Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mercredi 2 mai 2018
Join Our Exclusive Facebook Group - Real Reviews With POPSUGAR
If we meet at a party, we might get into a 20-minute conversation about face masks. This often happens to me! As a beauty editor, people love to pick my brain about the serums that are worth your money, bold lipsticks that don't smudge, and hair products that fix frizz. It truly brings me joy to share my wisdom and advice about these topics!
We all feel like that on the beauty team at POPSUGAR; we love to talk about brands, products, and how to solve beauty dilemmas. To prove our devotion to solving your foundation crisis - one day at a time - we created a new Facebook group, where you can ask us your problems in real time. Yes, we work weekends.
Presenting Real Reviews by POPSUGAR Beauty! We hope you'll join the beauty party and get in on the daily conversations. What is so cool about this community is that we are not the only ones asking and answering questions. Women from all over the world are sharing their own tips, tricks, and favorite products.
Don't waste another second missing out on all of the fun, and join here now! See you on Facebook, beauty junkies!
May I Interest You in a $32 Light-Up Rose Gold Tweezer?
I love beauty enough to make a living writing about it, but sometimes, it can be exhausting. I can't just shave - I need to shave with a 24-karat gold razor. I can swipe on plebeian $1 discount nail polish - or I can show how bougie I am via a pricey Louboutin option.
Thankfully, the brand-new Latweez Rose Gold Plated Illuminating Tweezers ($32) look luxurious without the scary price tag. This new device will bring unprecedented chicness to your brow-removing ritual. It's stainless steel and comes in a trendy rose-gold hue, plus it has an LED light that will brighten up your bathroom.
How do you turn on this light? Glad you asked: you can illuminate your face via the Swarovski crystal on/off button. Oh you fancy, huh?
This Is What It's Like to Live With Birth Marks Covering Your Face and Body
"Ugh, what happened to you?" "You're not pretty like the other girls." "No one likes you. You look like you're covered in dirt." "No one is ever going to like you."
These remarks were the norm for me when I was growing up. Every comment hurt a little bit more than the last. I subconsciously hoarded them until they started to become the very things I was telling myself. I have a rare epidermal nevus condition called Phacomatosis pigmentokeratotica, which affects about 1 in 2,000 people. A nevus is the scientific term for birthmark or mole. My case is caused by a genetic mutation, although the specific gene remains unknown. It isn't something you'd see everyday, which was why I garnered this kind of attention.
I might've only been 7 or 8 years old, but I could still understand the magnitude of disgust behind every mean comment. I was constantly bullied in school by my peers. They would make fun of me for looking different. During sixth grade lunch hour, a boy threw food at me and crumpled notes with mean things written on them such as, "You're ugly." The harassment didn't stop with my classmates.
Parents of these kids would tell my mom and dad that I should have surgery to remove them, because I wasn't attractive. Adults walking past me would sneer at the sight of me and take pictures to laugh at. My sixth grade Spanish teacher even publically bullied me in front of class and said, "Why don't you go and connect the dots on your face?" You could imagine the amount of emotional trauma this caused to my self-esteem. I received positive comments here and there, but it was always the negative ones that held more weight to me.
My mom would take many measures to cover me up as best as she could to protect me from the world. I was always outfitted in turtlenecks and long pants. When it got hot, my mom would slather on foundation that was five times too light and too sheer for my skin. I was always running around so the makeup melted off anyway. It was not ideal.
I was taught was to hide and to cover my skin so people wouldn't say anything. But no matter how hard I tried, every negative comment and experience felt like the weight of the world. I hated what I looked like and soon I embodied everything that hurt. I believed that I wasn't beautiful and that I never could be. I briefly contemplated suicide around the end of middle school. If I just stopped everything, I wouldn't have to hurt anymore. I could stop my parents from tirelessly trying to find the best medical care for me, since at the time, most dermatologists didn't know what to do with my case. "Maybe I could stop my parents from having to take the emotional abuse. It would be so easy to end my emotional suffering," I thought to myself. [Editor's note: if you or a loved one feels suicidal, find help here.]
I am now 24 years old, and all I can say is that I am grateful I chose otherwise. It was a painfully slow but steady journey to attain self-acceptance. To this day, I feel like I still have a lot to work on. There are days when I'll cry, but I'm only human, and I need to allow myself to feel emotion. Regardless of those bad days, I know that I will always pick myself up and continue on with my life.
Today, I can't help but tell you how much I love my life and how much I am appreciative for my birthmarks. Not only have they given me confidence in my appearance, but they have also given me the strength and drive to pursue my dreams. I grew up with a lot of negativity, but slowly, I learned to stand up against it. I kept telling myself that they were wrong and that what they said meant nothing to me. I began to apply the mindset of "never taking no for an answer" to all aspects of my life.
Being bullied when I was young made me sensitive. I used to hate that I didn't have tough skin but now, I feel fortunate that I don't. My sensitivity allows me to be compassionate towards people who are hurting and it allows me to pick up on subtle hints that they are in pain. My birthmarks also taught me to be positive for myself and for other people around me. There is enough hate in this world and enough people telling us that we can't do something.
I didn't want to add to that, and instead, I chose to have a positive outlook on my life and to lift up the people around me. When I see the people around me reach success, it's a chain reaction for more great things to come. So I can't help but continue to be positive. I can't express the amount of emotional suffering I went through to get to the confidence level I am at now. I came up with things to remind myself when things were especially difficult, and I hope these tips empower you to believe in your worth and your beauty. You have so much to offer in this world! Without further ado:
1. You have to love you.
This was the most difficult, but most important idea to grasp in my journey to accepting myself. My family and friends were always encouraging about my appearance and say that it's what they love about me. It is what makes me different. What I came to realize was that although the support was strong, I could not accept it until I came to accept myself. Strength at its paramount comes from within. People can be strong for you, but it is meaningless until you truly believe you are beautiful. Once you are confident that you are strong, no one can take that away from you.
What is even more important is that once you love yourself, the negative comments you receive become so irrelevant to you that you barely even notice they exist. You can create your reality. If you bottle up those negative comments and make them a part of you, then they will overcome you. But, if you believe that you are strong and beautiful, then that will in and of itself become your reality.
Something I do to feel strong inside and out is that I go to the gym! I love lifting weights and circuit training. I make sure to work out each muscle group throughout the week. I also rarely eat out, because I love to cook healthy. The combinations of both working out and eating clean make me feel great both physically and mentally.
2. When times get tough, get tougher.
There were many situations in which I found myself behind closed doors by myself, crying because I didn't know what I did to garner such negative attention. I would just sit there and feel so bad for myself. It came to a point when I would be sitting in an ocean of used tissues, dizzy from hyperventilating and unable to squeeze any more tears out of my eyes. I realized that life goes on. It's not going to sit and wait for you to feel bad for yourself. There are things out there to be done. Goals to be reached. Empowerment to be gained. Success to be earned. I bit my bottom lip and redirected my energy into the things I felt made my life worth living.
