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.
vendredi 7 avril 2017
Meet the Princess Who Dresses Better Than Kate Middleton
If you thought Kate Middleton had quite the fashion-forward wardrobe, perhaps you haven't been following the outfit choices of another royal: Princess Mary of Denmark. The polished dresser beat out the Duchess of Cambridge as most stylish royal - again! - in a recent poll conducted by Hello! magazine. Out of 30,000 readers, a whopping 30 percent were team Mary, a number that immediately sparked our interest.
So we went back into the archives and found plenty of Mary's chicest looks, which, truth be told, may be a bit more daring than those seen on Kate. Read on to see them all as we hold out hope for Kate this year.
This Badass Trainer Is Going to Be Your New Role Model and Fitspo
As a fitness and health editor, I meet so many inspiring people. I'm constantly in awe of the drive, determination, humility, optimism, and passion of the athletes, trainers, and everyday women I've been so fortunate to come across and learn more about.
The other day, one of my good friends asked me, "Who do you look up to the most? Who is living a life that inspires you and motivates you to do more?" and - besides my own mother, who is an angel in her own way - the woman who instantly came to my mind was Jenny Gaither.
When I moved to San Francisco and knew literally no one, Jenny was among the first people I could call a friend. Her warmth, kindness, selflessness, and love emanated, and I knew I was in the presence of someone special.
Before I get ahead of myself, meet Jenny: entrepreneur, trainer, dancer, philanthropist, and body-positive evangelist. She's the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Movemeant Foundation (which funds "movement-based, body-positive curriculums for at-risk middle school girls, communities, and other nonprofit organizations for young girls"), in addition to being a Senior SoulCycle Instructor, a dancer and choreographer (the brains behind the "Notorious FIT" classes in the Bay Area), and creator of Dare to Bare - "the country's largest body-positive fundraising fitness event."
In fact, I first met Jenny at Dare to Bare in 2016 - it was the first time I was introduced to the body-positive movement, where hundreds of women flaunted their beautiful bodies of all shapes and sizes.
Jenny's Journey
"I was not the athletic superstar my parents hoped I'd be," Jenny said. When she was only 6 years old, Jenny's parents put her into club basketball, with high hopes that she'd love the sport as much as they did. "At that age, I was self-aware enough to know I lacked hand-eye coordination and an understanding of the game," she said. She described her younger self as lanky and uncoordinated and said that her experience was "beyond embarrassing."
"For once in my life I felt like I was good at something that also brought me so much joy."
But this wasn't the end of her journey - in fact, her basketball follies led her to one of her greatest passions: dance. "I was dancing and skipping across the basketball court instead of running," said Jenny, so her parents enrolled her in a dance class. With a self-described "natural kinesthetic understanding of rhythm and a passion for music," she fell in love with dance and movement. "By the age of 7, I was competing nationally and for once in my life, I felt like I was good at something that also brought me so much joy."
Her passion for dance led to a serious commitment in her teens. "In high school, I commuted from Santa Cruz to Mountain View every day to dance with a company based in San Francisco," she said. "I wouldn't get home until 11:30 p.m. every night. My rehearsals were long and rigorous."
As basketball introduced her to dance, dance introduced her to Pilates. Because she was putting her body through so much, she knew she had to cross-train and ended up falling in love with Pilates. This led her to her first training position: a certified Pilates instructor.
Jenny danced on scholarship at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where she "built a solid foundation as a teacher and trainer," and even taught dance and Pilates at school herself. From there, there's only one place for such an established dancer to go: New York City.
After dancing and teaching Pilates in New York, she found the third love of her fitness life, SoulCycle. "I was encouraged to audition for SoulCycle, which ultimately became my dance class on a bike - a way to create a physical connection to a more confident sense of self. Seven years later, I've taught in multiple cities to thousands upon thousands of riders, but am thrilled to call the Bay my home base. And it's through the Bay Area support that my career is coming full circle with the start of my hip-hop cardio dance class, Notorious FIT."
"SoulCycle became a way to create a physical connection to a more confident sense of self."
After a couple of decades of movement and fitness, it was SoulCycle that finally taught Jenny the importance of fitness for mental and emotional health. She "quit dance altogether," and became a SoulCycle instructor full time. "It opened my eyes, she said. "Unlike other workouts I've tried, for me, SoulCycle has never been about weight loss or looking a certain way. Ever since my first class, it's been about self-exploration, acceptance, and confidence building. I joke that it's another form of therapy, but it actually is a complete mental and emotional release for me."
Personal Challenges
Jenny has achieved phenomenal success with her fitness journey, but it didn't come without its share of setbacks.
Her secret? Despite being "a fitness professional and junkie," she shared "I suffered from body image issues . . . I had been a long time competitive dancer where I faced self-image issues due to the crazy expectations of how I looked, which eventually lead to eating disorders."
"I validated myself and my happiness based on the opinions of my peers and society's standards of women, as opposed to my own," she said. "It's a dancer's mentality and ambition to be flawless; to move through life with grace, ease, and precision. However, I quickly learned that's no way to live."
A few years ago in a SoulCycle class, Jenny had a Rihanna-and-sweat-infused epiphany, fueled by endorphins and wrapped in a gold lamé jacket. She was so self-conscious about her body, that she refused to take her jacket off and reveal her sports bra and what she affectionately calls her "belly jelly."
"Seeing how much I've grown inspires me to continue to explore the life-changing benefits physical activity can have on all women."
"I taught the hot and sweaty class with my jacket on and at one point thought I was going to pass out because I was overheated. It was then that I came face to face with my own lifetime's worth of body image issues and realized the uncomfortable truth – that my own journey of self-acceptance was just beginning."
She noted that she felt pretty frustrated, yet still deeply supported by SoulCycle's community. When she taught a class in which "all of the women were encouraged to wear their sports bras," she mustered up the courage to bare it all. "I realized how important this issue is and what a real struggle it is for most women to accept and feel comfortable in their bodies."
Jenny took this experience and turned it into something even bigger and better, saying, "it was my own personal journey that led me to create Movemeant Foundation," the nonprofit that now empowers women nationally. Jenny said, "Seeing how much I've personally grown physically, emotionally, and mentally from indoor cycling only inspires me to continue to explore the life-changing benefits physical activity can have on all women."
Movemeant started with just one event. "The riders who took part in the sports-bra baring class found it just as liberating and empowering as I did," she said. At that point, she knew it was time to scale up. "I decided to offer the experience on a much larger scale and evolved the sports bra ride into an outdoor fitness event: Dare to Bare." But it didn't stop there - word was spreading nationally.
"There was so much buzz and excitement from women all over the country who wanted to get involved," she said. "I decided there needed to be more support than just a one-off event." The wheels were turning, and Jenny was more inspired than ever - "Women needed a platform of support, resources and education to overcome the uphill battle toward finding self-love, acceptance, and a healthy relationship with their bodies. This is when I decided to create what is now Movemeant."
"My own journey of self-acceptance was only just beginning."
Vision For the Future
Dare to Bare continues today, on a larger scale than ever before. The festival takes place on both coasts, in San Francisco and New York City (if you're in the area, join us!), packed with impossibly popular fitness classes, the most sought-after fitness instructors in the country, and a sea of sports bras and smiling faces. And it's not just a SoulCycle event - women learn how to "dance like Beyoncé," build a strong core with TRX training, or challenge themselves with bootcamp workouts, all in a sports bra.
And not only do women feel empowered by learning to love their bodies but the funds raised go right back to Movemeant to fund the aforementioned curriculums and programs for middle school girls, so the next generation of women grow up loving their bodies. "Movemeant Foundation's mission is simple," she told us. "To empower young women across the country to use movement - running, dancing, biking, and more as a form of self expression that enables them to emotionally and psychologically connect to their bodies." Wow, right? "They learn self-esteem, build positive body image, and begin to uncover the best version of themselves." So yes, if you're wondering, Jenny really IS a freakin' superstar.
