stealing their favorite perfumes off their vanity, a mother’s beauty rituals are too tempting to not try out ourselves.
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Havaianas may have laid the groundwork, but they’re no longer the only flip-flops defining the category. Once reserved for beach vacations and poolside afternoons, the simple sandal has evolved into one of fashion’s most essential summer shoes.
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At the end of a recent talk on the Supreme Court’s latest term I was asked what surprised me most about the term. I was not surprised by the results in the most high-profile cases of the term, such as tariffs , presidential removal power , birthright citizenship , and restrictions on transgender ath
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If you spent any time scrolling through your feeds this past weekend, you already know that Beyoncé and Rihanna completely dominated the internet during JAŸ-Z’s historic concert. While their presence alone was enough to cause a stir, it was their coordinated style choices that truly set the fashion
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True crime brain is easy to slide into, experts say, especially for women.
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Raise your awareness of gendered language on the job.
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"does anyone know how much kindness it takes to kill someone"
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Two Gen Z women who research gender equity unpack the "aspiration gap" in their generation's parenting desires.
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There is a reality we seldom notice: the physical contortion constantly required and tolerated by women to get through the day. It’s everywhere if you pay attention: the woman struggling to reach and hold on to the strap on the moving subway car; the corporate attorney changing her gait to avoid bli
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Missy Elliott is part of the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture lineup. Don’t miss out—tickets here: Get Tickets “I was always just different,” reflected Missy Elliott to Brooklyn White in her 2023 ESSENCE cover interview .
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In 1965, the National Farm Workers Association announced their decision to join the striking Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee on Sept. 16—Mexican Independence Day. The choice of date reflected the hybrid identity of Chicanos: straddling Mexican and American cultures, Spanish and English, ro
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Donald Trump’s jingoistic whitewashing of the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country will no doubt celebrate the 1773 Boston Tea Party, where the Sons of Liberty protested oppressive British import taxes.
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Since the nation’s independence, male sex workers have been intertwined with America’s history. Their existence has been reviled, criminalized, and scapegoated, but rarely acknowledged openly. Throughout history, both women and men hired male sex workers to act out the desires that they couldn’t saf
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A viral tweet started as a dig at young women. Then, Gen Z and millennials turned it into something so much bigger.
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As Hollywood prepares to introduce Supergirl to a new generation with Craig Gillespie’s upcoming feature film, it’s crucial to remember that her greatest battle was never against a supervillain, but a culture that never seemed entirely comfortable with a woman occupying the same space and possessing
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Pharrell Williams continues to redefine modern menswear at Louis Vuitton . And for Spring/Summer 2027, he found inspiration in an unexpected muse: the surfer. Rather than leaning into beachwear clichés, Williams translated the effortless ease of surf culture into elevated tailoring, creating a colle
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"been on my last straw for bout 300 straws now"
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Michelle Obama is part of the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture lineup. Don’t miss out—tickets here: Get Tickets Michelle Obama has been delivering style moment after style moment. From the press tour for her podcast IMO, which she co-hosts alongside her brother Craig Robinson, to the opening of the
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If you haven’t heard by now, Amazon Prime Day is officially back, but don’t let the name fool you. The blockbuster savings are sticking around for much longer than a mere 24 hours. From June 23 through June 26, the everything store is slashing prices on top-tier finds across every single department.
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Soccer is one of the most beloved sports in the world, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup—the largest in the tournament's history—has drawn millions of fans across the globe. This year, for the first time, the event is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with matches and related e
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Grammy-winning singer Muni Long left the “ Brandy and Monica: The Boy Is Mine Tour ” earlier than expected last year due to a need to focus on her health. But what she didn’t detail, until now, was that her doctors told her shortly after that if she didn’t get a lung transplant, she would die.
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As conservative organizations are carefully curating messaging about femininity, marriage and traditional values, the data tells a different story: Feminism remains remarkably popular, especially among young women. The post The Tradwife Fantasy Isn’t Replacing Feminism appeared first on Ms.
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Two Gen Z women who research gender equity unpack the "aspiration gap" in their generation's parenting desires.