I channeled this energy into becoming a doctor. I had been exposed to dermatology my entire life and have been fortunate to meet some incredible and inspirational physicians who changed me forever. I also have had over 60 major and minor surgeries, so I have also been exposed to the field of plastic surgery. It's something I want to dedicate my life to because I want to help people through what I am currently going through. Because of my birthmarks and the arduous journey with having them, I feel I am able to relate to my patients and lead them to a physically and mentally healthy life.
So, my lesson for you is that you need to take life by the balls and own it. Find something worth being tough about and run with it. The world is yours. You have to choose to take it.
3. Stop trying to hide it - own it!
My mom insisted that I use makeup to cover my skin when I was younger, but now, all I want to do is show the world that I am proud to be me. I tried to use foundation once, but I looked so silly. The coverage was too sheer and the amount I had to use was ridiculous. I honestly didn't feel authentic. If people look, I say let them look! Let them admire your beauty. In a world where people are dying to stand out, we are lucky to already have that trait.
Though I decided to forgo cosmetics for coverage, I still have products to protect my skin from damaging UV rays. My beauty secret is to use a broad-spectrum SPF moisturizer and body lotion. It'll also prevent premature aging, an added bonus. My favorites include: Jergens Natural Glow SPF 20 ($11) for the face and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock ($7 each), SPF 45 and SPF 100 for my body. I encourage everyone, even to those who do not have birthmarks, to use SPF. I love Jergens Natural Glow for its smell and its self-tanning product. Since I can't go out and tan, this my way of getting some color. Neutrogena's Dry Touch line is amazing because it doesn't feel heavy. I've gone through too many greasy sunblocks and am glad to say that this product line definitely does not disappoint.
4. Be compassionate.
The comments that people make must never define you. Sometimes, people will say mean things that will hurt you to the very core. It's an uncomfortable situation, especially if the topic of your appearance is an extremely sensitive subject. It's important to keep in mind that people are curious. Sometimes they are ignorant. If they are mean to you, it is because they still have more to learn about life. They just don't understand how to process your beauty. Continue to be kind, for they are simply naive.
As I get older, less mean things are said to me, but I still get asked about them. I realize that the questions come from curiosity. It's harder to understand this when it's a sensitive topic, but it's important to be compassionate and to not be defensive to those who question. I get asked all the time if I wanted to get them removed and my answer was, is, and will continue to be: no. My birthmarks made me the person I am today. They gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams in more ways than one. They have given me the confidence and grit to continue my goals of being a doctor. They made me compassionate and optimistic.
I want people out there who are going through what I went through to understand that it's OK to be a little insecure sometimes. I want you to know that you are beautiful and that you are loved, even if you can't see it. You don't have to prove your worth to anyone but yourself. You are already great. You have the potential to be even greater and you have it within you to never stop until you reach success. Believe that your differences make you unique. Be confident that they can change your life once you accept them and love them for what they are and who you can be.
Jenna Lee is currently workong on completing a Masters Degree in biomedical sciences; follow her on Instagram here!
Attention: This Makeup Brush Cleaning Hack Will Change Your Life
Every now and then there comes a beauty hack that stops you in your tracks and makes you think, "Wow that's incredible!" and "Who in the world thought to even use it that way?" That's what I thought when I heard about using an art supply store staple to clean makeup brushes.
I was introduced to this non-beauty beauty tool, the Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver ($7), by celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles, who features the product on her online store, Reed Clarke. Her store is a curated collection of her most beloved beauty finds, which she's picked during her travels around the world. According to her site, she says this is the only brush cleaner she's used since discovering it. "It gets every shade and hue out of every brush I own," she writes.
The Masters Brush Cleaner, which was created in 1979, is actually formulated to dissolve wet or dry paints - like acrylic, oil, metallic, and watercolor - from paintbrushes, and return them to their original shape and luster. According to one Amazon reviewer, "I trust all of my brushes to this brush cleaner, as does every other painter that I know. Art supplies are expensive, and preserving them properly protects and extends that investment. This cleaner has pulled some of my formerly 'ruined' brushes back from the edge." So, if you apply that same principle to makeup brushes, it makes complete sense it should translate from the art easel to your bathroom vanity.
The cleaner inside the jar is actually a solid compound, which has a faint lemon scent. It reminds me of raw coconut oil - when you push your fingers down inside it, the product melts and mushes a little bit. That firmness is what makes the cleaner so easy to use.
Here are the steps to cleaning your makeup brushes using the Masters Brush Cleaner:
- Wet the brush hairs so they are just damp enough to be able to loosen the grit off of them.
- Swirl the brush directly into the compound and work into a lather.
- Using the palm of your hand or a silicone makeup cleaning mat/mit, massage the brush hairs to work the makeup out fully.
- Rinse the brush under cold water, reshape the hairs, and lay it flat to dry on a towel.
- Dump out any excess liquid that's pooled inside the jar. And don't worry about accidentally dumping out the compound itself because it will remain in solid form, looking as clean as when you first opened the jar!
- Repeat all steps above as many times as needed for heavily soiled brushes (though I've found even my most-used foundation brush looked sparkling after only two cycles).
In total, this process takes me maybe two minutes max per brush. Typically, I look at cleaning my brushes as a dreaded chore, which means I usually put it off for way longer than I should (because who wants to spend time cleaning?). With this new method, however, I can clean any of my brushes as soon as I need to, and I've even had success cleaning my Beautyblender and other makeup sponges this way. Knowing how gentle the formula is, I'm confident using it on even my fanciest (read: expensive) brush, an Artis Oval 7. Oh, and the other good news: there's no scent left behind when the brush is fully dry. It will feel soft and restored.
The Master's Cleaner is available in four sizes: .25 oz, 1 oz, 2.5 oz, and 24 oz. I purchased the 1 oz size and thought it had just the right mouth opening for a majority of my brushes (for the fluffier ones, I simply pinched the hairs together and then dipped them inside the jar). It's tiny and lightweight enough that you can even consider throwing it in your travel makeup bag. Now if only I could figure out a way to make my entire brush collection portable, too!
The Biggest and Boldest Met Gala Hair Accessories of All Time
The Met Gala is nigh; prepare yourself for some epic headpieces. The annual event, which is cochaired by legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour, is an ever-changing spectacle (the first one was held way back in 1946), but it usually features two things.
The first thing is celebrities - lots and lots of celebrities. The second, which is most important for beauty lovers, is that said celebrities often wear extravagant headpieces. The first Monday in May is quite a time to be alive, as you can see the likes of Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna, and more all turn out in their finest headbands, hair clips, and the occasional bedazzled beret (looking at you, Karolina Kurkova).
We'll leave it up to you to decide whether these styles are hits or misses. Read on to see the biggest and boldest in recent memory.
Sculpt Your Butt and Legs With This 30-Minute Victoria's Secret Toning Workout
Stephen Pasterino is a trainer for many Victoria's Secret models, and he's here to help you tighten and tone your butt and legs. This workout, which focuses on building long, lean muscles, requires no equipment. Get ready to work your backside in a whole new way. Want Victoria's Secret model workouts on the regular? Click here to subscribe to P.Volve for unlimited streaming workouts you can easily access on any device. Press play and get ready to feel the burn.
