We love Tracee Ellis Ross for so many reasons — she’s beautiful (inside and out), she’s hilarious, damn good at her job, and so humble (even though she’s a clear vet in the entertainment industry who doesn’t have to be humble about A THING, you hear me?!). This week, the beauty blew us away with gorgeous photos for the Essence October Hair Issue, quite literally demonstrating that Black hair is chameleon-like. Transformative. NOT any one thing. Inside the issue, Tracee talks creating the product to match that level of beauty, overcoming the insecurities she grew up with, Trump, and much more.

Here are 7 things we learned about the icon living.

1. She wondered if she’d ever amount to anything, outside of her mom’s fame.

“I remember the first time I was on ESSENCE. I was on it with my mom. I thought, Okay, dreams are real, and they can happen. Still, as Diana Ross’s child, you wonder whether you will become anything in your own right. So it was a really big moment to go from being on the cover of ESSENCE with my mom to having my own cover. Now I’ve had three on my own and one with my mom. That’s crazy! I feel a little humbled by that, knowing I have truly filled my own shoes—and maybe even had to buy a couple of new pairs at times. There are people who have no idea that my worth is not based on my mom or what I look like. There’s a wholeness to me that I cherish.”

2. Like us, mainstream media made her feel insecure about growing up Black.

“…We are a community of sisters told by mainstream society that we are not the thing, and I know I’ve had to make my own way through that messaging. I look out and see other sisters and think, I see you. Do you see me? Because I see you. That was really what I felt in that moment of my Golden Globes win. It was lovely for that light to shine in my direction, but we have been shining out here. I don’t know about you, but I see women and Black women being the leads all over the place. In so many unique and extraordinary ways we’re changing the script, curating our own lives, handling so much with grace and humanity and joy.”

3. She thought Hollywood would show WAY more love after her role in Girlfriends. 

“There were moments of that. I really thought when Girlfriends finished that the pearly gates of Hollywood were going to open, and they were going to be like, ‘What movie would you like, ma’am? Please, choose whatever.’ That did not happen. It forced my soul to continue to search for what it longed for, dreamed of, wanted to be. It allowed me to continue to create an unbreakable, unshakable foundation for my life, a relationship with myself that is based not on what everybody outside is saying but on what I believe is good and right.”

4. She’s not just emotionally open on social media. She’s that way in real life, too.

“I cry when I need to cry. I sleep when I need to. I get down on my knees. I meditate. I have friends who are in my life for everything and people who are steps ahead of me who I go to for mentorship. I share my vulnerability, my shame, my hurt, my loneliness. And texting is really great, because you can privately share the darkest things while you’re sitting on a set, and you can get that support right back into your phone without anyone ever having to hear you.”

5. Like us, she is troubled by the current state of America.

“There is a war that is happening, a fight for control over women’s bodies. Children in cages. Concentration camps in our country, right now. It keeps me up at night.”

6. It took her twenty years to realize her hair care entrepreneurial dreams – so, don’t give up.

“…About 20 years ago, I went into a salon and a guy was like, ‘Oh, my God. Do you know how many people come in here with a magazine picture of your hair and tell me that’s what they want? I tell them I’m going to have to sew it in.’ And I was like, ‘No, no, no. It’s not about sewing it in—it’s about having the right products.’ We have to have the right products to nourish, hydrate, moisturize and soothe our hair. With the right products and tools, our hair can do anything. That’s when I starting thinking about the idea of creating my own product line.”

“Twenty years of dreaming,” she said earlier on in the cover story. “Ten years of trying, strategizing and asking. Five years of continuing to learn. Four years with chemists, and 74 samples later, we’re here. I am launching a haircare line for curly, coily and tight, textured hair to empower people and meet the unmet needs of our community at a price point we can afford, because we know that we need a lot of product in all this hair.” 

7. Self-love was a journey for her. It was Nina Simone who helped Tracee realize Black is beautiful.

“It took me way longer than I wish it had. I’d catch glimpses of people who saw beauty in ways I had missed because of the blinders society gave me. Then one day I was watching a Nina Simone documentary and I thought: Wait. It should be her name next to the word ‘beauty.’ Why was I sold the wrong vision? My heart knows that’s beauty.”

CLICK HERE to get into Tracee’s full interview. As already demonstrated, it does not disappoint.

Tisha Campbell Guest Starring On “The Bold and the Beautiful”

Tisha Campbell is coming back to TV very soon. The veteran actress is guest-starring on CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Campbell who’s filming today, September 11, will play a character named Dr. Davis and her first episode airs 10/4.

