#black girls are pretty too
Midnight swim
Gold cost
Still Outside ✨
Lady In Red ❤️. Jersey by Occular Odyssey.
IG: occularodyssey
Happy #blackfaeday
My newest painting, Lotus Koi.
samples. #societythings
Sza, panties, panties, panties lol! But seriously such cute style, so cute, just the hair and everything!!!
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Snapchat selfies.
4 bundles of SEA Fiji curl from Indique Human Hair.
instagram.com/iloveonyinyechi
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Choose to Challenge Ableism
As International Women’s Day approaches, I’ve been thinking about this year’s theme #ChooseToChallenge, and what I can do to make a difference.
I’m extremely passionate about raising awareness on the invisible barriers people from marginalised groups face in the corporate world, however, I’ve never explored the intersections of disability and identity formation in the workplace (or wider society).
Please read, comment and share my article. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to create a working environment that supports colleagues with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions as opposed to one that inadvertently leaves many feeling excluded.
Be kind to yourself and others!
Author@iameriwa
Model @marshaellemusic
iHeartOG is not Ugly our ideology of Beauty is
I’m disappointed with the negative and dehumanising discourse sounding the “attractiveness” of Ogom Chijindu aka Og, the Nigerian-American reality television personality who appears on Basketball Wives LA.
Please let’s do our best to speak with compassion and understanding, particularly, when it concerns black dark skin women with distinct Afrocentric phenotypes.
The notion that featurismim isn’t real is undermining Og’s (and many other women who look like her) lived experience.
We must acknowledge that, like its ugly cousin RACISM, colourism, featurismim and texturism are all deeply ingrained within our psyche due to the success of White Supremacy.
If featurismim isn’t a thing then why is rhinoplasty surgery so popular among black and brown people? Kelly Rowland, Ciara, Halle Berry and other black female celebrities have surgically alerted their “Afrocentric phenotypes” because anything that has close proximity to whiteness is deemed more attractive.
Unfortunately, European colonizers have successfully engraved their standard of beauty in our minds, that we also succumb to their destructive ideologies by changing the texture of our hair ( or wearing straighter no Afrocentric weaves), lightening our skin complexion, and undergoing invasive (and no intrusive) surgery to alter our distinct African negroid features.
The whole premise of “Pretty for a Dark-skin Girl” is rooted in colourism and featurismim. As the said black girl/woman is deemed attractive because she doesn’t aesthetically look “too African” or “too Black” i.e. she doesn’t have a wide nose, a big pertruding mouth with thick lips, large eyes, basically features that are typically considered “animalistic” or “ugly”.
The gag is, our entire understanding of facial symmetry and perception of beauty was created by old white male biologists/scientists. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that our preferences for lighter skin, softer and slimmer facial features are running rampant in the Black and Brown countries white Europeans colonised ♀️
Let’s re-educate ourselves so we can teach our children that beauty is nuanced, multifaceted, diverse, but more importantly, beauty is skin deep.
Author - @iameriwa
Model - @iheartog
Representation Matters
Unfortunately, our hair has a long history of being politicised and stigmatised in society. However, now more than ever, Black women should feel empowered to wear our natural kinky curly hair in corporate/professional settings with pride.
The more we do, slowly but surely, our tight curls will no longer be considered as “unprofessional”. Furthermore, employers cannot discriminate against an employee wearing an afro, because that’s discrimination against our natural state!
Something we cannot control, no matter how much we attempt to “tame” it with harmful chemicals, it will continue to grow kinky curly.
Black queens, please remember that young Black girls are looking at us to set the example, so lets all do our best to rock our gorgeous gravity defying hair with pride ❤️✊
Author - @iameriwa
Photographed by @b.gray.pixels
Make up by @naphsie_mua
Styled by @alwoman_
Becoming comfortable with change
The older I get, the stronger my ability to navigate change with ease.
My thought process has evolved. I’m embracing change and confidently meeting it and moving through it.
I no longer invest in things that fail to bring me joy, peace, or enlightenment.
I no longer engage with people who don’t recognise and appreciate my efforts to maintain a connection.
I no longer seek approval concerning my achievements, strategies to overcome obstacles, and future aspirations.
I no longer grant extended family members, colleagues, aquitances, or old school friends access to my innermost thoughts or experiences.
I’ve grown to cherish quality time with my partner, immediate family, and dearest friends.
I’ve grown to love my flaws, while acknowledging that I’m a working progress.
I’m focused, I no longer resist change that feels uncomfortable or threatening.
Because I rest in the fact that God knows best, so if I continue to put all my trust in Him, my life is guaranteed to be beautiful (Amin Ase).
Author - @iameriwa
Model - Oriane Adjibi @myfashionbreak
Black Girls are Beautiful
When you raise your Black daughter(s) with a sense of pride in their richly melanated skin, tight kinky curly afro hair, and their natural beauty, they grow up with an unshakable amount of confidence and selflove.
They embrace their Black features and celebrate Afrocentric phenotypes on others.
They become aware of their divine feminine power and attract opportunities that propels them into greatness.
They become examples to younger Black girls, who rarely see themselves represented.
They grow up and become empowered Black women who empower others.
Black girls are Beautiful.
Thank you to @shanillia26-blog for raising such awesome daughters.
Southern girl, lost in LA
23 looks great on me 6/24
I made this “thermal” inspired bralette
in this game play ya cards right or get left and starve
