In the last episode of the year, I was the Naked Beauty interviewee. Our incredibly talented producer, Mbiye Kasonga, and I sat down to reflect on the previous two years we’ve spent working together. She asked me about my interest in storytelling and my experiences after a full year of working for myself and taking creative risks. It gave me a chan…

“For me, my flaws are what make me and I've learned through years to embrace that, and I like them now.” Issa Rae, actress, producer, and serial entrepreneur talked about all things beauty and self care on this week’s episode. Issa shared what it was like growing in L.A. and how a trip to Senegal reaffirmed her beauty when she was still in high sch…

In today’s episode of Naked Beauty, I spoke to three writers from top beauty brands: Glossier, Dieux, and Sol de Janeiro for a deep dive into all things beauty copywriting. In the crowded landscape of beauty, tone, and voice are key ways for brands to break through the noise. I’ve been wanting to do an episode on this topic for so long - tune in fo…

Sir John and I had a fascinating conversation with Dita Von Teese, the Queen of Burlesque. We talked about her childhood and the Hollywood starlets that inspired her to transform into the pinup girl of her dreams. Dita shared with us how her start dancing in the rave and strip club scene empowered her to always be her unique self. We also got the i…

Welcome to another Beauty Rant/Beauty Rave, and this time I had to dedicate an entire episode to the beauty cycle I’m currently in the grips of: lash extensions. What started as a simple birthday set of lashes has turned into a whole lash journey and I unpack it all, lash blindness included. I go over some practical advice on maintaining extensions…

In our follow-up conversation Elaine and our mothers discuss the many lessons that motherhood teaches us about ourselves before and after giving birth. Elaine talked about the Birth Fund, and what spurred her to provide midwifery care to families across the U.S. She explained some of the differences between the traditional medical model and midwife…

Episode Description: In this heartfelt episode of Naked Beauty, I sat down with Elaine Welteroth, an acclaimed journalist and founder of Birthfund, along with our iconic mothers for an intimate conversation about motherhood. Elaine and I are deep into our second pregnancies, a time that sparks a lot of reflection, so we thought it’d be great to ref…

“I think self-love and happiness are habits” - Law Roach In this episode of the Naked Beauty podcast, Sir John and I spoke with the one and only Image Architect Law Roach. We explore his remarkable journey in transforming celebrities into fashion icons, delving into his path from the south side of Chicago to styling stars like Zendaya, Celine Dion,…

Author, journalist, TV presenter, fellow podcaster and creator Candice Brathwaite-Aboderin is here on the pod and ready to talk through the evolution of her relationship with beauty. From her tomboy phase where she was completely uninterested in appearances, to her dancehall girl phase battling breakouts for the first time, to life as a mom helping…

Brigette Romanek is an Architectural Digest-recognized interior designer who has furnished the homes you’ve likely drooled over on Instagram. Given my recent move and renovation journey, I’ve been dying to get her on the show, and just as I expected our conversation was spectacular. We delve into her self-taught journey, collaborations with high-pr…

Sir John and I had an incredible conversation with Robert Meyer, a skincare expert, and top Shiseido training executive. Robert talked with us about what his decades-long career, at some of the most influential beauty companies, has taught him about beauty and the consumer experience. Specifically, how Shiseido successfully translates 150 years of …

I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Zambia with my husband, son, and growing baby, and I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by all the beauty I saw. In this beauty dispatch from Zambia, you'll hear about the beauty insights I gained, from marveling at the local wildlife and skincare traditions to making Mongongo oil with the Booma Women’s Co…

Trigger warning: We discuss emotional and physical abuse in this episode. In Part Two of our conversation with Jackie Aina, Sir John and I learned even more about what drives her. Jackie shared how she learned to enforce boundaries with her huge online community of supporters and how to engage with difficult topics. This led to an incredible discus…

Sir John and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jackie Aina, the original YouTube It Girl turned entrepreneur and advocate. For the past 15 years Jackie has shaped conversations about Black women in beauty on every major social media platform. In part one of our conversation we talked to Jackie about what inspired her to create content initial…

I had the incredible opportunity to partner with Shiseido for a live conversation with everyone’s favorite triple threat, Kelly Rowland and Face Architect Joomee Song. During Shiseido’s inaugural Benefiance retreat, we talked everything beauty, business, travel, and motherhood. We had such a great time talking about our respective visits to Japan, …

The Naked Beauty fragrance is finally here! Over the course of the last 10 years, I’ve been experimenting with creating my own fragrances, mixing essential oils until I found blends that I loved. Now, many years later, my very first fragrance, Naked Beauty has finally launched, and I wanted to give you an in-depth look at what it took to make the f…

"If you're not getting nos, you're not challenging yourself to your full potential." Last month, Sir John and I had a great live show in Beverly Hills. As a Cancer and a Leo, this time of year naturally brings reflection for both of us, and we went deep during the live show! The energy in the room was amazing, and the conversation was so incredible…

