In a recent storytime video on her YouTube channel, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi opened up about her experience of being adopted.

The Jersey Shore star revealed details about her childhood and the curiosities she had growing up in Marlboro, New York. “I don’t really talk about it, just because I just feel like my family is my family," she said. “I never really thought, ‘What’s my birth mother like? What’s my birth family like?’" explained Snooki, "because I’m so content with my adoptive parents and my adopted life and family. But you know I thought about it once I started getting older, like, ‘What does my mom look like? What does my dad look like?’”

She further explained how she was adopted at six months from Santiago, Chile by Andrew and Helen Polizzi. “I was always meant to be with my adoptive parents, which I don’t even, ew, I hate saying adoptive parents because they are my parents, it’s weird,” she shared. “Even though my nationality is Chilean, I grew up Italian. So when people say to me what’s your nationality I say, ‘I’m Chilean but I grew up Italian.’ I feel like I’m both.”

She continued, “Because I always knew, they didn’t have to tell me. They didn’t have to sit me down at 10 and be like, ‘Nicole, you’re adopted.’ I knew, we don’t look alike. I’m brown, you’re white. This doesn’t make sense but I always knew in my heart that I was adopted and I was totally fine with it."

"Every time I ask my parents they would get upset. I could just tell they would get upset because they didn’t want to tell me the truth or they didn’t want me to think that they’re not my parents which was never the case. Eventually, when I was 21, 22, I got my dad drunk and was like, ‘Dad, can you just tell me what went on? Why was I up for adoption?’”

“Basically, my birth parents had other siblings and they couldn’t afford me. I can’t even imagine because I have two kids, putting up a child for adoption, to give them a better life,” the mother of two said. “That’s so amazing for them, that shows how much they loved me. But also I could never do that. I can’t even imagine how they felt giving me up but thank you for that.”

Snooki even went on to admit that she would choose to meet her biological parents in the future, if she could. “In the back of my head I’m always curious to meet my birth family,” she said. “I always wonder if I never was adopted and I stayed with my birth parents would I still be a hot mess like this? Just in Spanish, probably. I feel like I was always meant to be this hot mess.”

Watch her tell the full story below.

Today the British Royal Family celebrated Prince William and Kate Middleton's third child, Prince Louis, at a private christening ceremony which took place at The Chapel Royal of St. James's Palace in London.

Guests included Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Kate's parents, her brother and sister and Louis' six godparents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and more family members (sans Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip) to watch the 11-week-old prince be baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

According to the Royal Family's official website, "following the service, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will give a private tea at Clarence House. Guests will be served slices of christening cake, which is a tier taken from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding cake."

Prince Louis' christening followed several Royal Family traditions, from the use of the historic Lily Font he was christened in which was commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 after the birth of their first child, to the christening robe made in 1841 that he wore for the ceremony.

The young prince, watched on by his older brother George and sister Charlotte, was baptized using water from the River Jordan.

Mark your calendars 90s/00s kids: Supermodel-turned-actress, Tyra Banks, revealed Monday afternoon that Life Size 2 will be premiering this winter on Freeform, and that Francia Raisa is going to be her costar. (OMG!)

Raisa is well-known among Freeform fans for co-starring on the network’s Black-ish spin-off, Grown-ish, as Ana, and previously starring in The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Christmas Bounty. She's also appeared in Netflix’s Dear White People and appeared in 2006's Bring It On: All or Nothing.

"Cheesin' so hard!! Can’t believe I get to film one of my childhood favorites," Raisa tweeted following the news.

According to Freeform, Francia Raisa will play Grace Manning, the confident and funny CEO of Marathon Toys, a huge toy company started by her mother that is most famous for manufacturing the iconic Eve doll. Grace is also a hot mess in the middle of her quarter-life crisis and realizing that she is in over her head as CEO. To make matters worse, her wild-child ways are causing the company’s stock to plummet.

Gavin Stenhouse plays Grace’s potential love interest Calum; Shanica Knowles will play Tahlia and Hank Chen will star as Brendan, who are Grace’s best friends; along with Alison Fernandez as Lex, Grace’s young next-door neighbor.