She's not stopping, and Movemeant is picking up more and more steam. "My initial vision was to give every woman the chance to feel how I feel after a SoulCycle class - unstoppable, fierce, and worthy of happiness and success," she said. "The vision today is very similar. I believe every body is meant to move and every body should be given the opportunity to move. Through physical movement, we can greatly change how young girls and women view and value themselves. By building a positive relationship with her body, she then can build confidence and self-worth."
Today, Movemeant works with #ShePlaysWeWin, a photo project that showcases the power of movement, sports, and fitness on a young woman's self-confidence. Together they fund grants that provide sports instruction, gear, activewear, and coaching and mentorship to disadvantaged girls between 8 and 16 years of age. Recipients of these scholarships have gone on to learn how to snowboard, participate in ice hockey, and play sports like basketball, hockey, and tennis.
Even more grants are going to programs like The Wahine Project and iSurf School, Cycle Kids in Boston, and Women's Health Education Program in Ohio. On top of that, Movemeant delivers "physical programming," like "hip-hop dance, cheer dance, yoga, Zumba, [and] kick-boxing" - with the intent of building self-esteem - to middle school-aged girls. They currently provide these programs in 20 middle schools in the Bay Area.
Movemeant creates campaigns to inspire and empower women to love their bodies. They're combating the obesity epidemic while giving strength and hope to women with insecurities. They're changing the game of fitness, health, and wellness for women, starting by fortifying the younger generation and equipping them with the tools they need to live a stronger, healthier, happier life.
Words of Wisdom
Jenny is truly changing the world, but who inspired Jenny to be so inspirational herself? "I am a huge Brené Brown fan girl," she told us. "One of my favorite quotes of hers is, 'When you get to a place where you understand that love and belonging, your worthiness, is a birthright and not something you have to earn, anything is possible.'"
She said the problem that most women face today with fitness - the barrier that keeps them from changing their lives for the better - is that "fitness has become synonymous with punishment, and often, it's inaccessible to many women." It starts with small steps - "Getting out there and moving teaches self-reliance; it allows you to uncover what your body is truly capable of." And that, the moving and learning about yourself, "not the dropping of pounds," is what Jenny calls "the kind of transformation we should be celebrating."
"Through physical movement, we can greatly change how young girls and women view and value themselves."
If you're just beginning your own journey, Jenny says to find a support system, find an activity you love, be proud, and keep taking risks. "Surround yourself only with people who value, appreciate, and respect everything about you," she said. She also urged the importance of dissociating exercise with the stigmas: "When I used to hear the word 'exercise,' I'd think of treadmills, burpees, and sprints - all things I hated. So if you don't like working out, don't work out! Instead, go dance. Climb. Swim. Take a walk or a bike ride. Because if you call it what you like, you'll like it, and it should feel like a reward."
"Accomplish something that is challenging to you," she said. "There's no greater thrill than realizing you're capable of anything if you invest your heart and soul into it."
Proof That Princess Charlotte Is the Spitting Image of Queen Elizabeth
The past year has been full of milestones for Princess Charlotte. Since becoming fourth in line to succeed the throne in May 2015, Charlotte has experienced her christening and first public appearance at Trooping the Colour, and most recently, she embarked on her very first royal tour with older brother Prince George and her parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William. As we got a glimpse of Charlotte during her time in Canada - waving to fans, playing with balloons, and smelling a bouquet of flowers - we couldn't help but notice how similar the adorable 1-year-old looks to her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. The striking resemblance is evident in their round cheeks, wide smiles, and big, bright blue eyes. Days after Charlotte's birth, the queen said of her fifth great-grandchild, "We love to have another girl," while Kate revealed that Charlotte is "very cute" but "has got quite a feisty side." Sounds like she and the queen have more in common than looks.
This Badass Trainer Is Going to Be Your New Role Model and Fitspo
As a fitness and health editor, I meet so many inspiring people. I'm constantly in awe of the drive, determination, humility, optimism, and passion of the athletes, trainers, and everyday women I've been so fortunate to come across and learn more about.
The other day, one of my good friends asked me, "Who do you look up to the most? Who is living a life that inspires you and motivates you to do more?" and - besides my own mother, who is an angel in her own way - the woman who instantly came to my mind was Jenny Gaither.
When I moved to San Francisco and knew literally no one, Jenny was among the first people I could call a friend. Her warmth, kindness, selflessness, and love emanated, and I knew I was in the presence of someone special.
Before I get ahead of myself, meet Jenny: entrepreneur, trainer, dancer, philanthropist, and body-positive evangelist. She's the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Movemeant Foundation (which funds "movement-based, body-positive curriculums for at-risk middle school girls, communities, and other nonprofit organizations for young girls"), in addition to being a Senior SoulCycle Instructor, a dancer and choreographer (the brains behind the "Notorious FIT" classes in the Bay Area), and creator of Dare to Bare - "the country's largest body-positive fundraising fitness event."
In fact, I first met Jenny at Dare to Bare in 2016 - it was the first time I was introduced to the body-positive movement, where hundreds of women flaunted their beautiful bodies of all shapes and sizes.
Jenny's Journey
"I was not the athletic superstar my parents hoped I'd be," Jenny said. When she was only 6 years old, Jenny's parents put her into club basketball, with high hopes that she'd love the sport as much as they did. "At that age, I was self-aware enough to know I lacked hand-eye coordination and an understanding of the game," she said. She described her younger self as lanky and uncoordinated and said that her experience was "beyond embarrassing."
"For once in my life I felt like I was good at something that also brought me so much joy."
But this wasn't the end of her journey - in fact, her basketball follies led her to one of her greatest passions: dance. "I was dancing and skipping across the basketball court instead of running," said Jenny, so her parents enrolled her in a dance class. With a self-described "natural kinesthetic understanding of rhythm and a passion for music," she fell in love with dance and movement. "By the age of 7, I was competing nationally and for once in my life, I felt like I was good at something that also brought me so much joy."
Her passion for dance led to a serious commitment in her teens. "In high school, I commuted from Santa Cruz to Mountain View every day to dance with a company based in San Francisco," she said. "I wouldn't get home until 11:30 p.m. every night. My rehearsals were long and rigorous."
As basketball introduced her to dance, dance introduced her to Pilates. Because she was putting her body through so much, she knew she had to cross-train and ended up falling in love with Pilates. This led her to her first training position: a certified Pilates instructor.
Jenny danced on scholarship at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where she "built a solid foundation as a teacher and trainer," and even taught dance and Pilates at school herself. From there, there's only one place for such an established dancer to go: New York City.
After dancing and teaching Pilates in New York, she found the third love of her fitness life, SoulCycle. "I was encouraged to audition for SoulCycle, which ultimately became my dance class on a bike - a way to create a physical connection to a more confident sense of self. Seven years later, I've taught in multiple cities to thousands upon thousands of riders, but am thrilled to call the Bay my home base. And it's through the Bay Area support that my career is coming full circle with the start of my hip-hop cardio dance class, Notorious FIT."
"SoulCycle became a way to create a physical connection to a more confident sense of self."
After a couple of decades of movement and fitness, it was SoulCycle that finally taught Jenny the importance of fitness for mental and emotional health. She "quit dance altogether," and became a SoulCycle instructor full time. "It opened my eyes, she said. "Unlike other workouts I've tried, for me, SoulCycle has never been about weight loss or looking a certain way. Ever since my first class, it's been about self-exploration, acceptance, and confidence building. I joke that it's another form of therapy, but it actually is a complete mental and emotional release for me."