“The Bold and the Beautiful” airs weekdays on CBS.

Will YOU be watching???

Patriots New Star Antoino Brown Accused Of Raping Former Trainer

The news cycle of Antonio Brown calmed for all of three days–but things are picking up right where they left off. After receiving several fines, losing $30 million showing his azz to get off the Raiders roaster with a recorded phone call, and ending up a Patriot, you’d think he would be out of headlines for a while. But that is most definitely not the case.

According to reports from TMZ, AB is now the focus of a rape lawsuit. A trainer by the name of Britney Taylor is accusing the wide receiver of raping & sexually assaulting her not once, not twice, but on three different occasions over the last several years.

The story obtained in court documents states that the first encounter happened in June 2017 at his Pittsburgh home, not too long after being hired by him as a personal trainer. On that occasion, court documents state “Brown exposed himself and kissed [her] without her consent”. Later, at his Florida residence, “Brown, while positioned behind her, began masturbating near her without her knowledge and ejaculated on her back”.

Following those two incidents, she also claims he bragged about it to her, which is when she chose to stop working for him. Months later, Taylor claims he reached out to make amends and have her return to training him. While she was skeptical, she eventually resumed training sessions against her better judgement.

Almost a year later, on May 20th 2018, court documents reveal “Brown cornered [her] forced her down onto a bed, pushed her face into the mattress, and forcibly raped her”. Taylor expressed she tried to fight back but he over powered her as she screamed and cried and yelled both “no” and “stop”. As for the emotions she felt after the ordeal, “she had near-daily panic attacks, frequent suicidal ideations, and insomnia. She has also lost a remarkable amount of weight — 30 pounds in one month — due to stress.”

As the story broke, Taylor has issued her own statement via her lawyer:

“As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision…I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault. Speaking out removes the shame that I have felt for the past year and places it on the person responsible for my rape…I will cooperate with the NFL and any other agencies; however, at this time, I respectfully request that the media please respect my privacy.”

In her lawsuit, Taylor is seeking compensation for physical injuries, pain and suffering, humiliation, embarrassment, stress and anxiety, loss of self-esteem and self-confidence, and emotional pain and suffering.

The two met when they were both students and members of the ‘Fellowship of Christian Athletes group’ at the University of Central Michigan.

As for AB’s response, he denies the sexual assault and rape allegations, but not the situations themselves, claiming that all of their encounters were consensual. In his statement, he walked the lines of victim blaming and mentions being approached by Taylor after he became one of the ‘highest paid’ wide receivers in the league. He also points out her asking him to invest in a business venture, all pretty weird things to mention in a rape lawsuit response.

You can read AB’s full statement via his lawyer here.

Maxo Kream And Megan Thee Stallion “She Live” Music Video

Maxo Kream might not be a household name just yet, but his new album Brandon Banks is definitely one of the best rap releases of 2019.

One of the highlights of the Houston-native’s album is a song called “She Live” featuring his H-Town sistren Megan Thee Stallion.

Today the 3rd coast duo released a music video for the song. Press play down bottom to check it out.

[embedded content]

Hate it or love it?!?!

Perhaps the only thing more challenging than deciding on what to bring on a trip is attempting to fit all the items in your luggage. You either have to play a game of Tetris and arrange your stuff like a puzzle, or just decide to leave some things behind. Of course, you could splurge on a bigger bag, but that’s money you could be spending on Mai Tais by the beach.

This is where something like the Dr. Save Vacuum Travel Kit comes in handy. It’s an ingenious tool that saves you more space in your luggage, so you can fit more items like souvenirs and that new pair of sneakers you’ve been dying to wear on vacation.

The device removes air and compresses items placed inside the included airtight vacuum bags, protecting your clothes and eliminating moisture, mildew, and odors. It can reduce the size of soft goods by up to 70 percent, so you can pack way more in less space. The provided transparent bags make it easier to arrange your stuff, and the pump’s compact design allows for easy portability.

Check out how it works:

[embedded content]

When you’re not packing for a trip across the other side of the world, you can also use Dr. Save at home with items like bulky winter coats or comforters. Now you can pack them away for long-term storage without hogging too much space in your cabinet.

Typically retailing for $69.95, the Dr. Save Vacuum Travel Kit is on sale for a limited time for only $39.99 — a savings of 42 percent.

Prices are subject to change.

Bossip has teamed up with StackCommerce to bring you the best deals on the web. We may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.