Banks led the original film, which premiered 18 years ago as part of ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney, as Eve, a fashion doll that transforms into a human after a grieving girl (played by Lindsay Lohan) bungles a magic spell intended to revive her dead mother.

According to Deadline, Life Size 2 will premiere during Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” annual programming event.

Rumors started circulating over the weekend that Justin Bieber had proposed to Hailey Baldwin, but at that time, nothing was confirmed. Fans were hesitant to believe the news — especially since the two have only been spotted together in recent weeks — but Justin himself just made the engagement Instagram official.

"Was gonna wait a while to say anything but word travels fast, listen plain and simple Hailey I am soooo in love with everything about you!" Justin wrote on a photo of Hailey kissing him. "So committed to spending my life getting to know every single part of you loving you patiently and kindLY."

He continued, "I promise to lead our family with honor and integrity letting Jesus through his Holy Spirit guide us in everything we do and every decision we make. My heart is COMPLETELY and FULLY YOURS and I will ALWAYS put you first!"

According to TMZ, the duo got engaged on July 7 in the Bahamas. They were reportedly dancing at a restaurant when Justin asked Hailey to marry him. 

Justin's Instagram caption continued, with him further declaring his love for Hailey. "You make me so much better and we compliment eachother so well!!" he wrote. "Can’t wait for the best season of life yet!. It’s funny because now with you everything seems to make sense!"

Justin also touched on the timing of the engagement, which he said he didn't plan. "Gods timing really is literally perfect, we got engaged on the seventh day of the seventh month, the number seven is the number of spiritual perfection, it’s true GOOGLE IT!" Justin wrote. 

He continued about his excitement for the future, though he admitted that he was most looking forward to his little brother and sister getting "to see another healthy stable marriage and look for the same." 

The caption ended with proverb, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains FAVOR from the Lord," and Justin noting "This is the year of favor!"

Afterwards, Hailey took to Twitter to express her own excitement. 

"Not sure what I did in life to deserve such happiness but I am so utterly grateful to God for giving me such an incredible person to share my life with!" Hailey tweeted. "No words could ever express my gratitude."

Both fans and friends of the newly engaged couple congratulated them, including Ariana Grande, who recently defended Justin's quick engagement after being criticized for doing the same with Pete Davidson. 

Hailey's dad, actor Stephen Baldwin, tweeted— but quickly deleted — his congratulations. The tweet read, "Sweet smile on my face! me&wife (Kennya) Always pray 4 Gods will !! He is moving in the hearts of JB&HB Let’s all pray for His will to be done Love you 2 so much !!! #Godstiming #bestisyettocome Congrats @JeremyBieber @pattiemallette #PraiseJesus." 

Justin's dad also posted in honor of the news.

His mom, on the other hand, took a more subtle approach. 

While it's not certain how long Justin and Hailey have been together, they have been spotted cozying up for the last several weeks. They also previously dated in 2016 before splitting up. 

With couples like Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande, or Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin, it can be difficult to keep up with celebrity couples these days. But if there's one pairing we can all support, it's this one: Halloweentown's Marnie Piper and Kalabar "Kal" Jr.

Despite their characters being enemies in the iconic Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge, it appears that Kimberly J. Brown and Daniel Kountz have nothing but love for each other in real life. 

According to Cosmopolitan, the two first got together around May 2016, when Brown posted a photo with Kountz about a comedy sketch she made where he reprised his role as Kal. But a lot of people didn't realize they were dating until Brown posted another Instagram, this time of the two kissing. 

They've even attended weddings and celebrated holidays together — including, you guessed it — Halloween. 

Honestly, it feels like my childhood is coming full circle and I'm here for it. Here's to the happy couple!

On Monday night, President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh, a 53-year-old current judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, to join the Supreme Court. 

"What matters is not a judge's political views, but whether they can set aside those views to do what the law and the Constitution require," Trump said when making the announcement at the White House. "I am pleased to say I have found without doubt such a person."

The president went on to call Kavanaugh "one of the finest and sharpest legal minds of our time."

"Judge Kavanaugh has impeccable credentials," Trump added. "Throughout legal circles, he is considered a true judge's judge."

Kavanaugh – an ideological conservative — attended Yale and Yale Law, and over the course of his career, has clerked for two federal appellate judges, worked as an aide for George H.W. Bush, and clerked for Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. He's been on the D.C. Circuit since 2006. 