Personal Challenges
Jenny has achieved phenomenal success with her fitness journey, but it didn't come without its share of setbacks.
Her secret? Despite being "a fitness professional and junkie," she shared "I suffered from body image issues . . . I had been a long time competitive dancer where I faced self-image issues due to the crazy expectations of how I looked, which eventually lead to eating disorders."
"I validated myself and my happiness based on the opinions of my peers and society's standards of women, as opposed to my own," she said. "It's a dancer's mentality and ambition to be flawless; to move through life with grace, ease, and precision. However, I quickly learned that's no way to live."
A few years ago in a SoulCycle class, Jenny had a Rihanna-and-sweat-infused epiphany, fueled by endorphins and wrapped in a gold lamé jacket. She was so self-conscious about her body, that she refused to take her jacket off and reveal her sports bra and what she affectionately calls her "belly jelly."
"Seeing how much I've grown inspires me to continue to explore the life-changing benefits physical activity can have on all women."
"I taught the hot and sweaty class with my jacket on and at one point thought I was going to pass out because I was overheated. It was then that I came face to face with my own lifetime's worth of body image issues and realized the uncomfortable truth – that my own journey of self-acceptance was just beginning."
She noted that she felt pretty frustrated, yet still deeply supported by SoulCycle's community. When she taught a class in which "all of the women were encouraged to wear their sports bras," she mustered up the courage to bare it all. "I realized how important this issue is and what a real struggle it is for most women to accept and feel comfortable in their bodies."
Jenny took this experience and turned it into something even bigger and better, saying, "it was my own personal journey that led me to create Movemeant Foundation," the nonprofit that now empowers women nationally. Jenny said, "Seeing how much I've personally grown physically, emotionally, and mentally from indoor cycling only inspires me to continue to explore the life-changing benefits physical activity can have on all women."
Movemeant started with just one event. "The riders who took part in the sports-bra baring class found it just as liberating and empowering as I did," she said. At that point, she knew it was time to scale up. "I decided to offer the experience on a much larger scale and evolved the sports bra ride into an outdoor fitness event: Dare to Bare." But it didn't stop there - word was spreading nationally.
"There was so much buzz and excitement from women all over the country who wanted to get involved," she said. "I decided there needed to be more support than just a one-off event." The wheels were turning, and Jenny was more inspired than ever - "Women needed a platform of support, resources and education to overcome the uphill battle toward finding self-love, acceptance, and a healthy relationship with their bodies. This is when I decided to create what is now Movemeant."
"My own journey of self-acceptance was only just beginning."
Vision For the Future
Dare to Bare continues today, on a larger scale than ever before. The festival takes place on both coasts, in San Francisco and New York City (if you're in the area, join us!), packed with impossibly popular fitness classes, the most sought-after fitness instructors in the country, and a sea of sports bras and smiling faces. And it's not just a SoulCycle event - women learn how to "dance like Beyoncé," build a strong core with TRX training, or challenge themselves with bootcamp workouts, all in a sports bra.
And not only do women feel empowered by learning to love their bodies but the funds raised go right back to Movemeant to fund the aforementioned curriculums and programs for middle school girls, so the next generation of women grow up loving their bodies. "Movemeant Foundation's mission is simple," she told us. "To empower young women across the country to use movement - running, dancing, biking, and more as a form of self expression that enables them to emotionally and psychologically connect to their bodies." Wow, right? "They learn self-esteem, build positive body image, and begin to uncover the best version of themselves." So yes, if you're wondering, Jenny really IS a freakin' superstar.
She's not stopping, and Movemeant is picking up more and more steam. "My initial vision was to give every woman the chance to feel how I feel after a SoulCycle class - unstoppable, fierce, and worthy of happiness and success," she said. "The vision today is very similar. I believe every body is meant to move and every body should be given the opportunity to move. Through physical movement, we can greatly change how young girls and women view and value themselves. By building a positive relationship with her body, she then can build confidence and self-worth."
Today, Movemeant works with #ShePlaysWeWin, a photo project that showcases the power of movement, sports, and fitness on a young woman's self-confidence. Together they fund grants that provide sports instruction, gear, activewear, and coaching and mentorship to disadvantaged girls between 8 and 16 years of age. Recipients of these scholarships have gone on to learn how to snowboard, participate in ice hockey, and play sports like basketball, hockey, and tennis.
Even more grants are going to programs like The Wahine Project and iSurf School, Cycle Kids in Boston, and Women's Health Education Program in Ohio. On top of that, Movemeant delivers "physical programming," like "hip-hop dance, cheer dance, yoga, Zumba, [and] kick-boxing" - with the intent of building self-esteem - to middle school-aged girls. They currently provide these programs in 20 middle schools in the Bay Area.
Movemeant creates campaigns to inspire and empower women to love their bodies. They're combating the obesity epidemic while giving strength and hope to women with insecurities. They're changing the game of fitness, health, and wellness for women, starting by fortifying the younger generation and equipping them with the tools they need to live a stronger, healthier, happier life.
Words of Wisdom
Jenny is truly changing the world, but who inspired Jenny to be so inspirational herself? "I am a huge Brené Brown fan girl," she told us. "One of my favorite quotes of hers is, 'When you get to a place where you understand that love and belonging, your worthiness, is a birthright and not something you have to earn, anything is possible.'"
She said the problem that most women face today with fitness - the barrier that keeps them from changing their lives for the better - is that "fitness has become synonymous with punishment, and often, it's inaccessible to many women." It starts with small steps - "Getting out there and moving teaches self-reliance; it allows you to uncover what your body is truly capable of." And that, the moving and learning about yourself, "not the dropping of pounds," is what Jenny calls "the kind of transformation we should be celebrating."
"Through physical movement, we can greatly change how young girls and women view and value themselves."
If you're just beginning your own journey, Jenny says to find a support system, find an activity you love, be proud, and keep taking risks. "Surround yourself only with people who value, appreciate, and respect everything about you," she said. She also urged the importance of dissociating exercise with the stigmas: "When I used to hear the word 'exercise,' I'd think of treadmills, burpees, and sprints - all things I hated. So if you don't like working out, don't work out! Instead, go dance. Climb. Swim. Take a walk or a bike ride. Because if you call it what you like, you'll like it, and it should feel like a reward."
"Accomplish something that is challenging to you," she said. "There's no greater thrill than realizing you're capable of anything if you invest your heart and soul into it."
This Badass Trainer Is Going to Be Your New Role Model and Fitspo
As a fitness and health editor, I meet so many inspiring people. I'm constantly in awe of the drive, determination, humility, optimism, and passion of the athletes, trainers, and everyday women I've been so fortunate to come across and learn more about.
The other day, one of my good friends asked me, "Who do you look up to the most? Who is living a life that inspires you and motivates you to do more?" and - besides my own mother, who is an angel in her own way - the woman who instantly came to my mind was Jenny Gaither.
When I moved to San Francisco and knew literally no one, Jenny was among the first people I could call a friend. Her warmth, kindness, selflessness, and love emanated, and I knew I was in the presence of someone special.
Before I get ahead of myself, meet Jenny: entrepreneur, trainer, dancer, philanthropist, and body-positive evangelist. She's the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Movemeant Foundation (which funds "movement-based, body-positive curriculums for at-risk middle school girls, communities, and other nonprofit organizations for young girls"), in addition to being a Senior SoulCycle Instructor, a dancer and choreographer (the brains behind the "Notorious FIT" classes in the Bay Area), and creator of Dare to Bare - "the country's largest body-positive fundraising fitness event."