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Essence Festival of Culture is happening July 3-5. Don’t miss out—tickets here . As the ESSENCE editors prepare to work their magic behind the scenes at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, one thing is certain: the outfits have to be just as impactful as the moments they help create.
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"can u wear a tankini on love island or would u be executed"
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"Calling male work superiors 'girl' after they refer to me as 'bro.'"
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The vice president admits a 2021 comment attacking women without kids "was a boneheaded comment," designed to provoke rather than illuminate.
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In modern dating, situationships are everywhere. People are hooking up, talking every day, even building routines together, but if you ask if they are in a relationship, the answer is no. Dating didn’t always look like this.
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Melinda French Gates announced last week a historic $215 million commitment to women’s health, including a $10 million gift to the Menopause Society. It is a beautiful and necessary act of generosity. It arrives on the same day a new Mayo Clinic study showing hormone therapy use among menopausal wom
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"'Runaway brides' should be called 'near Mrs.' Thank you, this is why I have a PhD"
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Jordyn Woods is quickly becoming the New York Knicks’ unofficial lucky charm, thanks in part to her courtside style and her signature Woods by Jordyn Tux Clutch. Throughout the season, Woods has delivered standout game-day looks while supporting her fiancé, and Knicks player, Karl-Anthony Towns.
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What’s better than one natural style? Two. And Jay-Z knows this to be true, too, as he’s been exploring different natural hair looks as of late—be it locs or an afro—and reminding us of the beauty and versatility of our hair each time.
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"Many women assume a bra is still fine if it looks relatively new. However, a bra can effectively be ‘dead’ long before there are obvious visual signs of wear."
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Summer is officially heating up, and the concert of the season will be in your city before you know it. Two of R&B’s most iconic performers, Usher and Chris Brown, are hitting the road together, promising a night filled with legendary choreography, timeless hits, and unmatched energy.
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Teyana Taylor is adding another accolade to an already remarkable career. BET announced today that the Harlem native will receive the Icon of the Year Award at the BET Awards 2026, which will be held later this month at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Comedian Druski is set to host the ceremony.
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The condition is painful, limiting and often mistaken for normal wear and tear. Here's what you need to know.
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“What's notable is that it doesn't address the substance of what the woman is saying."
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When the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) unveiled the first wave of celebrity promotions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the messaging was familiar: unity, celebration and global connection through sport.
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By India Espy-Jones · Updated June 4, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… In the words of Golloria : “A bronzerrr!?” With less than a month until the hottest season of the year, she’s right.
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By Akili King · Updated June 3, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… It’s a great day to be a Knicks fan. Why? Playing against the Spurs, the NYC basketball team will be heading into Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tonight.
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Three recent developments reveal how private equity—and Cerberus Capital Management in particular—has gained influence inside the Trump administration’s Pentagon, from defense leadership to procurement to a new $200 billion investment initiative.
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Of the 22 nominees up for promotion, just two non-white officers made the list, and none were women.
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Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence By Mecca Pryor · Updated May 29, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… The Essence Festival of Culture 2026 is happening July 3 – July 5. Don’t miss out—tickets here: Get Tickets On Sunday, July 5th, Essence Festival goers will be stepping into t
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"Let's join the cicadas this summer and scream."
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The practice is not entirely serious – but it raises awareness of the many sexist tropes built into everyday life When Tori Dunlap writes a letter or email to a heterosexual couple, she puts the woman’s name first in the greeting.
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Midlife adults are prone to this disorder, especially women.
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If you do anything this summer, let it be applying the most important skincare step of all: sunscreen. If you’re not careful, “UVA and UVB rays are dangerous and can […] The post The 18 Best Sunscreens For Black Women appeared first on Essence .
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I am not alone in receiving unsolicited emails—especially as a professor, public writer and thinker, and woman who dares to speak her mind. Often, the emails are thoughtful, engaging and sometimes deeply moving expressions of gratitude that warm the heart.