According to The New York Times, the road to nomination for Kavanaugh will not be easy, "His long record of legal opinions and his work in fierce partisan battles is likely to offer Democrats plenty of ammunition for tough questions." 

The few Senate Democrats who Trump invited to the White House for the announcement declined to attend. Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, also kept her distance.

Everyone loves to indulge in sweets occasionally (or every single day), but nobody likes those extra calories and carbs that come from them. And the healthier alternatives are usually.... not so appetizing. So what's a girl to do when she's forced to choose between eating healthy and indulging in sugary sweets?

Yes, it's possible to have the best of both worlds. Here are a few of our favorite recipes, thanks to Pinterest. 

1. Chocolate Protein Cookies

Aside from only being 72 calories, this healthy spin on the classic chocolate chip cookie contains a huge variety of protein-packed ingredients like bananas, peanut butter and flax seeds. It’s the perfect snack to grab after hitting the gym.

2. Grapefruit Yogurt Cake

While this cake is meant more for breakfast, it’s a delicious snack for anytime of the day. The Greek yogurt keeps it moist and the fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice drizzled on the top helps your body break down fat even faster. Burning fat has never tasted this good.

Related: 5 Easy Cooking Swaps For Instantly Healthier Food

3. Strawberries and Cream Cake

This family-favorite recipe is gluten-free: perfect for those who want to eat sweet without feeling the post-sweets guilt later on. With ingredients like Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream frosting, this cake is also low in calories and processed sugar.

4. Apple Pie Oatmeal Cookies

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to multitask while eating a slice of pie? This recipe takes one of your favorite comfort foods and makes it a quick and easy handheld snack. These cookies are full of oats, which is a great way to replenish your protein throughout the day.

5. Pecan Pie Shortbread Cookies

Speaking of pie, these mini pecan pie cookies are a tiny piece of heaven. The recipe uses coconut milk as an alternative to cows’ milk, making this yummy treat low calorie and vegan-friendly.

6. Sugar Cookie Fruit Tarts

These tarts are a tasty way to make sure that you're getting your daily dose of fresh fruit and berries while adding in a little bit of sweetness!

7. Vegan Carrot Cake with Cashew Lemon Frosting

An interesting twist to a usually unhealthy classic, this vegan carrot cake has super clean ingredients such as agave nectar and almond flour.

8. Chocolate Banana Applesauce Cake

Everyone loves chocolate, so this cake is sure to be a hit at your next big party. Using bananas and applesauce as an alternative to butter or oil helps to make this one of the moistest and fudgy cakes you've ever tasted.

Being able to enjoy sweets while still being healthy is no longer just a fantasy. Try out these recipes and see—your body will thank you!

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

The Latest With Detained Immigrant Families At The US-Mexico Border

A Judge Denied A Request To Detain Families Together

On Monday night, California federal judge rejected a Trump administration request to detain immigrant families together. According to the Associated Press, the judge called the request a "cynical" attempt to blame the court for the president's "ill-considered" action and Congress' inability to take action.

Pregnant Women Aren't Getting The Care They Need

A report from BuzzFeed News revealed that pregnant women in immigration detention are allegedly being denied medical care, shackled around the stomach, and abused. Three women who spoke to the news outlet all had miscarriages. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen previously stated that pregnant detainees "are not only given adequate care in facilities, but it is much better care than when they are living in the shadows."

That doesn't seem to be the case, though — especially not across the board. "The incidents were not limited to a single detention center," the report stated. "Three medical workers and five legal aid workers who spoke to BuzzFeed News all said they had seen — and some had documented — cases of pregnant women not receiving or being denied medical care in more than six different detention centers in California, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona."

A Judge Extended The Deadline To Reunite Children With Their Parents

After a lawyer for the government revealed that only two children under the age of 5 have been reunited with their parents, a federal judge extended Tuesday's deadline for the government to reunite 102 migrant children. Government attorneys are expected to provide Judge Dana Sabraw with an update by Tuesday morning regarding which children will be reunited, and who will require more time. 