In fact, I first met Jenny at Dare to Bare in 2016 - it was the first time I was introduced to the body-positive movement, where hundreds of women flaunted their beautiful bodies of all shapes and sizes.
Jenny's Journey
"I was not the athletic superstar my parents hoped I'd be," Jenny said. When she was only 6 years old, Jenny's parents put her into club basketball, with high hopes that she'd love the sport as much as they did. "At that age, I was self-aware enough to know I lacked hand-eye coordination and an understanding of the game," she said. She described her younger self as lanky and uncoordinated and said that her experience was "beyond embarrassing."
"For once in my life I felt like I was good at something that also brought me so much joy."
But this wasn't the end of her journey - in fact, her basketball follies led her to one of her greatest passions: dance. "I was dancing and skipping across the basketball court instead of running," said Jenny, so her parents enrolled her in a dance class. With a self-described "natural kinesthetic understanding of rhythm and a passion for music," she fell in love with dance and movement. "By the age of 7, I was competing nationally and for once in my life, I felt like I was good at something that also brought me so much joy."
Her passion for dance led to a serious commitment in her teens. "In high school, I commuted from Santa Cruz to Mountain View every day to dance with a company based in San Francisco," she said. "I wouldn't get home until 11:30 p.m. every night. My rehearsals were long and rigorous."
As basketball introduced her to dance, dance introduced her to Pilates. Because she was putting her body through so much, she knew she had to cross-train and ended up falling in love with Pilates. This led her to her first training position: a certified Pilates instructor.
Jenny danced on scholarship at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where she "built a solid foundation as a teacher and trainer," and even taught dance and Pilates at school herself. From there, there's only one place for such an established dancer to go: New York City.
After dancing and teaching Pilates in New York, she found the third love of her fitness life, SoulCycle. "I was encouraged to audition for SoulCycle, which ultimately became my dance class on a bike - a way to create a physical connection to a more confident sense of self. Seven years later, I've taught in multiple cities to thousands upon thousands of riders, but am thrilled to call the Bay my home base. And it's through the Bay Area support that my career is coming full circle with the start of my hip-hop cardio dance class, Notorious FIT."
"SoulCycle became a way to create a physical connection to a more confident sense of self."
After a couple of decades of movement and fitness, it was SoulCycle that finally taught Jenny the importance of fitness for mental and emotional health. She "quit dance altogether," and became a SoulCycle instructor full time. "It opened my eyes, she said. "Unlike other workouts I've tried, for me, SoulCycle has never been about weight loss or looking a certain way. Ever since my first class, it's been about self-exploration, acceptance, and confidence building. I joke that it's another form of therapy, but it actually is a complete mental and emotional release for me."
Personal Challenges
Jenny has achieved phenomenal success with her fitness journey, but it didn't come without its share of setbacks.
Her secret? Despite being "a fitness professional and junkie," she shared "I suffered from body image issues . . . I had been a long time competitive dancer where I faced self-image issues due to the crazy expectations of how I looked, which eventually lead to eating disorders."
"I validated myself and my happiness based on the opinions of my peers and society's standards of women, as opposed to my own," she said. "It's a dancer's mentality and ambition to be flawless; to move through life with grace, ease, and precision. However, I quickly learned that's no way to live."
A few years ago in a SoulCycle class, Jenny had a Rihanna-and-sweat-infused epiphany, fueled by endorphins and wrapped in a gold lamé jacket. She was so self-conscious about her body, that she refused to take her jacket off and reveal her sports bra and what she affectionately calls her "belly jelly."
"Seeing how much I've grown inspires me to continue to explore the life-changing benefits physical activity can have on all women."
"I taught the hot and sweaty class with my jacket on and at one point thought I was going to pass out because I was overheated. It was then that I came face to face with my own lifetime's worth of body image issues and realized the uncomfortable truth – that my own journey of self-acceptance was just beginning."
She noted that she felt pretty frustrated, yet still deeply supported by SoulCycle's community. When she taught a class in which "all of the women were encouraged to wear their sports bras," she mustered up the courage to bare it all. "I realized how important this issue is and what a real struggle it is for most women to accept and feel comfortable in their bodies."
Jenny took this experience and turned it into something even bigger and better, saying, "it was my own personal journey that led me to create Movemeant Foundation," the nonprofit that now empowers women nationally. Jenny said, "Seeing how much I've personally grown physically, emotionally, and mentally from indoor cycling only inspires me to continue to explore the life-changing benefits physical activity can have on all women."
Movemeant started with just one event. "The riders who took part in the sports-bra baring class found it just as liberating and empowering as I did," she said. At that point, she knew it was time to scale up. "I decided to offer the experience on a much larger scale and evolved the sports bra ride into an outdoor fitness event: Dare to Bare." But it didn't stop there - word was spreading nationally.
"There was so much buzz and excitement from women all over the country who wanted to get involved," she said. "I decided there needed to be more support than just a one-off event." The wheels were turning, and Jenny was more inspired than ever - "Women needed a platform of support, resources and education to overcome the uphill battle toward finding self-love, acceptance, and a healthy relationship with their bodies. This is when I decided to create what is now Movemeant."
"My own journey of self-acceptance was only just beginning."
Vision For the Future
Dare to Bare continues today, on a larger scale than ever before. The festival takes place on both coasts, in San Francisco and New York City (if you're in the area, join us!), packed with impossibly popular fitness classes, the most sought-after fitness instructors in the country, and a sea of sports bras and smiling faces. And it's not just a SoulCycle event - women learn how to "dance like Beyoncé," build a strong core with TRX training, or challenge themselves with bootcamp workouts, all in a sports bra.
And not only do women feel empowered by learning to love their bodies but the funds raised go right back to Movemeant to fund the aforementioned curriculums and programs for middle school girls, so the next generation of women grow up loving their bodies. "Movemeant Foundation's mission is simple," she told us. "To empower young women across the country to use movement - running, dancing, biking, and more as a form of self expression that enables them to emotionally and psychologically connect to their bodies." Wow, right? "They learn self-esteem, build positive body image, and begin to uncover the best version of themselves." So yes, if you're wondering, Jenny really IS a freakin' superstar.
She's not stopping, and Movemeant is picking up more and more steam. "My initial vision was to give every woman the chance to feel how I feel after a SoulCycle class - unstoppable, fierce, and worthy of happiness and success," she said. "The vision today is very similar. I believe every body is meant to move and every body should be given the opportunity to move. Through physical movement, we can greatly change how young girls and women view and value themselves. By building a positive relationship with her body, she then can build confidence and self-worth."
Today, Movemeant works with #ShePlaysWeWin, a photo project that showcases the power of movement, sports, and fitness on a young woman's self-confidence. Together they fund grants that provide sports instruction, gear, activewear, and coaching and mentorship to disadvantaged girls between 8 and 16 years of age. Recipients of these scholarships have gone on to learn how to snowboard, participate in ice hockey, and play sports like basketball, hockey, and tennis.
Even more grants are going to programs like The Wahine Project and iSurf School, Cycle Kids in Boston, and Women's Health Education Program in Ohio. On top of that, Movemeant delivers "physical programming," like "hip-hop dance, cheer dance, yoga, Zumba, [and] kick-boxing" - with the intent of building self-esteem - to middle school-aged girls. They currently provide these programs in 20 middle schools in the Bay Area.
Movemeant creates campaigns to inspire and empower women to love their bodies. They're combating the obesity epidemic while giving strength and hope to women with insecurities. They're changing the game of fitness, health, and wellness for women, starting by fortifying the younger generation and equipping them with the tools they need to live a stronger, healthier, happier life.