Credits: On Anna: good hYOUman top, K-Deer tights, and Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) shoes. On Brittany: Lorna Jane top, Just Fab tights, and Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) shoes. On Stephen: Alo Yoga outfit and Nike shoes. Stephen's mat: Manduka; Anna and Brittany's mats: Vagabond Goods Yoga. Corkcicle water bottles.
The 7 Words My Kids Hear Every Night Before Bed
My kids mess up. We apologize, forgive, and together decide what to do differently the next time. But then, we move on. I made a conscious choice a few years ago not to belabor their shortcomings.
Here's why.
Our kids have so many masters. Add to that a child who is incredibly eager to please, and even I am exhausted thinking about a goal of daily perfection with countless peers, teachers, coaches, parents, grandparents, and more. My eldest daughter is that kid; a capital P pleaser. (It takes one to know one.)
I wish I could fast forward her to where I am now - with a very small handful of people whose opinions matter to me - beyond one that's divine and those living under my roof. It is my and my husband's job to help her get there, but realistically, the urge to impress is likely to increase before it wanes.
When she was 7 years old, I started to notice a recurring theme at bedtime, one of worry, a fear of failing and falling short of expectations. She suddenly used the words "overwhelmed" and "scared" a lot and seemed to have the weight of the world on her shoulders. My heart sank at the familiar feeling.
First, I was angry that she had such an intense need to please at such a young age. But then, I was the same way, especially with my parents. I remember falling asleep on nights after I had disappointed them or we'd exchanged harsh words, wondering if they'd be proud to call me their own.
Every night, I tell her in seven simple words: I am proud to be your mom.
Funny that unconditional love, which was never in question, alone was not enough. I wanted their approval too. This flashback inspired a habit I hoped would help my daughter turn off and truly rest. Every night, I tell her in seven simple words: I am proud to be your mom.
Behind the words is a silent mantra. It varies but generally includes these musings: The day is done. Flaws are expected. Mistakes teach us. The score is settled. The details don't matter. You are forgiven. You are loved. You are mine. And every single night, despite hard stuff, my head hits the pillow with immeasurable gratitude that I get to be yours.
I say the seven words to all three of my kids, but it was my eldest who made me realize it was necessary.
If I'm honest, 17 years into a career, 12 into a marriage, and nine into parenting my own children, there are still few things that give me the same zing of encouragement or punch of deflation than my parents' response to me or my choices. I don't know if one ever outgrows that. As a teenager, I occasionally heard my grandmother criticize my mom and imagined how much it must've hurt.
I'd like my kids to care less what others think, and we talk about it a lot in our house. But while we navigate that together, I never want them to question where they stand with me. My hope is that our routine bedtime exchange will remind them, no matter how many not-so-awesome choices they made or how harshly I reacted when they poorly handled a situation with a friend, disrespected an adult, or even lost an article of clothing (AGAIN), they have my unconditional love and no-strings-attached approval. Maybe, just maybe, it will make them less likely to overdo it when it comes to seeking approval from others.
One night, about a year after I started using the seven words, I heard a "Hey Mom!" in the darkness and paused pulling the door shut just in time to catch a sweet third-grade voice saying, "I'm proud to be your daughter, too!"
"Thanks, honey!" was all I could muster before I feared she would detect the ugly, happy cry brewing.
Now, on days when I feel like I am failing at this parenting thing, that memory reassures me. And I can rest better too.
100 Unusual Boy Names
Are you on the hunt for an unusual baby boy name? We've looked at the United States Social Security Administration's list of the most popular names and rounded up an A-to-Z of 100 rare boy names. Using a ranking system where 1 is the most common name, these unique boy names all have a rank of 901 or greater! But before we reveal the names, here are a few interesting trends we noted among them.
Unusual and Trendy Boy Names
Although they're less commonly used, some of the names on this list still follow recent trends. Agustin and Thaddeus fit into the Roman and Greek trend, while Houston is part of the place-name trend. Biblical names are here as well (Jeremiah and Enoch), as are creative spellings in the form of Brice, Donte, Trystan, and Zackery.
Unusual Celebrity Boy Names
Just as famous figures may drive a name up the charts, they may also keep a name relatively uncommon. Looking at some of the names in the list, not many parents are giving their boys the names Clinton, Nixon, Elvis, Hendrix, Franco, Hugh, Quinten, and Coen, all of which are associated with famous figures in the political and entertainment realms.
Unusual Boy Names Starting With S?
As you look at the A to Z, you'll notice that a few letters are missing. We looked at the names ranked 901 to 1,000 by the Social Security Administration (they don't publish name rankings beyond 1,000), and surprisingly, there wasn't an S name to be found! Other letters that escaped the bunch are U, W, and X.
Unusual Boy Names Starting With . . .
A
Agustin, Alfred, Arlo, Arian, Anders
B
Brysen, Braylin, Blaise, Brice, Benton, Bodhi, Bridger, Brecken, Broderick
C
Coleman, Clinton, Crew, Coen, Cristiano, Corban, Cayson, Camilo, Cortez
D
Demarcus, Darryl, Donte, Devan, Damari, Davon, Deon, Dimitri, Dangelo
E
Elvis, Enoch, Elian, Eliseo, Ethen
F
Freddy, Flynn, Franco
G
Gaige, Gibson, Graysen
H
Houston, Hugh, Howard, Haiden, Hendrix
I
Ignacio
J
Jaylon, Jabari, Jakobe, Johann, Jaycob, Jean, Jaydan, Joziah, Jaron, Jaydin, Jeramiah
K
Keon, Kael, Kyan, Kingsley, Kamren, Kohen, Keyon
L
Leighton, Legend, Lathan
M
Miller, Mustafa, Maxton, Mariano, Maxx, Maksim, Major, Malaki
N
Nixon
O
Otto
P
Princeton, Pierre
Q
Quinten
R
Roderick, Ross, Rey, Reuben, Ralph
T
Tyrell, Thaddeus, Turner, Trystan, Tyree, Tyrese
V
Vaughn, Vihaan, Valentin
Y
Yehuda
Z
Zaire, Zackery, Zeke
The Airplane Hack I've Done Ever Since an Older Lady Told Me To
I'd consider myself to be a pretty experienced traveler, particularly when it comes to solo plane journeys. I've had my fair share of opening up to strangers who sat next to me for eight hours, learning all about their home towns and their current trips. But my favorite type of person to sit next to on a plane is an older lady. Experienced women will always have great stories about their lives (and grandchildren), they will always be interested in my job, particularly when it comes to the world of social media. But best of all, they always have the best traveling hacks!