President Trump's Driver Of 25 Years Is Suing Him

Noel Cintron, Trump's former personal driver, is suing the Trump Organization. He's claiming that he was forced to work "thousands of hours" of overtime — an average of between 50 and 55 hours a week — without fair compensation. According to CNN, the complaint "describes Trump's actions towards his driver as 'an utterly callous display of unwarranted privilege and entitlement' and says that Trump demonstrated 'callousness and cupidity' when he denied Cintron a raise."

A spokesperson for the Trump Organization issued a statement to CNN: "Mr. Cintron was at all times paid generously and in accordance with the law. Once the facts come out we expect to be fully vindicated in court."

When asked for a comment, the White House directed the request to the Trump Organization. Trump is required by law to answer the complaint within 30 days. 

What to look for...

Reactions — including protests — to President Trump's SCOTUS nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. 

Get ready to spice up your morning cup of coffee this week! The coffee chain will introduce on Tuesday July 10, two new iced drinks, and they will be added to the Starbucks permanent menu. 

The Salted Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew is infused with hints of caramel and topped with a delicious salted cream cold foam, according to Starbucks. It is the perfect amount of sweetness and caffeine to jump start your day. The new cold brew also comes with a strawless lid (so you can cut down on plastic and enjoy a yummy treat.) Starbucks cold foam innovation was introduced back in April, and it is essentially a frothy nonfat milk. It is the same foamy topper you’d find on your cappuccino. 

The Iced Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Latte has a little more flavoring in your morning jolt. It is made by pouring shots of espresso over iced vanilla bean coconut milk. It is syrup-free and it is a great milk alternative. Just a warning though, according to Teen Vogue, without the syrup the drink is slightly more bitter. 

These two new drinks just might become your new go to hot weather faves. 

It looks like President Trump’s nominee to fill the open spot in the Supreme Court was a major part in the SeaWorld legal battle with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, following the tragic death of a killer whale trainer at the park, according to WKMG. 

Trump announced just last night the US Supreme Court Justice nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to replace Anthony Kennedy. Kavanaugh was a circuit judge of the US Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. 

In 2010, SeaWorld appealed citations that were issued by the OSHA to the US Court of Appeals in D.C., following the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau. Kavanaugh was one of three judges, who considered the case. An administrative judge previously upheld the $70,000 fine  before the appeal for “willful” violation of safety regulations placed by the OSHA, WKMG reports. After one of the shows at the Orlando theme park, one of the park's orcas, Tilikum,  drowned and killed Brancheau. 

All three judges were to decide on whether or not the US Department of Labor was able to control how SeaWorld protects their trainers, according to WKMG.

Chief Judge Merrick Garland and Circuit Judge Judith Rogers believed that SeaWorld should have made more of an effort to keep their employees safe from known dangers within the workplace. Apparently, Kavanaugh did not agree. Instead, according to OSHA's documents about the case, he found that killer whale trainers were similar to athletes or others who choose to work in risky careers. 

“(The Department of Labor) cannot reasonably distinguish close contact with whales at SeaWorld from tackling in the NFL or speeding in NASCAR. The Department’s sole justification for the distinction is that SeaWorld could modify...its shows to elimination close contact with whales without going out of business. But so too, the NFL could ban tackling or punt returns or blocks below the waist. And likewise, NASCAR could impose a speed limit during its races. But the Department has not claimed that it can regulate those activities. So that is not a reasonable way to distinguish sports from SeaWorld,” Kavanaugh wrote in his dissent. "No one has described SeaWorld's killer whale performance as a 'sport,' and a legal argument that the 'sports industry' should not be regulated by OSHA can be raised when and if OSHA attempts to do so. Until then, this court will not find that OSHA acted arbitrarily based on a few responses to hypotheticals in briefing or oral argument."

The judges inevitably upheld the OSHA fine in a 2-1 vote. 

For years Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber kept us on our toes with their on-again off-again relationship, but it seems like we won’t have to ask the “are they/aren’t they” question any more since Bieber and Hailey Baldwin have just announced their engagement.

Just last October, after Gomez broke things off with The Weeknd, she started seeing Bieber again, making it all the more surprising that Bieber and Baldwin got engaged so quickly. But Gomez seems to be officially over him, because she isn’t letting their relationship get to her.