Words of Wisdom
Jenny is truly changing the world, but who inspired Jenny to be so inspirational herself? "I am a huge Brené Brown fan girl," she told us. "One of my favorite quotes of hers is, 'When you get to a place where you understand that love and belonging, your worthiness, is a birthright and not something you have to earn, anything is possible.'"
She said the problem that most women face today with fitness - the barrier that keeps them from changing their lives for the better - is that "fitness has become synonymous with punishment, and often, it's inaccessible to many women." It starts with small steps - "Getting out there and moving teaches self-reliance; it allows you to uncover what your body is truly capable of." And that, the moving and learning about yourself, "not the dropping of pounds," is what Jenny calls "the kind of transformation we should be celebrating."
"Through physical movement, we can greatly change how young girls and women view and value themselves."
If you're just beginning your own journey, Jenny says to find a support system, find an activity you love, be proud, and keep taking risks. "Surround yourself only with people who value, appreciate, and respect everything about you," she said. She also urged the importance of dissociating exercise with the stigmas: "When I used to hear the word 'exercise,' I'd think of treadmills, burpees, and sprints - all things I hated. So if you don't like working out, don't work out! Instead, go dance. Climb. Swim. Take a walk or a bike ride. Because if you call it what you like, you'll like it, and it should feel like a reward."
"Accomplish something that is challenging to you," she said. "There's no greater thrill than realizing you're capable of anything if you invest your heart and soul into it."
Find Out Why Kate and Will Took Over Princess Diana's Former Apartment
Image Source: Getty / Jeff Spicer
Prince William and Kate Middleton may currently call their country house, Anmer Hall, home, but their official residence is apartment 1A inside London's Kensington Palace, where Prince Harry also resides. The trio has even more claim in the historic royal residence, though, since they also use apartment 8 as their headquarters for official duties and charitable work. The renovated space, which has ample room for meetings and plenty of areas for entertaining, was Princess Diana's home until her death in 1997.
The working apartments are situated on the opposite side of the palace from apartment 1A, which was formerly Princess Margaret's living quarters. (We got a rare glimpse inside their private space when President Barack Obama and the first lady visited.) The location is ideally suited for Kate and Will, who will make the London apartment their primary residence in 2017, when Prince George attends Thomas's Battersea School in September. And of course for Harry, who conveniently lives just steps away.
Image Source: Shutterstock
Some Background on Syria's Tyrannical President, Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad, the despotic dictator grasping for power in Syria, was never supposed to lead his country. The embattled president's father, Hafez al-Assad - one whose rule can only be characterized as a dictatorship - had a clear favorite for ascension of power after he died: Basil al-Assad, the eldest male in the Syrian family. Basil al-Assad, who was already being groomed to control Syria, died in a car crash in 1994, paving the way for his younger brother Bashar to assume power when their father died. In 2000, Hafez al-Assad died following a 29-year reign, and Bashar al-Assad was elected president. He ran on an unopposed ballot.
What did Bashar al-Assad do before he became president?
Ever the second son, Bashar al-Assad was apparently disinterested in the family business of ruling Syria during his early years. After studying ophthalmology at Damascus University, al-Assad moved to London in the late 1980s for his residency. When his brother died, al-Assad was summoned back to Damascus by his father, presumably so the then-president could begin preparing him to take over after he died. He entered a military training school and eventually became a colonel in the army. In the late 1990s, al-Assad led a campaign against corruption in the government. This provided a seemingly legal opportunity for him to dispose of political rivals also vying for power when his father died.
What kind of president was he before the civil war began?
When Bashar al-Assad became president following his father's death, he attempted to reform some of the Syrian government's restrictive policies toward political rivals. According to a New Republic profile of the leader in 2013, Bashar al-Assad was most concerned with being liked rather than feared, like his father had been. As president, he released political prisoners who his father had detained, lifted a law that prohibited discussion of politics instituted by his father, allowed private ownership of banks, and granted a permit for an independent newspaper.
Around the same time the Arab Spring precipitated a series of political shake-ups across the Middle East in 2010, Syria encountered a similar revolution. Protests against the Assad family's regime sprung up across the country, and al-Assad reacted much like his father likely would have in response. Thousands of activists and civilians were imprisoned or killed; in the sixth month of protests, 2,000 people were already killed in al-Assad's attempt to maintain power. By 2011, as unrest enveloped Syria and it descended into a civil war ignited by al-Assad's brutal reaction to protesters, 27 European Union world leaders and the United States urged him to step down as president.
What has his role been in perpetuating civil war in his country?
By 2011, the situation in Syria had shifted from protests to full-scale civil war with al-Assad refusing to relinquish power. He also attempted to distance himself from his own army's action - despite being its commander in chief - during a December 2011 interview with ABC's Barbara Walters. In 2013, the president was accused of approving a chemical attack on a rebel-held territory that killed 1,400 civilians, 426 of whom were children. Former President Barack Obama proposed launching an airstrike on the Syrian-held territory in response to the brutal assault, but the plan was rejected by Congress. At the imploring of world leaders, al-Assad agreed to eliminate chemical weapon use through a deal brokered by the United States and Russia. However, as recently as this April, reports of a chemical weapons attack led by the Syrian military emerged.
Amid ongoing bloodshed in the country, al-Assad was reelected president in 2014, though the election was clearly rigged; voting only took place in areas of the country that he controlled. By the time of his "reelection," the conflict in Syria had already claimed the lives of more than 160,000 people.
The Syrian civil war grew more complex as ISIS entered the fight, endeavoring to capitalize on the unrest in the neighboring region. Since the terrorist organization has entered the conflict, American and Russian forces have been pulled into the fight, with the Russians backing al-Assad and the United States tentatively supplying arms to Syrian rebels. By December of 2016, the United Nations declared Aleppo, one of Syria's most populated cities, to be a humanitarian disaster as al-Assad's troops attempted to retake the city from rebels. The Syrian army successfully recaptured the city but with a massive civilian death toll and reports of war crimes.
As of February 2017, the Syrian Center for Policy Research, which is based in Damascus, estimated that at least 470,000 people have died in Syria since the beginning of the conflict. Bashar al-Assad remains unwilling to step down and continues to assert his power. In an April 6 interview with a Croation newspaper, Vecernji List, al-Assad said there is "no option except victory" to resolve the conflict and his government could not reach "results" through peace talks.
At the center of Bashar al-Assad's rule hangs a persistence to both honor his father's legacy and continue his family's reign. While he has long been accused of being weak by allies and foes within Syria, al-Assad ultimately appears obsessed with proving his leadership and strength, no matter the cost.
Target Is Empowering Breastfeeding Moms With Public Feeding Stations
As if moms didn't already love Target, this chain is giving women another reason to be obsessed with their stores. To the delight of many shoppers, some Targets have rolled out a "nursing nook" or "feeding station" for moms to be able to nourish their little ones in comfort.
These thoughtful areas aren't set up in a private room or dark corner meant to hide moms. Instead, they are normalizing the concept of moms feeding their babies by keeping the area in public. Along with cozy chairs and pillows, the designated space has Boppy pillows, breastfeeding covers, and free breast pads.
Kristy Welker, a representative for Target, told Scary Mommy that the company is testing these nursing areas in a few stores but it does not currently have plans to expand the concept to all locations.
"In late 2016, we began testing designated nursing rooms at two stores in Minnesota. We will continue to evaluate guest feedback on this test to determine broader rollout to additional stores and we always appreciate hearing from our guests about how we can better meet their needs," Welker said. "Fitting rooms are available for women who wish to breastfeed their babies privately, even if others are waiting to use the fitting rooms. Guests who choose to breastfeed in public areas of the store are welcome to do so without being made to feel uncomfortable. Additionally, store leaders are empowered to make decisions that help meet the needs of the guests they serve."