The best hack I ever learned was one of the simplest. I was on one of many trips to the US to visit family. During the flight, after we'd been given our hot towels, the lady next to me began using it to clean the tray table, TV, and arm rests. I immediately asked, "Do you always do that with your hot towel?" and she explained it's the dirtiest place on the plane, so it's an easy way to clean it, mess-free. She told me I should do the same, so obviously I followed this wise woman's advice!
Though the towels don't contain any antibacterial chemicals, I thought "it's got to clean some of the surface, right?" On every flight since, I've done this every time. While you won't get a hot towel on your next budget trip, it's a good tip to remember for other flights. Bringing wet wipes can also help ease those germophobe thoughts.
To the very nice lady I met flying from London to Michigan, thanks for the lifelong tip!
mardi 1 mai 2018
43 Pictures That Will Make You Appreciate Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's 3-Decades-Long Relationship
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are among the small group of celebrity couples whose relationships have really stood the test of time with 30 years of marriage under their belts. Much like longtime loves Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Tom and Rita seem to have kept the spark alive all these years, sharing smiley red carpet moments with plenty of sweet PDA. Look through to see Tom and Rita's best snaps since the '80s.
The Wise Advice Sterling K. Brown Gave Eris Baker on This Is Us: "Never Quit"
This Is Us became a near-instant success when it first premiered back in 2016, and the cast has certainly felt it. Not only is it one of the most beloved shows in America at the moment, but it's also swept up countless awards, including Emmys, SAG trophies, and Critics' Choice Television Awards. While the ride has been exhilarating for the show's leads, it has been just as crazy for its younger cast members.
We recently had a chance to talk with Eris Baker, the 12-year-old actress who plays Tess, and she admitted that the whole thing has been like a dream come true. "At 12 years old and to be getting my own SAG Award, that's what people would dream of, and [it's] such a blessing," she said. "I'm so thankful just to be a part of the show. It has given me so many opportunities and so much love, personally, and it's just a blessing to be a part of it."
Not to mention, Baker has an incredible group of costars to work alongside. While the entire cast is incredibly talented, Baker admits she really looks up to her onscreen dad, Sterling K. Brown. "He's just amazing," she gushed. "He's such a nice person. His family is the nicest family I have ever met, and he's huge right now - winning SAG Awards, multiple of them, and Emmys. Just God bless him. He's doing his thing, and he's just a star."
In true Randall Pearson form, Brown has also given Baker some solid advice during their time on set: never give up. "In between takes, Sterling will mess up or Susan [Kelechi Watson] will mess up, and me and Faithe [Herman] will mess up and they'll be like, 'Never quit. It's OK because you're not a robot,'" she said. "'You're not going to say it right or memorize it multiple times. You're going to mess up, so just never quit.'"
Well, there you have it: the Pearson family is just as adorable off screen as they are on the show.
This Heartbreaking Death in Avengers: Infinity War Completely Took Us By Surprise
Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Avengers: Infinity War ahead.
If you haven't heard by now, a lot of people "die" in Avengers: Infinity War. The film is basically a reminder from Marvel that your favorite superheroes are never really safe, and rest assured - we all got the message loud and clear. It makes sense, though. With villains like Thanos hell-bent on destroying half the universe, everyone can't make it out in one piece, right? We had our theories about who would fall prey to Thanos's quest for the Infinity Stones, but the one casualty who took us by surprise was Guardians of the Galaxy's Gamora. Her death is particularly heartbreaking for a number of reasons.
While we've known Gamora, played by Zoe Saldana, is the adopted daughter of Thanos since the first Guardians movie, we've never known the full extent of their relationship. Infinity War dives into the heart of their connection, showing how Thanos invades Gamora's home planet when she's a child and, after decimating half of the planet's population (including her mother), takes her aboard his ship to raise as his own. As Gamora explains in Guardians of the Galaxy, she was trained by Thanos to be the deadliest women in the galaxy. Thanos would regularly pit Gamora against her sister, Nebula, which causes the destructive rivalry between the two that leads to Nebula's attempt to murder Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Sounds like a healthy childhood, right?
While Gamora has never expressed anything but hatred for her adopted father, we get a look at the more complex feelings between the two when they finally come face to face on the planet Knowhere in Infinity War. The Guardians are there to retrieve the Aether (aka the Reality Stone) from The Collector before Thanos can, but they ultimately fail. Gamora, thinking she's murdered Thanos, breaks down sobbing over his dead body. It's definitely not the reaction you would expect from someone who thinks they've finally rid the world of such a huge threat. Sadly Thanos reveals it's all a trick of the Reality Stone, which he uses to distort reality and only make it look like he's died. In actuality, he's never been better, and he wastes no time incapacitating the other Guardians and kidnapping Gamora.
On Thanos's ship, the dysfunctional father-daughter pair verbally cut into each otherm as Gamora tells him she's always hated everything about her childhood. Thanos points out how he saved her from a life of severe poverty and pats himself on the back for raising her to be such a badass. Honestly, if the situation were less intense - and Thanos and Gamora weren't purple and green, respectively - it could pass as a regular conversation between an exasperated father and his frustrated daughter. Of course Thanos sours the mood by bringing up the initial mission he sent Gamora on to find the Soul Stone. Though Gamora attempts to lie her way out of it, he later reveals a captured Nebula and tortures her until Gamora is forced to confess that the stone is located on the planet Vormir.
The pair journey to the planet and once they've been guided to the top by a very interesting (and familiar) character, Thanos is told that in order to receive the stone he must provide a sacrifice. The Soul Stone demands a soul for a soul, and it must be a loved one. Gamora taunts Thanos, believing his quest has kept him from loving anyone or anything and that he's failed. But she's wrong. She visibly goes into shock when Thanos turns to her, crying, and realizes that his loved one is her. Though she attempts suicide before he can make the necessary sacrifice, Thanos is able to throw her over the cliff, sending her to her death and getting his fourth Infinity stone.
But that isn't the last time we see Gamora. In the end, after Thanos has collected all six Infinity Stones and snapped his fingers, wiping out half of the universe, he wakes up in what appears to be another dimension. Young Gamora is there, and she asks him if he did it. When he responds in the affirmative, she asks him what it cost. Thanos tells her, "Everything," and Gamora turns away from him, saddened.
Since we don't know much about the Soul Stone's abilities, we can only speculate about what that scene means. Is Gamora's soul residing in the stone, and that's why Thanos was able to speak with her in the end? Could her soul be retrieved from the stone? Would that mean another sacrifice has to be made? If time were reversed, would her soul go back to her body?! While we don't know the answer to any of these questions, we do know that Gamora will be making an appearance in Avengers 4. So, we'll just have to wait until 2019 to see where her story truly ends.
Netflix FINALLY Reveals the Release Date For 13 Reasons Why Season 2
Ever since Netflix officially renewed 13 Reasons Why for season two in May 2017, fans have been anxiously awaiting the show's premiere date. While we already know that production started this past Summer and that some new faces have been added to the mix, Netflix had only confirmed that the show will return in 2018 for a 13-episode run . . . until now. On April 30 the stream giant finally revealed that season two will begin streaming on May 18.