In my follow-up conversation with Amy Koberling PA, The Skinthusiast, we talked about all things pregnancy skincare. The conversation covered our experiences with pregnancy myths about products, skincare treatments, and even food. Amy shared her professional opinions about why expecting moms don’t need brand new skincare routines, dietary books she…

Over the course of 18 packed hours, I shadowed the ambitious and energetic Sabrina Elba for 54 Magazine. When 54 reached out and asked me to write the cover story on Sabrina and her award-winning S'ABLE Labs brand I knew I had to do it, despite having never written a cover story before. In less than 24 hours, Sabrina and I did pilates, tested lab s…

When I met Amy Koberling aka The Skinthusiast, I knew I had to have her on the podcast to talk about what we should really be paying attention to when buying skincare. During our conversation, Amy dispelled some common beauty myths and misunderstandings about popular ingredients from benzoyl peroxide to vitamin C. Our conversation covered trends in…

In this week’s episode, Sir John and I sat down to chat about what it means to be Summertime Fine mentally and physically. Our conversation included a very special announcement from Brooke, thoughts on how we recharge after major events, and our favorite eye looks on Black women. Sir John shared some tips on elevating any look with custom grills an…

In this rerun of one of my favorite episodes, I sat down with TikTok queen herself, Tefi. Estefania Pessoa AKA Tefi is the best friend, cultural commentator, and skinfluencer we all needed during COVID-19, and if you have yet to come across her name on TikTok you are truly missing out. Tune in as we discuss her takes on both the toxicity and joy of…

“At the top of the list of what you need to know about Tanner Adell is she is glam country, it's definitely a defining feature for me.” For our second episode together, Sir John and I sat down with someone we feel is truly blazing her own trail and looking incredible doing it: Tanner Adell. This year alone she's walked her first red carpet, present…

Tune in for a LIVE conversation with the one and only Jenna Lyons. From her trendsetting tenure at J. Crew to her candid conversations about her relationship to beauty on Real Housewives of New York Jenna’s authenticity is undeniable. During our conversation, we discussed her commitment to fostering diversity in the fashion industry and what she’s …

After spending the past year developing my own fragrance, I’ve become obsessed with learning more about the process of developing fragrance. Maya Njie, an artist and self-taught perfumer, was the perfect person to dive deep on fragrance with. During our conversation Maya and I explored the scent composition of some of her top perfumes while discuss…

While speaking with Charlotte Mensah, she shared her expertise in caring for Afro-textured hair, with products, tools, and styling recommendations. Charlotte also revealed how significant it was for her to grow up surrounded by family, having her hair done and styling it for others. Our conversation illuminated her decision to develop the Curl Powe…

Charlotte Mensah, the first Black woman inducted into the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame, once turned her kitchen into a laboratory to develop products for her clients. Raised in her grandparent's Ghanian compound, Charlotte was exposed to her grandmother’s boundless creativity and her grandfather’s corporate acumen. Unsurprisingly, she harnesse…

Another edition of beauty rant and beauty rave, including a hot take about luxury skincare and my recently acquired membership to LA's Erewhon and why I was so reluctant to join the cult of this hyped upscale grocer. Tune in to hear my thoughts on: How clinical research and development separates luxury brands from competitors The question of whethe…

Tune in for a rerun of one of my favorite Naked Beauty episodes with Charlotte Palermino, co-founder of Dieux Skin and self-proclaimed skincare fairy godmother. This episode was all about unpacking and debunking ALL of the beauty rules that so many of us subscribe to. From daily exfoliation, to DIY skincare, to beauty regulations, there’s a lot to …

We need to process together! Last week, we all heard the iconic Ms. Tina Knowles bless the Naked Beauty podcast with her wisdom, wit, life, and beauty knowledge. On this episode, Sir John and I sit back and unpack our takeaways from that intimate conversation. Tune in to hear all of the behind-the-scenes details, what resonated with us most, how Ms…

Ms. Tina has been infusing bold and beautiful Texas style into global pop culture for decades. Sir John and I talked to Ms. Tina about her successful career as a stylist, her beauty regimen, building Cécred, and the significance of early exposure to images of Black beauty and power. We learned how she carries her mother's lessons about honoring cre…

Excited to share that the multi-talented Sir John will be joining me as our new Naked Beauty co-host. We’ll be doing a limited six-episode series in which we interview guests who are impacting the culture and delve into their life stories and POV on beauty and self-expression. Please join us in giving Sir John a warm welcome to the Naked Beauty Com…

It is almost time for the most iconic Monday of the year, the Met Gala. This week I spoke with several talented people in the beauty industry about their Met Gala prep, red carpet predictions, and what happens behind the scenes to make the magical event happen. Master hairstylists Nikki Nelms and Jawara Wauchope gave insight into how they build tru…