This Newborn Did Things on His Time - and Didn't Give a Sh*t About His Midwife's Roots
Carrie Hall always puts her patients first, and this dedication was captured in a priceless photo from a recent delivery. During an ordinary day on call, the midwife and nurse from Kentucky decided to take a chance and go for a hair appointment, but a particular little one had a different agenda.
Prior to arriving at the salon, Carrie called the hospital to check in and found out that there was a patient in labor but that she wasn't progressing rapidly. Considering that it would likely be hours until she was needed and that she was right by the hospital, Carrie went ahead with her beauty time. "My hairdresser had just finished foiling my hair when the nurses called and said the patient was ready to deliver," Carrie told POPSUGAR. "The local hospital was five minutes away, so foils and all, I went to catch a baby!"
The patient was ready to push as soon as Carrie arrived, and she delivered her precious baby in less than 20 minutes. "Then, I got back in my car, went back to the shop, and finished my hair!" she said. "Needless to say, momma, baby, and my hair are great!"
How 1 Stranger Saved This Little Boy From an Injury That Only 1 Percent Survive
4-year-old boy who was internally decapitated, expected to make a full recovery. Mother says chance of survival < 1% http://pic.twitter.com/ZBftcIlcN5
- Sierra Oshrin (@SierraKBOI) June 3, 2016
After a horrific accident, one little boy's head was internally decapitated and essentially just hanging on by a thread to his spinal cord. Luckily for this 4-year-old child, he's not only expected to make a full recovery but also one without surgery thanks to a stranger the family credits with helping to save his life.
An internal decapitation is a rare condition that occurs when the skull becomes separated from the spine. Less than one percent of people survive this massive injury and those who do usually require a major operation as well as a halo brace. However, little Killian keeps on beating the odds.
After celebrating Killian's fourth birthday, the little boy and his mother, Brandy Gonzalez, were driving home when their car hit some ice and began to skid out of control. Their vehicle slammed into another car, but luckily a police officer and his wife, Leah Woodward, happened to be driving toward the accident at the time of the crash.
As the first ones on scene, they immediately checked for survivors and heard the child screaming from the car. With the doors locked, the cop had to smash the back window open so his wife could get inside. He then guided her on how to help the severely injured child.
Leah sat up his limp body and securely held his head in order to protect his cervical spine from any further damage, common protocol before EMT professionals can protect his neck with a brace. She didn't move for over an hour, and her actions most likely saved his life - the slightest move could have been enough to completely sever the boy's spine.
"I'm trying to stay calm but inside I'm panicking. I'm thinking I don't know what I'm doing, and it was the worst feeling I've ever had to not know how to help," Leah said to KBOI2.
Killian's mother broke almost every bone in her body during the accident and is currently recovering at a hospital across the street from where her son is being treated for a ruptured spleen and broken arm and ribs, as well as the clinical decapitation.
"It's just so hard because I'm in the same town and I haven't been able to see him," said Brandy. "It's just hard knowing he's in so much pain and I can't be there."
Here's What Barack Obama Has Been Up to Since He Walked Out of the White House - and Our Lives
Barack Obama officially left the White House on Jan. 20, and he did so faster than we could say, "Don't go!" Since his departure, Barack has been fulfilling his passion for adventure and settled into permanent vacation mode (really, though, can you blame him?). While many of us are still longing for his return, the sad truth is that Barack is gone and off living his best life.
How 1 Stranger Saved This Little Boy From an Injury That Only 1 Percent Survive
4-year-old boy who was internally decapitated, expected to make a full recovery. Mother says chance of survival < 1% http://pic.twitter.com/ZBftcIlcN5
- Sierra Oshrin (@SierraKBOI) June 3, 2016
After a horrific accident, one little boy's head was internally decapitated and essentially just hanging on by a thread to his spinal cord. Luckily for this 4-year-old child, he's not only expected to make a full recovery but also one without surgery thanks to a stranger the family credits with helping to save his life.
An internal decapitation is a rare condition that occurs when the skull becomes separated from the spine. Less than one percent of people survive this massive injury and those who do usually require a major operation as well as a halo brace. However, little Killian keeps on beating the odds.
After celebrating Killian's fourth birthday, the little boy and his mother, Brandy Gonzalez, were driving home when their car hit some ice and began to skid out of control. Their vehicle slammed into another car, but luckily a police officer and his wife, Leah Woodward, happened to be driving toward the accident at the time of the crash.
As the first ones on scene, they immediately checked for survivors and heard the child screaming from the car. With the doors locked, the cop had to smash the back window open so his wife could get inside. He then guided her on how to help the severely injured child.
Leah sat up his limp body and securely held his head in order to protect his cervical spine from any further damage, common protocol before EMT professionals can protect his neck with a brace. She didn't move for over an hour, and her actions most likely saved his life - the slightest move could have been enough to completely sever the boy's spine.
"I'm trying to stay calm but inside I'm panicking. I'm thinking I don't know what I'm doing, and it was the worst feeling I've ever had to not know how to help," Leah said to KBOI2.
Killian's mother broke almost every bone in her body during the accident and is currently recovering at a hospital across the street from where her son is being treated for a ruptured spleen and broken arm and ribs, as well as the clinical decapitation.
"It's just so hard because I'm in the same town and I haven't been able to see him," said Brandy. "It's just hard knowing he's in so much pain and I can't be there."
11 Things You Didn't Know About Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's Royal Relationship
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2015. Image Source: Getty / Max Mumby
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this year, which is a pretty amazing feat regardless of the fact that they're royalty. Whether you think you know a lot about the couple or are hankering for more details about their decades-long marriage, we've got a handful of facts about the royal couple that might surprise you.
- For starters, they're related. That's right: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are actually second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark, and third cousins through their great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. Interestingly enough, Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840.
- They met when Elizabeth was just a little girl. The future couple were first introduced in 1934, at the wedding of Philip's cousin Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark to Prince George, Duke of Kent (Elizabeth's uncle). At the time, she was just 8 years old. They saw each other again three years later, but it was during a meeting at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in July 1939 - Elizabeth was 13 and Philip was 18 - that they fell in love and began to exchange letters.
- Elizabeth's dad gave his blessing for their marriage (on one condition). Philip asked King George VI for his daughter's hand in marriage in 1946, and the king granted his permission under the condition that a formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth turned 21 the following April; both he and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, felt that their daughter was "too young," and were disappointed that she wanted to marry the first man she met.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on their wedding day in November 1947. Image Source: Getty / Hulton Archive
- Their betrothal came with a bit of controversy. Philip and Elizabeth's engagement was officially announced in July 1947. The British public largely dismissed him as "a German" and the queen mother reportedly referred to him as "the Hun." Many of the king's advisors "did not think him good enough" for Elizabeth; he was foreign-born, didn't have money, and his three sisters all married German princes (some with Nazi ties).
- Philip abandoned his royal titles before marrying Elizabeth. Born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, Philip renounced those titles in 1957 in an attempt to gain favorable media coverage and blend a bit more seamlessly into his fiancée's family. He took on the style of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, adopting the surname of his mother's British family. He also converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism.
- Some of their family members were not allowed at the wedding. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947. Being that it was just two years after World War II ended, it was not cool for Philip's German family members (including his sisters) to be invited to the wedding. Also not invited was Elizabeth's uncle, the former King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in December 1936.
- Elizabeth originally took her husband's name. On the morning of their wedding, Philip was made the Duke of Edinburgh. Upon tying the knot, Elizabeth took Philip's title and became Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh.