Given that production wrapped up in December, we were anticipating a Spring or Summer release, so this is perfect timing. On top of that, we also recently sat down with the show's newest addition, Anne Winters, who revealed that the cast has been hard at work filming "Beyond the Reasons" promos for the upcoming season.
"We're doing a lot more about warning the audience and helping everyone understand the harsh topics that we talk about because obviously, our show is very realistic," she explained. "This season, we're really trying to help the audience and parents understand where our hearts are in the background of our characters and what us as actors think about our characters." It's obvious the show is taking extra measures to combat the backlash from last season, both with the promos and in its storytelling.
According to Netflix, the show will pick up "in the aftermath of Hannah Baker's death and the start of the characters' complicated journeys toward healing and recovery." Katherine Langford recently told EW that we should expect to "see a very different Hannah," while Dylan Minnette hinted that Clay might be getting a new love interest while speaking to Us Weekly back in August 2017. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens when 13 Reasons Why returns in a few weeks!
Remember How We All Thought Iron Man Would Die in Infinity War? Here's What Happens
*Old-timey voice* Spoilers! Get your Avengers: Infinity War spoilers here!
Back in November, the internet pretty much burst into flames after Marvel released the first trailer for Avengers: Infinity War. Obviously, there is a lot to digest in the epic, action-packed footage, especially when another new trailer was added into the mix. We were quick to count all the character appearances, giggle over Thanos's interesting makeover, and gawk at the Infinity Stones. But there's something much more sinister and subtle lurking in both trailers that we need to address: the potential death of Iron Man. And, for the record, Iron Man 4 has not been announced or confirmed.
Fortunately, Iron Man does make it out of the entire ordeal in one piece. The bad news is that his survival comes at great cost. During the huge fight with Thanos on the planet Titan, the maniacal villain manages to impale Iron Man, thus mortally wounding Tony Stark. Before he can deal a final deadly blow, Doctor Strange offers to give up the Time Stone to save Tony's life. Obviously, Thanos agrees to the trade and peaces out. And so, Tony survives the movie! And no, he's not one of the people who turn to dust at the end after Thanos acquires all the Infinity Stones and snaps his fingers. Spider-Man, tragically, is.
In the wake of the film's release, Twitter was abuzz with all kinds of new reactions to Iron Man's arc in Infinity War. Some praised him as the most heroic character in the film. Others talked about how emotional they felt when Peter dies in Tony's arms. Others released fake spoilers . . . in which Iron Man makes out with Batman or Thor at the end. We're giving you the full spectrum here, people. You're welcome.
Kacey Musgraves Finds Beauty in Letting Go in Her Dreamy "Space Cowboy" Music Video
If you thought Kacey Musgraves's album Golden Hour was a total dream, just wait until you see her new music video. On Monday, the singer dropped the video for her song "Space Cowboy," and it's both moody and beautiful at the same time. As Musgraves sings about love and heartbreak, she overlooks a scenic sunrise all while the clouds roll in on her cowboy ex. Get ready to drift away as you watch the dreamy music video above.
Dwayne Johnson Just Cast John Cena in His New Movie, So the Feud Is Definitely Over
Longtime friends (and one-time frenemies) Dwayne Johnson and John Cena are working together on the big screen. On Monday, Johnson revealed that he has cast Cena in the lead role in his upcoming film The Janson Directive. "Found my star!" he announced via Twitter. "Been a long time coming and congrats to my good bud John Cena." He also added, "And if you screw up, I'm layin' the smackdown on ya."
Found my star! Been a long time coming and congrats to my good bud @JohnCena on landing the lead role for our film, THE JANSON DIRECTIVE. And if you screw up, I'm layin' the smackdown on ya 😉💪🏾 Lets work hard and make a good one. @SevenBucksProd https://t.co/pfYKbBGHAa
- Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 30, 2018
The action thriller is based on a book of the same name by Robert Ludlum, and was originally set to star Johnson. While he won't have a role in the movie, Johnson will instead produce the project with Seven Bucks, the company he founded with ex-wife Dany Garcia. Johnson and Cena certainly have history: as two WWE wrestlers turned Hollywood actors, the men had a falling out that stemmed from comments made by Cena, but apparently now it's all water under the bridge. They individually made that clear in separate sit-downs with Jimmy Kimmel earlier this month.
In a recent interview with EW, Cena also said that he would "absolutely love" to work with Johnson, calling it a "dream" opportunity. We can't wait to hear more about the movie and hopefully see these two on set together!
Did You Catch Both of Those Kanye West Easter Eggs in Westworld's Latest Episode?
Mild spoilers for Westworld below!
Westworld's second season continues to be a bit of a brain twister, huh? In addition to a premiere episode that left some fans more than a little confused, HBO's sci-fi epic is working with so many timelines that even the most loyal viewer might find themselves questioning every other scene. That being said, the series is just as intriguing as ever, providing us with as many answers to season one questions as it sparks fresh mysteries. Fortunately there's one question regarding the show's music that we can answer for you after the season's second episode, "Reunion."
During an early scene in a saloon featuring a conversation between the Man in Black (Ed Harris) and Lawrence (Clifton Collins Jr.), the establishment's piano bangs out a familiar tune: "Runaway" by Kanye West. It's just the instrumental version, so you'd be forgiven if you couldn't place it. From that scene alone we knew that the track must hold special significance for season two, given how it's also one of the songs featured in the trailers that HBO released leading up to Westworld's April premiere.
Are the creators of the series merely big My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy fans, or could it be something more? When you take a look at the lyrics, a few themes begin to emerge:
"Yeah I always find somethin' wrong
You been puttin' up wit' my sh*t just way too long
I'm so gifted at findin' what I don't like the most
So I think it's time for us to have a toastLet's have a toast for the douche bags
Let's have a toast for the assholes
Let's have a toast for the scumbags
Every one of them that I know
Let's have a toast for the jerk offs
That'll never take work off
Baby, I got a plan
Run away fast as you can"
The lyrics could illustrate the dynamic that the now-sentient hosts, like Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) and Maeve (Thandie Newton), have with their controlling puppeteers. Sure, it's a stretch, but there's no question that they, as well as many others, have been putting up with Delos's sh*t for way too long. Not to mention, Dolores all but announces her plans to run away from the park and enter the real world.
That's not the only time the song is incorporated into the episode, either. Toward the end of "Reunion," we see a flashback of Delores wandering around a retirement party held in honor of Delos's founder and CEO, aka Logan's dad and The Man in Black/William's father-in-law. She stumbles upon Logan (Ben Barnes), who's shooting up away from the prying eyes of his family. They share a brief conversation in which Logan vaguely hints at his family's company's mistakes, noting that everyone involved lit the match that's going to burn the world down. He punctuates his vague talk with Dolores by raising a glass and saying, "Here's to you, assholes."
A literal "toast for the assholes"? How fitting.