Cyndia Harvey is the force behind some of the most iconic hairstyles in luxury runway and editorial campaigns. From lace baby hair at Mugler to screen-filling curls for Jacquemus, Cyndia takes creative risks because she knows that trusting the process always leads to success. During our conversation, Cyndia talked about cultivating this radical sen…

Tarek Ali is no stranger to sharing his healing and trauma with the world. Tarek has been creating content online for over a decade as a YouTuber, advocate, author, writer, and healer. In a radically vulnerable approach to engaging online, Tarek’s audience has journeyed with him as he healed relationships with others and himself. This week we sat d…

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson knows that Black beauty brands and their founders need capital and community to circumvent systemic racism at the heart of venture capital funding. As the Founder and CEO of Braintrust Founders Studio Kendra uses her experience identifying talent and innovation to provide companies the support they require to succeed. In thi…

During our initial conversation, Erica Chidi shared so much knowledge about intimacy, wellness, and how to develop positive sexual experiences with our partners and ourselves. That conversation led us to discuss some common myths about sex and vaginal health. Tune in as we discuss: Why she believes “sex is food and food is sex” How to prioritize co…

“Our culture isn’t designed for intimacy or time with your partner…it’s about capitalism.” To have positive experiences with sex and intimacy Erica Chidi knows that we have to “keep in contact” with our bodies. Erica is a Wellbeing Guide and the CEO & Founder of Loom, an app that provides reliable information about women’s reproductive health. It w…

Exploring beyond the limits of topical beauty treatments, and into the world of cosmetic technology can often feel daunting, or even deceptive in today’s social media landscape. So, I wanted to use this episode to break through the clutter and take you all on an audio tour of an increasingly popular treatment: PRFM or PRP. For those who may not be …

"My Skin Didn't Start To Change Until I Changed The Energy Around Me." - Alicia Keys, Grammy-award winning artist, beauty entrepreneur and today's Naked Beauty podcast guest! I could not have been more excited for this interview! With braids and makeup choices that have influenced beauty culture for decades, I had the opportunity to go deep with Al…

So often, what we define as “wellness” in today’s world, can end up feeling like an expensive and unnecessary set of demands that leave us drained rather than fulfilled. Fortunately, health coach Daphne Javitch is here for real talk on how to feel more (as she puts it) “resourced”. After a long and painful journey with endometriosis, Daphne was ins…

Before there was a “clean” beauty movement, there was Indigenous beauty. Before sustainability and naturally-derived ingredients were cool, there was Indigenous beauty. Jenn Harper, Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, is here to remind us that Indigenous culture’s contributions to beauty have always been and continue to be at the center of this in…

After months of eager anticipation, Beyoncé, Ms.Tina Knowles and a team of hardworking experts have delivered on arguably one of the most important celebrity beauty ventures that we’ve seen in a long time: Cécred (pronounced “sacred”). Having received an invite to attend the debut of this haircare line and going home with all of the products, tune …

“It feels like love is being stitched into your head” When it comes to Black beauty culture, braiding is arguably one of the most important rituals that we can participate in. Not only is it a form of wearable art, but it’s a way to build relationship and community with others. Tune in as I sit down with Naked Beauty producer Mbiye Kasonga and soon…

“I had been waiting for her to 36 years…there was a lot to say.” - Crystal Anderson The relationship between love and beauty is an inseparable one. Whether it is self-love or love for another human being, beauty is almost always the end result. Producer Crystal Anderson and her partner Kiesh Herman couldn’t be a more exemplary model of this truth. …

One of my favorite things about traveling is exploring another culture or society through the lens of beauty. As founder of global and evergrowing makeup brand Violette FR, I knew that Violette would also have a rich perspective on this topic. Tune in as we discuss her favorite cities, how to protect your skin while traveling and how she derives in…

As the beauty industry continues to overload the market with new products and new “problems”, dermatologists like Dr. Naana Boakye are becoming even more essential to the skincare conversation. Having coined the term “lifestyle dermatology”, Dr. Boakye strongly believes that stress, diet, exercise, and all of our daily habits show up on the skin. T…

MUA, creator, and businesswoman Violette has built a reputation as one of the most hardworking and dedicated women in the beauty industry - and for good reason. Despite having no formal training, at just 19 years old, Violette had the vision to create one-of-a-kind pigments and to build a career on her own terms. Today, the red lipsticks, blue eyes…

Episode Description: As many of us jump into the new year with high hopes of reevaluating and shifting our daily habits, my relationship with alcohol has been top of mind. While drinking has always been in the background of my social and professional life, its side effects have never been particularly enjoyable. And after moving to LA, now more tha…

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting a number of world-renowned dermatologists that can speak to the common skincare issues that we all face. From addressing hyperpigmentation to creating a solid routine with products that work for your skin type, we discuss it all. Tune in as we tune back to interviews with: Dr. Elena Jones on hyperpig…