- They started a family pretty quickly. Elizabeth gave birth to the couple's first child, Prince Charles, on Nov. 14, 1948, almost a year to the day of their wedding. Their welcomed a daughter, Princess Anne, two years later.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II with their children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne in July 1951. Image Source: Getty / Ullstein Bild
- They didn't always live with their kids. Between 1949 and 1951, Philip was stationed in Malta while serving as a Royal Navy officer. He and Elizabeth lived at Villa Guardamangia, the rented home of his uncle Lord Mountbatten, for several months at a time. Their two young children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, stayed in Britain.
- Philip was the bearer of bad news upon King George VI's death. When Elizabeth's father passed away after a long illness in 1952, she and Philip had just embarked on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand with a stop in Kenya. They were at their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge, when the news of George's death reached them. It was Philip who told Elizabeth that her father had died - and that she was now queen.
- Philip didn't deal well with Elizabeth's rise to power. After King George's death, Philip gave up his career as a naval officer to support his wife's new royal duties and was known to butt heads with the Buckingham Palace staff. There were arguments about whether or not Elizabeth would keep his surname after she took the throne, but both the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Elizabeth's grandmother, Queen Mary, voted in favor to keep the family name as House of Windsor (rather than House of Mountbatten). This was also likely due to the fact that in the days after George's death, Philip's uncle, Louis "Dickie" Mountbatten, was overheard triumphantly declaring that "the House of Mountbatten now reigned," which understandably angered Queen Mary.
In April 1952, the queen mother issued a declaration that Windsor would continue to be the royal name. Philip, meanwhile, was pissed: he privately complained of being "nothing but a bloody amoeba," and railed against being "the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children." But after both Queen Mary's death in 1953 and Churchill's resignation in 1955, the queen mother reversed the decision, aware of both Philip's frustration and the impending birth of their second son. In 1960, she issued an Order of Council stating that Elizabeth and Philip had adopted the surname Mountbatten-Windsor for their male-line descendants, saying, "The Queen has had this in mind for a long time and it is close to her heart." Their baby boy, Prince Andrew, was born just a week later. Today, it acts as a sort of optional last name for those in the family.
Here's What Barack Obama Has Been Up to Since He Walked Out of the White House - and Our Lives
Barack Obama officially left the White House on Jan. 20, and he did so faster than we could say, "Don't go!" Since his departure, Barack has been fulfilling his passion for adventure and settled into permanent vacation mode (really, though, can you blame him?). While many of us are still longing for his return, the sad truth is that Barack is gone and off living his best life.
Heather Dubrow's New Mansion Will Knock Your Manolos Off
On Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County, viewers are gifted with a front-row view to Heather Dubrow's sophisticated and often enviable lifestyle. We have known her for years as an actress, a mom of four, and the wife to plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow. More recently, though, we have gotten to know her as a California mansion designer extraordinaire. Avid viewers of the show live for the little glimpses of her decadent new digs as her vision finally nears completion.
Knowing Heather, we are guaranteed to see plenty of perfection, over-the-top opulence, and exceptionally beautiful interiors when the time comes for the big reveal. But until then, her Instagram is luckily full of little snaps proving that every detail from her aired-in olive tree to the jaw-dropping master bath is going to wow us beyond belief. So grab a glass of Champagne and enjoy this inside look at the future Dubrow abode, and we promise, it does not disappoint.
1 Female Legislator's "White Male" Comment Sent These White Males Spinning
When Minnesota House members met to discuss a bill regarding harsh penalties for protesters that block major roads, Melissa Hortman, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor minority leader, noticed that some of her colleagues were missing. During the meeting, Democratic state Rep. Ilhan Omar gave a speech about the bill. She explained that if these harsh penalties were in order, movements like Black Lives Matter would not exist, but Hortman wasn't satisfied with lack of legislators on the floor.
Hortman pointed out that not only were her male colleagues not present to hear Omar's speech, but they also missed other amazing speeches made by women opposing the bill because they were in the retiring room . . . and she did not hold back with these thoughts. "I hate to break up the 100 percent white male card game in the retiring room, but I think this is an important debate," Hortman said.
As expected, her comment did not sit well with some of the male legislators, especially Republican Rep. Bob Dettmer. "I'm a white male," he said. "I respect everybody. But I really believe the comments that were made by the minority leader were really not appropriate. Minority leader, would you apologize to the body?" Hortman refused to back down.
"I have no intention of apologizing," Hortman said. "I am so tired of watching Rep. Susan Allen give an amazing speech, Rep. Peggy Flanagan give an amazing speech; watching Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn give an amazing speech, Rep. Rena Moran give the most heartfelt, incredible speech I've heard on this House floor as long as I can remember; watching Rep. Ilhan Omar give an amazing speech, and looking around to see where are my colleagues?"
She added: "And I went in the retiring room and I saw where a bunch of my colleagues were, and I'm really tired of watching women of color, in particular, being ignored. So, I'm not sorry." If we were there, this would be the moment we burst out into applause.
But Dettmer was not alone in feeling offended by Hortman's statement during the meeting. Republican Rep. Greg Davids told a local Minnesota publication that he believes she should resign for her "racist" comment. "I was greatly offended by Hortman's racist statement about white males," he told the Post-Bulletin. "I believe her comments have created a very hostile working environment."
Watch the video above to see how the House members handled Hortman's comment about sexism in the courtroom.
11 Things You Didn't Know About Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's Royal Relationship
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2015. Image Source: Getty / Max Mumby
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this year, which is a pretty amazing feat regardless of the fact that they're royalty. Whether you think you know a lot about the couple or are hankering for more details about their decades-long marriage, we've got a handful of facts about the royal couple that might surprise you.
- For starters, they're related. That's right: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are actually second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark, and third cousins through their great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. Interestingly enough, Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840.
- They met when Elizabeth was just a little girl. The future couple were first introduced in 1934, at the wedding of Philip's cousin Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark to Prince George, Duke of Kent (Elizabeth's uncle). At the time, she was just 8 years old. They saw each other again three years later, but it was during a meeting at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in July 1939 - Elizabeth was 13 and Philip was 18 - that they fell in love and began to exchange letters.
- Elizabeth's dad gave his blessing for their marriage (on one condition). Philip asked King George VI for his daughter's hand in marriage in 1946, and the king granted his permission under the condition that a formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth turned 21 the following April; both he and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, felt that their daughter was "too young," and were disappointed that she wanted to marry the first man she met.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on their wedding day in November 1947. Image Source: Getty / Hulton Archive
- Their betrothal came with a bit of controversy. Philip and Elizabeth's engagement was officially announced in July 1947. The British public largely dismissed him as "a German" and the queen mother reportedly referred to him as "the Hun." Many of the king's advisors "did not think him good enough" for Elizabeth; he was foreign-born, didn't have money, and his three sisters all married German princes (some with Nazi ties).
- Philip abandoned his royal titles before marrying Elizabeth. Born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, Philip renounced those titles in 1957 in an attempt to gain favorable media coverage and blend a bit more seamlessly into his fiancée's family. He took on the style of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, adopting the surname of his mother's British family. He also converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism.
- Some of their family members were not allowed at the wedding. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947. Being that it was just two years after World War II ended, it was not cool for Philip's German family members (including his sisters) to be invited to the wedding. Also not invited was Elizabeth's uncle, the former King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in December 1936.
- Elizabeth originally took her husband's name. On the morning of their wedding, Philip was made the Duke of Edinburgh. Upon tying the knot, Elizabeth took Philip's title and became Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh.
- They started a family pretty quickly. Elizabeth gave birth to the couple's first child, Prince Charles, on Nov. 14, 1948, almost a year to the day of their wedding. Their welcomed a daughter, Princess Anne, two years later.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II with their children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne in July 1951. Image Source: Getty / Ullstein Bild
- They didn't always live with their kids. Between 1949 and 1951, Philip was stationed in Malta while serving as a Royal Navy officer. He and Elizabeth lived at Villa Guardamangia, the rented home of his uncle Lord Mountbatten, for several months at a time. Their two young children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, stayed in Britain.