See Newt, Tina, Hot Dumbledore, and More in These New Fantastic Beasts 2 Photos
We might have to wait all the way until November for the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel - Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - to hit theaters, but thankfully the studio has blessed us with plenty of magical distractions to keep us busy. The latest is both the teaser trailer and a bunch of new photos of the cast, which we can't get enough of. There's a closer look at the movie's exciting new characters (including tons of shots of Jude Law's dashing young Dumbledore), as well as a glimpse of the film's controversial villain, Grindelwald.
This isn't the first time we've gotten a sneak peek at the sequel, either. Warner Bros. has been releasing some key details about the new movie over the last few months (like what the plot will be about in July 2017), but these photos are a revealing look at the next installment in Newt Scamander's (Eddie Redmayne) story. Take a look at every gorgeous image we've gotten so far (including a photo of Hogwarts!) before Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald hits theaters on Nov. 16, 2018.
Dancing With the Stars: Which Athletes Are Still in the Running For the Mirror Ball Trophy?
Another season of Dancing With the Stars is officially here! The special all-athletes season kicked off on Monday night, and there was no shortage of energy from the competitors. While there were certainly some powerful performances on the ballroom floor, the fun was cut short for a few athletes, as the night ended with a double elimination. See who went home, and be sure to keep checking back each week to see if your favorite is still in the running.
Becca Kufrin Rips a Photo of Arie Luyendyk Jr. to Shreds in the First Bachelorette Promo
Becca knows what she wants and we're HERE FOR IT. #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/ewbGCEH4lF
- The Bachelorette (@BacheloretteABC) May 1, 2018
Becca Kufrin is getting another shot at love, and this time she's not messing around. After getting her heart broken by Arie Luyendyk Jr. last season on The Bachelor, the 28-year-old is back and better as the Bachelorette. And if the first promo is any indication, the upcoming season of The Bachelorette is going to be AMAZING! As Kesha's empowering anthem "Woman" plays in the background, we get a shot of Becca looking sassy in a sleek gown as she tears up a heart-shaped picture of her former fiancé to shreds. Yasss! Catch the full promo above, and start chugging your wine before the premiere on May 28.
5 Reasons Independent Women Make the Best Partners
Many find independent women to be incredibly attractive. What's not to love? They know what they want and don't take sh*t from anybody else. But just because they can thrive on their own doesn't mean they're incapable of love. In fact, this type of woman makes an especially amazing partner because she's choosing to be with you. If she's making the decision to commit to you when she's perfectly fine by herself, you know that she's in it for the right reasons. Here's why you should get yourself an independent woman.
1. She knows how to exist without you.
You won't have to worry about neediness with her because she has a life of her own. She also won't guilt you into spending time with her over your friends. She'll encourage you to do your own thing while still knowing how to be very present when you are together.
2. She'll push you to pursue your goals.
Independent women are typically driven and assertive. She's going after her passions, so she will want you to do the same. She'll be your biggest cheerleader and resource while she handles her own business. Also, nothing turns her off more than a lack of ambition.
3. She can take care of herself.
She's self-sufficient and doesn't need anybody but herself, meaning you won't be expected to be by her side at all times. Of course she'll appreciate your support along the way, but she's fine with falling and picking herself back up.
4. She lets you be you.
She will never try to change you or mold you to be someone she wants you to be. If she's with you, chances are that you fit the bill already. She values being her own person and wants the same for you.
5. She makes you feel wanted, not needed.
She doesn't need you, which makes your relationship even more meaningful. She's not just keeping you around just for the sake of avoiding loneliness; she wants to be with you because she loves you and values you. Remember, she won't commit to just anybody. Though you may even feel useless at times, just know that she cares deeply and will come to you when necessary.
Every Single Thing on the Fabulous Menu at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen Restaurant
Gordon Ramsay's first Hell's Kitchen-themed restaurant opened in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace in January, and it's a must visit for big fans of the chef and the show. Not sure what to order if you're planning a visit? Check out the entire dinner menu below!
Chilled Seafood
HK Grand Shellfish Tower
lobster, king crab legs, Jonah crab claws, gulf shrimp, oysters, clams
$49
Oysters on the Half Shell
chef's daily selection, HK mignonette, gin cocktail sauce
half dozen $21, full dozen $31
Lobster Risotto at Hell's Kitchen.
Appetizers
Wagyu Meatballs
slow-roasted tomato sauce, polenta croutons, Parmesan cheese, basil
$18
Scampi Prawn Flambé
garlic white wine sauce, drawn butter
$24
Pan-Seared Scallops
celery root, braised bacon lardons, pickled Granny Smith apples
$19
Seared Foie Gras
spiced carrot cake, golden raisins, candied pecans
$25
Lobster Risotto
butter-poached lobster tail, butternut squash, sage
$24
Tuna Tartare
soy chili vinaigrette, pickled Fresno chilies, cilantro
$19
Smoked Golden Beets Salad at Hell's Kitchen.
Salad/Soup
Smoked Golden Beets
Greek yogurt, kumquats, pistachio granola, white balsamic vinaigrette
$21
Caesar Salad
Parmesan cheese frico, garlic croutons, lemon zest
$16
Red Quinoa Salad
Honeycrisp apples, dried apricots, goat cheese, toasted hazelnuts, honey vinaigrette
$16
Pumpkin Soup
spicy chorizo, crème fraiche, toasted pepitas
$12
Beef Wellington at Hell's Kitchen.
Entrees
Beef Wellington
potato purée, glazed root vegetables, red wine demi-glace
$49
Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb
Vadouvan carrots, Bloomsdale spinach, harissa lamb jus
$39
Braised Short Rib
creamy polenta, baby vegetables, beef jus
$34
Brick-Pressed Chicken
lacinato kale, sweet potato hash, chicken jus
$29
Crispy Skin Salmon
beluga lentils, shaved fennel salad, citrus herb beurre blanc
$32
Broiled Alaskan Cod
spicy olive tapenade, patatas bravas
$30
From the Grill
Filet Mignon
8 ounces, roasted tomatoes on the vine, béarnaise
$47
Dry-Aged NY Strip
12 ounces, glazed wild mushrooms, shishito peppers, red wine demi-glace
$49
Prime 30-Day Dry-Aged Porterhouse For Two
32 ounces, choice of two side dishes, bearnaise
$125
Sides, $9 each
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
smoked Gouda, crispy prosciutto
Roasted Cauliflower
chili lime gremolata, mint
Potato Gratin
fresh herbs, Parmesan cheese
Wild Mushrooms
shallot white wine glaze
Brussels Sprouts
pickled Fresno peppers, cilantro
Potato Puree
crème fraiche, chives
Sticky Toffee Pudding at Hell's Kitchen.