She’s been spotted out in New York the past few days looking happy as ever. On Sunday she was hanging with her friends on a boat cruise around Manhattan, and yesterday (right before the news of Bieber’s engagement broke) she was seen in NYC rocking a new, longer hairstyle (which looks stunning, by the way).

A source told E! Newsthat Gomez is completely over her ex, and doesn’t care that he’s engaged to someone new. The insider said, “Selena is definitely on a different path right now and in a much better place since Justin is out of the picture. Mentally, she is done with him," and she’s just focused on herself for right now.

Another source said, “At this point, [Selena’s] just trying to focus on her own life and her own happiness. She wishes him the best. She's not going to get caught up in what he's doing. She's found her happy place and is focused on what's working for her."

You go, girl!

Continuing with this season’s theme of WTF Is Happening, Colton, former pro-football player and all around basic bro, announced that he’s a virgin. Maybe he’s not SO basic, after all? Tbh I always sort of got that kind of vibe from him. The other guys always seem ready to throw down and he’s sort of more ready to talk about the latest Jurassic Park sequel. 

Apparently, the other guys have known Colton’s a virgin since forever, and they all can’t believe he got a one-on-one date this week. Um, what ACTUALLY goes on during those dates?

Colton: Peace out guys! Golly, I’m off to have some good, wholesome fun with Becca!
Everyone: You're a virgin who can’t drive.  

Becca, though, was totally oblivious about the whole thing. Seriously. When he told her, she straight up left the room for, like, 10 minutes. She probably had to process the fact that Colton hadn’t understood any of the “conch” jokes she made on their conch-fishing date that day.  

Becca: Oh My God, there’s so much conch! Diving for conch is so much harder than I thought. I had the best day eating conch with Colton. I could eat conch with Colton ALL DAY LONG. 
Colton: …I’m a virgin.

JK here’s how it really went down, over your typical sketchily-lit Bachelorette date dinner. 

Colton: I’m a virgin.  
​Becca: Really?
Colton: Yeah
Becca: Ummm be right back 
Becca: …
Becca: …
Becca: How about now?  

Becca got lucky af, though, because then Colton told her that he’s not waiting for marriage, just for a ‘special moment,’ aka when he stops getting attention for being a virgin on social media. 

Colton: I’m not waiting until marr––
Becca: K, cool, my room in 5?  

Speaking of social media, people on Twitter are SHOOK over the news that Colton’s a virgin, so, congratulations ABC, you successfully distracted Twitter from totally flipping tf out about Trump preempting The Bachelorette for 30 minutes for the SECOND TIME this season. Melania def watches the show and Trump keeps preempting it so she has to look at him instead of a bunch of hot guys. Not fake news. At least the break gave people PLENTY of time to express their opinions about Colton’s virginity. TBH this is getting kind of gross, but we’re in too deep. Here we go...

Some people just, like, can’t grasp why it matters that Colton is a virgin. Yikes. Okay, girl. How’s your love life? 

Others are actively supporting it, to the extreme. Noble? Highly respectable? Um, sure. Like, you do you, Colton, but it’s a personal choice, not something that should be worshipped and applauded. Come on!

At least some people are rightfully weirded out about people rallying behind Colton like he’s some kind of hero. Sorry, not sorry! 

And then there are the ones that flat out don’t believe a word Colton says. Tbh, I’m sort of skeptical too. How do we even define being a “virgin,” anyway? Like, are we supposed to think that Colton has never even––okay, never mind. You get the point. 

It’s all a little sketchy, and it’s about to get a whole lot more sketch next week when Tia makes an appearance! This could go down two ways.

Becca: Tia, what are you doing here?
Tia: Give me back my precious, virginal prince! 

Becca: Tia, what are you doing here?
Tia: If Colton is a virgin, I’m a rocket scientist.  

Let’s face it, Millie Bobby Brown is one of America’s sweethearts. Between starring in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, cementing her status as a style icon, and standing up to stop bullying, we want nothing but the best for her. Unfortunately though, as much as we wish we could, we're unable to guard her from facing bodily harm.   

In June, the 14-year-old actress revealed on Instagram that she had suffered a painful injury—a split kneecap. Because of the injury, she was unable to attend the MTV Movie & TV Awards along with her Stranger Things castmates. 