- Philip was the bearer of bad news upon King George VI's death. When Elizabeth's father passed away after a long illness in 1952, she and Philip had just embarked on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand with a stop in Kenya. They were at their Kenyan home, Sagana Lodge, when the news of George's death reached them. It was Philip who told Elizabeth that her father had died - and that she was now queen.
- Philip didn't deal well with Elizabeth's rise to power. After King George's death, Philip gave up his career as a naval officer to support his wife's new royal duties and was known to butt heads with the Buckingham Palace staff. There were arguments about whether or not Elizabeth would keep his surname after she took the throne, but both the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Elizabeth's grandmother, Queen Mary, voted in favor to keep the family name as House of Windsor (rather than House of Mountbatten). This was also likely due to the fact that in the days after George's death, Philip's uncle, Louis "Dickie" Mountbatten, was overheard triumphantly declaring that "the House of Mountbatten now reigned," which understandably angered Queen Mary.
In April 1952, the queen mother issued a declaration that Windsor would continue to be the royal name. Philip, meanwhile, was pissed: he privately complained of being "nothing but a bloody amoeba," and railed against being "the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children." But after both Queen Mary's death in 1953 and Churchill's resignation in 1955, the queen mother reversed the decision, aware of both Philip's frustration and the impending birth of their second son. In 1960, she issued an Order of Council stating that Elizabeth and Philip had adopted the surname Mountbatten-Windsor for their male-line descendants, saying, "The Queen has had this in mind for a long time and it is close to her heart." Their baby boy, Prince Andrew, was born just a week later. Today, it acts as a sort of optional last name for those in the family.
Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady's Apartment Might Be Even More Beautiful Than They Are
Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady seem to be over their $13.4 million condo in New York's Flatiron district. A year after they purchased it in 2013, they started renting it for a cool $40,000 a month. Page Six reported that the supermodel and quarterback upgraded to a $20 million apartment on a desirable high floor in 70 Vestry, a new luxury building in Tribeca. The A-listers' new French-limestone-covered building is understatedly elegant and boasts breathtaking views of the Hudson River. Building amenities are fitting of a five-star hotel and include an ultraprivate entrance to keep the prying eyes of the paparazzi at bay, extensive athletic facilities so Tom can stay in NFL shape (think an 82-foot-long indoor lap pool, squash court, and yoga studio, just to name a few), a posh lounge, a cafe, and a children's playroom. Take a look at the family's Tribeca digs in the pictures ahead.
Baby Shower Bites: 22 Great Nibbles and Noshes
Since baby showers are frequently held in the midafternoon, your food offerings needn't be extensive or even a complete meal. Instead, focus on fun, easy-to-mingle-with finger foods that guests can enjoy at their leisure. Here, 22 fun ideas for making your shower offerings extraspecial. Don't forget the mocktails!
68 Fun Ways to Fete Your Terrific Toddler
The toddler years are the golden phase of a mom's party-planning career. The little guest of honor is developing a real personality and interests of his or her own, but classroom guest-list politics aren't yet in play. Make your 2-to-4-year-old's big day one to remember by drawing inspiration from one of these varied and clever themes for boys and girls alike. Happy birthday, kiddo!
Little Girl Teaches Her Classmates an Important Lesson on Crazy Hair Day
When Daniella Wride was brushing her little girl's hair after a bath, she noticed something startling: an alarming amount of Gianessa's hair was falling out.
The very next day, the concerned family received a tentative diagnosis for the little girl's hair loss, and three weeks later it was confirmed that she has alopecia, an autoimmune disease that can be triggered by stress. Just 19 days after Gianessa's parents first noticed a problem, the child had officially lost all of her hair. "There are times that I think I take it harder than she does," Daniella told POPSUGAR. "You think things like: I hope someone just sees her for who she is - her beautiful, sassy, smart, loving, kind self - not just the girl without any hair."
Daniella is helping her daughter embrace her "new fabulous look" while also hoping her little one feel like she fits in. "I truly don't care if she has hair or not. But it's the experiences I don't want her to miss out on: crazy hair day, getting ready for dates, dances with friends and doing each other's hair," she said. "This girl is fierce and brave, way more so than I could have ever imagined."
As Crazy Hair Day approached at school, Daniella turned to her daughter's friends for inspiration on what to do for this potentially difficult event. They suggested temporary tattoos or body glitter, but when Daniella came across jewel stickers in the scrapbook section of her craft store, she knew that they were the perfect option for her artistic daughter.
After Gianessa created the design she wanted, her mom applied the jewels to her head. "She said she was really nervous no one would like it and when I finished, she ran to the bathroom to look at it," Daniella recalled. "She got a massive grin on her face and she said, 'I look so awesome!'"
When Daniella dropped her girl off for school, she could hear people enthusiastically complimenting her spirited look. When she picked her up at the end of the day, not only were all of the jewels still in place, but she also learned that Gianessa's teacher chose her daughter for the best crazy hair in class. "She said, 'All the kids kept swarming me! They all LOVED it!'" Daniella said. With that confident glow, it's no wonder why!
Fact: Megan Fox's Adorable Sons Will Melt Your Heart in Record Time
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green had quite a year in 2016. A few months after they announced their split in August 2015, news broke that Megan was pregnant with their third child together. The two then called off their divorce to make things work for their growing family, and in August 2016, they welcomed their son Journey. Despite the couple's up-and-down romance, one thing definitely hasn't changed: their sons are freaking adorable. They're also parents to Noah, Bodhi, and Kassius, Brian's son from a previous relationship, and while they don't share too many family snaps on Instagram, the ones they do will definitely make you say, "Awww!"
Fact: Megan Fox's Adorable Sons Will Melt Your Heart in Record Time
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green had quite a year in 2016. A few months after they announced their split in August 2015, news broke that Megan was pregnant with their third child together. The two then called off their divorce to make things work for their growing family, and in August 2016, they welcomed their son Journey. Despite the couple's up-and-down romance, one thing definitely hasn't changed: their sons are freaking adorable. They're also parents to Noah, Bodhi, and Kassius, Brian's son from a previous relationship, and while they don't share too many family snaps on Instagram, the ones they do will definitely make you say, "Awww!"
Baby Shower Bites: 22 Great Nibbles and Noshes
Since baby showers are frequently held in the midafternoon, your food offerings needn't be extensive or even a complete meal. Instead, focus on fun, easy-to-mingle-with finger foods that guests can enjoy at their leisure. Here, 22 fun ideas for making your shower offerings extraspecial. Don't forget the mocktails!
65 of the Best Baby Shower Themes
Moms-to-be love to be showered with love - and lots of baby gear - at their baby showers, and we've discovered themes to suit every expectant mom's interest. From celebrations inspired by baby animals, classic storybooks, and vintage finds to sprinkles for experienced moms and gender-reveal parties for mamas who want to add even more excitement to their showers, these 65 amazing ideas are sure to please everyone on your guest list, including the mom-to-be! Keep clicking to find the shower that speaks to you!
ANTM Contestants: Where Are They Now?
America's Next Top Model contestants: where are they now? You asked, we researched, so why not take a look back at some of Tyra's protégés? We've put our sleuthing caps on to find out what they're up to these days - and we've added updates from recent cycles. Read on to see what some of your favorite (and not-so-favorite) models are up to now that they're no longer in the running to be America's next top model.
- Additional reporting by Maria Del Russo and Kaitlyn Dreyling
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