HK Signature Pre-Fixe Menu, $69 ($120 With Wine Pairing)
First Course
(choice of)
Pan-Seared Scallops
celery root, braised bacon lardons, pickled Granny Smith apples
Caesar Salad
Parmesan cheese frico, garlic croutons, lemon zest
Main Course
Beef Wellington
potato purée, glazed root vegetables, red wine demi-glace
Dessert
Sticky Toffee Pudding
speculoos ice cream
Cardi B Is Hilariously Horrified at This Video of Trump "Singing" Her Song - and Same, TBH
Co-host @iamcardib has some jokes about President Trump #CardiBonFallon pic.twitter.com/7OHCPPZhEM
- Fallon Tonight (@FallonTonight) April 10, 2018
President Donald Trump makes. . . "money moves"? As the first-ever cohost of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Cardi B had fans hysterically laughing from the moment she stepped on the stage on April 9. But even as a record-setting artist with a baby on the way, the 25-year-old singer made time for some Trump jokes, because no one is safe. When Fallon told her that Trump was a big fan, Cardi's facial expression spoke volumes – and it got even worse after he showed her a supercut of POTUS "singing" along to her "Bodak Yellow" lyrics. It was undeniably unsettling, and Cardi followed up the clip by simply saying, "he wants to get down with the culture."
Watch the video above to see Trump getting down to Cardi B, and see how she dissed him later in the clip.
It's been a crazy week for the singer, who released her debut album Invasion of Privacy on April 6, performed on SNL the next night, then hosted alongside Fallon two days later. It's hilarious to see that even Trump is a fan of her dominating the music industry . . . even if he doesn't know it.
Incredible, Brilliant Women Who Left a Mark on Science
In the current political climate, it's become increasingly clear to women all over the country how important is to make their voices heard. Last year's Women's March, which took place in several cities and countries all over the world on Jan. 21, was only the beginning of what has become a global movement led by women. Whether you're marching in protests in your own town or looking to find inspiration from past groundbreaking women, look no further than these female scientists who had to overcome various struggles and obstacles to achieve their dreams.
We're paying respect to Marie Curie and other women who left their mark on modern life through science. These women prove that physics, wireless technology, and computer programming aren't just traits of a boys' club and that science is the coolest subject of all.
- Additional reporting by Nicole Nguyen and Ann-Marie Alcántara
This Optical Illusion Is Blowing the Internet's Collective Mind
Terrific optical illusion by Victoria Skye. @RichardWiseman @chriscfrench pic.twitter.com/IeSFupAcfU
- Martin S Taylor (@martinstaylor) August 7, 2017
From a brick wall to the dress, we may be the most technologically advanced generation, but there's nothing we enjoy more than a good mental magic trick. It should come as no surprise, then, that any time someone spots one of these gems in the wild, it immediately makes its way to social media . . . and immediately goes viral. The latest example of our enduring love for optical mind-trickery, which made its way to the internet this week, comes in the form of a magician's brand-new take on a classic optical illusion.
Fifty-eight-year-old Roswell, GA, resident Victoria Skye bills herself as a magical entertainer and illusion artist, and her personal website is chock-full of reasons that's the perfect way to describe her work. But it took Martin S. Taylor posting one of her artworks to Twitter on Aug. 7 to make her truly go viral - and to spark a fierce debate over whether or not the many lines in the image are bent or, as many claim, are parallel and straight.
The "cafe wall" illusion is traditionally "an optical illusion produced by a black and white rectangular tessellation when the tiles are shifted in a zigzag pattern," according to Wolfram Alpha, which also confirms that "while the pattern seems to diverge towards the upper and lower right corners in the upper figure, the gray lines are actually parallel." In other words, it's all about the combination of math and colors, which Skye excellently illustrated in her image.
Don't worry, though - if you don't really see what you think you're supposed to, you're not alone. The internet is awash with individuals speculating on whether they just fell victim to a hoax or if there's something wrong with a large percentage of the population's brains. Fortunately, thanks to mathematicians over the past couple of centuries, we can unequivocally say that the lines are in fact straight. You just have to convince your mind to see what it's supposed to.
Real talk: when you do actually see it correctly after staring at it for hours, boy is it a satisfying feeling. Spend some time with a full-size version of Skye's photo, below.
How a 25-Year-Old Woman Is Rebuilding the College Financial Aid Process, 1 Student at a Time
Getting into college is hard. But it is often even harder to figure out how you're going to pay your sky-high tuition, especially when the paperwork required to get what you're rightfully due is damn near impossible to decipher. Every year, billions of dollars of aid are left on the table unclaimed, all thanks to the long, hard, and confusing process that is the Free Application For Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Now, there's a new way to tackle one of life's most complicated undertakings - and it goes by the name of Frank.
Frank is the brainchild of 25-year-old Charlie Javice, and it's a platform that streamlines and simplifies FAFSA, bringing the process down to only a few minutes and, according to the company's mission statement, eliminating "layers of bureaucracy, opportunity for mistakes, and hours of headache and heartache." And the results don't lie: in the time since the platform launched, Frank has helped more than a quarter of a million families benefit from a whopping $6.3 billion in free financial aid.
I caught up with Javice by phone in mid-January, and a transcript of our conversation - lightly edited and condensed for clarity - is below.
POPSUGAR: Tell me a bit about Frank, in your own words.
Charlie Javice: We make financial aid more accessible so that more people can afford college. That's what Frank's all about: making paying for college easier and giving you a solid answer as to how you're going to pay for it. We've now helped more than 250,000 families with north of $6 billion paid, and it's just so amazing and rewarding to see so many people who are much happier, more delighted, and more able to pursue the degree and the dreams that they have.
In terms of values of the company itself, I guess they almost emulate sort of my personality: being really unfiltered, having really big opinions, and not being afraid to voice them. And so we've done different work on what was going to happen with the GOP tax bill, from how that affects student loans all the way to what's going on with the 20 states that revoke your licenses - all the way back around to the Democratic side, where all of their rhetoric around this is like "the government is profiting from student loans," but they're really losing billions of dollars a year because people aren't paying it back. It's one of the worst "success" programs ever. Also, it's a regular private fund - and to manage the way that they did, they would have been out of business within three months. The administration fees are 20 percent of what their budget is; their returns have been negative forever. Each side, then, is like, "OK, let's find a better vehicle. Maybe we should just grant them the money outright; it would be cheaper to administer that than deal with all these student collection services, payments, putting people in jail, revoking professional licenses - all that kind of stuff."
PS: So what was the "eureka" moment that inspired you to start Frank?
CJ: My background is in social impact, but I've always been hugely thankful and grateful to my parents, who gave me the gift of education. Education is the one thing that you can really take with you anywhere that you go, and so it's always been the star of my life, and I've always been very aware of how many people sacrifice so many things to be able to give their child an education. So I thought, if you can do that at a large scale, in a sustainable way, it would not only have a huge impact, it would be an amazing business opportunity - and an amazing way to insert technology into a system that has not seen new technology since it went online in the '90s or early 2000s.
But I can also bring it back to my time in college. A lot of people took the first job that was offered to them, and it had to do with making minimum loan payments and a fear that they wouldn't be able to meet their financial responsibility. And so instead of being able to pursue something that they loved in terms of work, they had to take the first thing that comes along. I grew up in a household where I was told you work toward something you're passionate about, and if you are successful, you not only do well financially, you can do good in the world. And that isn't the case for most of America anymore. It's really an insane kind of light-bulb moment when you realize how wealthy you are just to be given that opportunity to do something you love without fear vs. being one of the millions of people that kind of have shackles and can't make those kinds of decisions because of student debt - because you're basically working for the government for the rest of your life.