But on Monday, Millie shared an update on the injury she's been recovering from. Proving that she is on the mend, in a video she shared on Instagram, she can be seen dancing with her Stranger Things director Shawn Levy to Drake’s hit song “In My Feelings.” 

In addition to her fun dance party, Millie was seen on the Stranger Things set in Atlanta, where the third season is currently filming. Just Jared reports that while Millie was “in costume as Eleven” on the set, she had a stunt double fill in for her. 

It’s so nice to see Millie back at work and having fun on social media. Best wishes to her as she continues with her recovery! 

We saw a glimmer of hope for Plum in last week’s episode, after she finally decided she’d stop letting herself be shamed, insulted, and walked all over. Her eyes were finally opened to the pain that society’s beauty standards inflict on women, and she was so over being a victim to them. In this week's episode, "Monster High," she fights back.

But before she can, she has to accept herself and all her flaws, and everything that makes her who she is—and she does.

While talking to Sana, Plum has a realization that changes everything for her. As Plum’s silhouette is reflected onto the wall, Sana grabs a can of spray paint and outlines the shape of Plum’s body, solidifying her and her body’s place (both physically and metaphorically) at home in Calliope House.

Throughout the whole series, Plum has felt lost. She has never felt at home in her own body, as if her true self (Alicia) was being hidden in the shadow of this bigger body that she’s in. But in Sana’s outline of her, symbolically, it helps Plum to understand that her body is who she truly is. Her body is hers, she’s meant to be in it, and it’s what makes her beautiful.

She finally learns to truly love herself, and that’s a huge accomplishment.

Plum now accepts herself for who she is, both inside and out, and no longer strives to conform to how society wants her to look. Because of this, she has the confidence to cancel her gastric bypass surgery because she no longer wants it or believes she needs it (a huge step forward for her, by the way).

In canceling her surgery, Plum is told that she’s giving up on herself—but we know that that’s far from true. She’s giving up on trying to be someone that she’s not. “I’m not giving up on anything,” she says, “I’m giving myself a chance.” A chance to be happy, to be loved, and to be herself.

The most powerful moment, though, comes at the end of the episode when Plum spray paints her silhouetted figure onto the outside of a building. The same figure that Sana helped develop at the beginning of the episode, and the same figure that gave Plum the strength to love herself.

In the figure, she writes the word “loved” as she genuinely looks happy for what seems like the first time all season. Her drawing sparks tons of positive responses and messages of support online. The few negative responses calling her “fat” and “disgusting” no longer faze Plum like they used to.

She’s accepted herself completely for who she is, and it’s so so beautiful.

You’ve done your research, read a few Judy Blume novels and replayed your favorite sex scenes over and over again on Netflix (@Gossip Girl fans, we're looking at you). Bottom line: you’re fully ready to lose that v-card. But before you drop your pants, let us drop some knowledge on you: whoever is going to be by your side while you’re on your side (or back, or front—whatever works for you) is going to be a significant player in your conversations about sex for the rest of your life. Whether you’ve been dating for five years or you met five minutes ago, run through these red flags to make sure you know exactly what you shouldn’t be getting into—or who shouldn’t be getting into you.

Here for a good time, not a long time

SPOILER ALERT: The possibility of your first time being zero to 100 back to zero real quick is pretty high. We’re not talking about speed of the act itself, but the speed at which your first-time lover decides to get out of your bed/tree house/high school locker room.

Moriah Raisis, a junior at Southern Methodist University, can attest to this issue well after losing her virginity to one of her first college friends. “All he wanted to do was talk about sex before we even did it, and I was in such a hurry to get it over with that I didn't even notice,” she says. “The worst part? Afterwards, he said, 'Hey, I don't wanna sound rude, but... could you please leave?'”

You may be eager to throw your virginity out the door, but you probably want to make sure you’re not being thrown out right behind it. Make your expectations clear about the time you want to spend together—if you and your supposed special someone aren’t on the same page, you might want to keep those pants buttoned.

Related: You Will Not Be Able to EVEN with These First Time Sex Horror Stories

He’s just not that into you… or you’re just not that into him

Your first time can come with some serious emotional attachment. While it’s pretty hard to tell how you’re going to feel before you get between the sheets, you can usually get a good read on things by figuring out if you and your partner-in-sex feel the same way about each other.