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It’s official: British musician FKA Twigs is the new Josephine Baker—in her upcoming biopic, that is. With shooting beginning in the fall, the film via French-Senegalese writer-director Maïmouna Doucouré is […] The post 7 Times FKA Twigs’ Beauty Looks Have Resembled Josephine Baker’s appeared first
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In 2016, just after President Donald Trump was elected to his first term, a small group of women crowded together in an apartment in Brooklyn. While balancing mugs and sitting crisscross on the floor, they began to share what they had been afraid to say out loud.
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This blog is part of our series for AANHPI Heritage Month. You can check out the next blog in the series here. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women and leaders have made significant contributions to the feminist movement’s aspiration towards intersectional justice and
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Angel Reese has always been that girl. She spent her first two seasons in Chicago being one of the most watched, most talked about, most everything players in the WNBA, […] The post Angel Reese And The Atlanta Dream Are Bringing A Fashion-First Approach To Women’s Sports Apparel appeared first on Es
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Double standards aren‘t formed overnight—they’re often passed down through generations of men and women reluctant to do away with them. Nick Cannon is the latest perpetuator of the patriarchy, standing […] The post Op-Ed: On Nick Cannon And The Problem With Letting Sons Date While Policing Daughters
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PLEZi Nutrition is reintroducing its hydration drink with a sharper focus on performance and everyday use, bringing Stephen and Ayesha Curry further into the fold as co-founders and creative partners. […] The post Stephen And Ayesha Curry Reintroduce PLEZi Hydration With A New, Family-Focused Approa
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Happy April, and Happy National Poetry Month. Since my dormant love of poetry was reignited, I’ve found it so refreshing and inspiring to read beautiful collections each year and share them with you. In 2021, I tried something a bit different with the poetry list: Instead of the usual blurb, I focus
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In 2024, comedian Nora Fried started the Rosebuds Reading Collective, a monthly book club for women incarcerated at Rikers Island, New York City’s island jail. “I was looking forward to this all month,” Fried recalls multiple women telling her. “This is the only thing I had to look forward to.
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Baby boomer Caroline Stone is dismayed at the rise of tradwife influencers, whose advice was followed for a month by the Guardian’s Lucy Knight I very much enjoyed Lucy Knight’s article (
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President Donald Trump has nominated Erica Schwartz, MD, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The former deputy U.S. surgeon general and retired rear admiral served as deputy […] The post Meet Erica Schwartz, The Black Woman Trump Tapped To Lead The CDC appeared first on Essence .
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Last night, Raven Johnson went 10th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft with Indiana Fever selecting her to join their new roster. A point guard since 2021, she has been […] The post How 10th Overall Pick Raven Johnson Got Ready For The WNBA Draft appeared first on Essence .
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This year alone, rom-coms like The Drama and You, Me & Tuscany have put Black women in the mood to find love. Or, at least for a date night. But, […] The post Nia Long’s Favorite Estée Lauder Serum Is Like Beauty Sleep In A Bottle appeared first on Essence .
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Gone Too Soon: Celebs Who Died Young The post Gone Too Soon: Celebs Who Died Young appeared first on Essence .
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Dr. Rosemarie Garland-Thomson is a pioneering scholar of bioethics, humanities, disability justice and culture, and professor emerita at Emory University. Widely considered the founder of feminist disability studies, Garland-Thomson is the author of several canonical works, including Extraordinary B
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This week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a landmark case that seeks to fundamentally rewrite the substance and meaning of one of the most important provisions of the Constitution—birthright citizenship—by presidential fiat.
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In the wake of the ban on girls and women’s education in places like Afghanistan, I ask: What is it about a girl with a book that so frightens a man with a gun? It is because women’s education is a vaccine against any kind of misogyny.
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From Mary Wollstonecraft to Sojourner Truth, the fight for women’s rights emerged alongside—and was fundamentally shaped by—the struggle to abolish slavery and secure universal human rights. On the 250th anniversary of the founding of the republic, it is timely to trace the history of American femin
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In a powerful rebuke, 112 gender equity and survivor advocacy organizations sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly M. Richey on Feb.
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There’s a version of you that already exists. She arrives early, drinks water before coffee, sends the email, picks up the check, books the flight, and, somehow, always has the […] The post Why You Should Be Dressing For The Life You Want appeared first on Essence .