PS: Why do you think it is that the system is so broken?
CJ: First of all, it's very important that everyone has a lot of goodwill around helping people learn in college and increasing college enrollment, so I think it's really important that we acknowledge that before we talk about the systemic failures. But one, this is a legacy system that was inherited over years and cobbled together, so financially there's a hole in the American system. It started with veterans coming back, and originally this funding was just for them. Then you had underprivileged students, civil rights, a bunch of different programs that got lumped together as one big thing. And then on top of all those programs, there's one singular common application. So, they got stuck and said, "OK, we're going to allocate need based on this application, which is the FAFSA," and the formula was based off a formula determined in the '70s - and it hasn't changed since. So while some cities have become way more expensive and costs have skyrocketed, the formula doesn't take those changes into account. A family earning $60,000 in Alabama, they'd receive the same amount of aid as a family making $50,000 in New York City. It's a huge issue.
There are also a couple of other factors. There are impossible deadlines around the FAFSA, a ton of people don't even know it exists, and, of course, there is the reality that college counselors at the high school level faced the biggest budget cut under the Obama administration. In California, you have one counselor to every 1,325 students. How do you give individualized attention to one person when there are so many waiting? So there's the framework, the resources, the technology, the legacy system, and then a general gridlock sense because part of the Higher Education Reauthorization Act needs to get reauthorized.
Also, every nonprofit that is currently helping to provide manual resources is getting paid by individual states to supplement college counseling. Their budget is basically done by people instead of innovative technologies, so that's another interesting facet of the process not aligning in places where it should. We should be fighting to advocate for students, not advocating for nonprofit stuff. There are different ways to allocate resources and different technologies out there, and we just don't necessarily have those conversations because the contract has been sticky.
PS: If there was some magical solution to fixing the education system, do you think it would come from the technology sector, or do you think it's something deeper involving personnel?
CJ: I mean, you could do a lot with technology, and doing it that way would mean you wouldn't need to wait on political systems to catch up. Leveraging technology for good is something that should be done and can be done. And then, obviously, there's the political side. I think there's finally been movement - for better or for worse - to think about things differently, like asking, "Can private companies enhance educational experience at a lower cost?"
PS: So you think that the tension is political, as opposed to being a problem that originates with the universities?
CJ: For financial aid, it's definitely politically driven. Universities are also in it, too, but universities are really just institutions of learning, and they get regulated. The government has not done a good job at being able to demand transparency from school so that we know the value and have the data to be able to understand what the value of a degree actually is. But the blame is on both sides in terms of schools being super expensive and that being the ultimate core issue. I believe school costs have increased by 531 percent of CPI (the consumer price index), and that's the real root of the problem. I believe the way to solve this is to work with families and demand a better price, something you can only do by working directly with families and always being their ally. Once you have an advocate, there's a lot of revenue in a pool from the school, and you end up being able to influence decisions because of sheer bulk power.
PS: What was the biggest challenge you faced in getting Frank off the ground?
CJ: I think the biggest challenge has to do with understanding and learning about the families in need. I say that because financial aid impacts over 90 percent of all undergrads, those who are currently on financial aid from their school. Yet it also impacts adult learners, grandparents who are doing it for their kids, and all levels on the socioeconomic spectrum, from people who have negative income to people who earn about $250,000 a year. Being able to find the messaging and the brand and, really, the understanding that you're meeting everyone's needs without being too wide so your message gets diluted, that's super important.
That's also the hardest part when it comes to fundraising and having investors who come from a typical tech space. We didn't fall into traditional tech because our consumers aren't necessarily early technology adopters; most investors have never dealt with how to make money with consumers, let alone working with consumers that might be on benefits. And because investors haven't traditionally gone through financial aid - they've either grown up personally wealthy and inherited it or they've made so much wealth that they're now in a position to invest - they don't know and feel the pain of the families; they find it really hard to have an emotional connection. That was the hard part: explaining empathy to those individuals who are lacking, to show them the value of working with families and getting involved, in depth, to unearth an opportunity to help them.
PS: Did you have a strong support system of advisers as you were building out the company?
CJ: I'm really lucky to have such a strong support system, whether we're talking about my friends, how tight I am with my family, or having such an amazing school to network. Everyone's been really generous with their time, so I try to replicate that. My number one pet peeve is that some founders get intros and think they're above meeting with a high school student or someone who needs help finding a job. But I always make the time for that, and I think it's so important to pay it forward, just like the countless people who have really been instrumental in my life, including our current investors, like Michael Eisenberg and Bobby Turner.
Bobby Turner, I will say - and he's in LA - is probably one of the most impactful people in my life so far. He's just phenomenal and has always been a rock for me. He does impact investing on the real-estate side and works with people like Andre Agassi on charter schools, Eva Longoria with multifamily homes, and Magic Johnson for urban funds, bringing big-box retailers to urban, underprivileged communities that are highly dense. He really helped me find my motto: "profit for purpose." And purpose is the most important. You can't have one without the other in your career.
Bobby's advice has always been crucial and, most of the time, also very funny. When I was going through a really tough time, he'd be like, "Charlie, promise me you'll do these three things every day." And I'm like, "What are they?" And he's literally like, "Well, you need to meditate, go to the gym, and have sex." I think that's just general life advice for people, but it's great that we're friends in the sense that a lot of investors keep things financial, and it's really amazing to see people really be human with you.
PS: So what's next for Frank?
CJ: [We want Frank] to be like an Amazon for higher education. If you think about the $100 billion that's being spent on tuition every year, and the fact that there are zero tools to shop for another option, it becomes just a purchase. They have no information, meaning they don't know what the price is before they apply, and they don't have the financial aid packets yet, and, truly, you have no idea if you'll be successful right when you graduate school. So we want to be in that process and provide a marketplace to really conduct those transactions properly, to purchase something like it was your purchase, to be the destination where people come, know the price and value of school, see the data feedback, and are actually able to file all their financial information from just one common application - all culminating in being able to lock in the lowest price guaranteed and pay for it online. Instead of the school telling you, "You're special. You've now been accepted to pay thousands of dollars a year," we're putting the power back into the people purchasing, saying, "OK, I'm the one spending this money. I want the product like this; this is what I want. So I'm giving you money." And the customer is always right. Let's take it back to American shopping principles here.
PS: Finally, what advice would you give POPSUGAR readers who aspire to make social change and make a difference in the world?
CJ: There is no age too young. You have a voice; you have a talent. Do whatever you think you can contribute most to. Many things have impact; whether it's on the company or technology side, or the media sharing amazing stories about good things and good people to inspire others. We just went through rebranding, and we picked the tagline "Dream Smart" because while there is a concept of the American dream, let's be practical about it - and let's do the things that make the world a better place, that have purpose.
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