Katie Short, a senior at SUNY Oswego, comments on deciding to hold off on losing it to her close friend who she had been hooking up with. “He started to develop feelings for me,” she says. “I told him we couldn’t continue doing what we were doing because it was disrespectful to him and would only hurt him, and after some reluctance on his part, he agreed with me to just be friends and to not continue hooking up.” Acknowledging that sex is going to hurt one of you (and not just physically) is an important, mature step in saving you from either serious guilt or serious heartbreak down the road.

Under pressure

You’ve told your ideal person that you’re down to get down, but, ever since then, you haven’t heard anything from him or her other than talk about doing the deed. Suddenly, your first time has become the only focus of conversation, and you feel like you need to just rip off your clothes so you can finally change the topic.

If your relationship with someone has changed just because you started talking about having sex, then it’s probably bound to change even more once you get around to it. It’s possible that this person is super excited about the possibility of kicking your physical relationship up a notch, but it’s also possible that you could be another notch on his or her belt.

Next time sex comes up in conversation, make sure you set things straight about your intentions. If getting laid is the only thing keeping you together, maybe it’s time to break apart.

Related: 29 Thoughts Every Girl Has the First Time She Has Sex

Easy cum, easy go

Birds do it, bees do it, but now it seems like everyone is doing it. You’re ready to make moves with literally the next person you see, because Trojans are beyond #trending right now and you’re not trying to be stuck in last season. Pump the brakes before you put it in—love may be blind, but lust is absolutely blackout.

Rachel, a recent graduate from James Madison University, saw her friends getting busy and wanted to join in. “I thought about doing it with an older boyfriend at the time (he wasn't a virgin), but I wasn't 100 percent convinced and was really only thinking about it because I wanted to have sex, not because I wanted to have sex with him,” she says. “If you're more into the idea of it than the person themselves, it probably isn't the right person!”

FOMO and quick access to a quickie shouldn’t be the driving forces behind your first choice in bedmate. If “I was down and he was there” is the only explanation you can give, you might want to shut your legs and open your mind to some other options.

One-hit wonder

You’ve only been to first base, but it’s really good. Like, amazing good. So good, that the minute you start kissing you’re fully ready to strip. Great kissers must be great in bed, right?

Take a look at that logic. That’s like saying people who are great at simple algebra are equally outstanding at astrophysics. Or that people who can microwave Easy Mac have a shot at an Iron Chef title. Or that your Instragram getting more than 400 likes makes you the next Annie Leibovitz. Just because this person may have mastered the most basic level of physical pleasure, you shouldn’t jump to any grandiose conclusions.

Kayleen Parra-Padron, a senior at Florida International University, knows this feeling well. “My ex and I had been dating for about a month and I was literally crazy about him because he was really good at making out," she said. "Of course, good kissers always lead to possible regrets afterwards.” And honestly, she was right. She held off on getting off and he dumped her.

We’re not trying to tell you that a good kisser is a bad choice. But just because someone has the lips of an angel, you shouldn’t be expecting some heavenly lovemaking.

Related: The Truth About Virginity in College

Your first time can be a super exciting milestone or a humorous anecdote for future parties. Needless to say, you’re not going to forget it—so make sure you’re losing it to someone who you want to remember. Good luck, collegiettes, and make good choices!

Freeform’s Young & Hungry is going international this week, giving us a treat with a two-part episode called “Young & Mexico” that is sure to be a wild ride.

It’s Sofia’s birthday this week, but it looks like nobody reminded Gabi because she forgets. Gabi then decides to take Sofia on a vacation to Mexico to cover up her mistake, but if you’ve been keeping up with Young & Hungry for a while, you know that the success rate for Gabi’s plans is usually somewhere between zero and… well, zero.

After Sofia finds out Gabi forgot her birthday (because how else were you expecting this to go?), Gabi’s in a bit of a pinch to make it up to her. We get a pleasant surprise in the form of guest star Maria Canals-Barrera, who starred as Theresa Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place and Connie Torres in Camp Rock. She tries to help Gabi plan a day at the beach, but Gabi’s got her eye on sombrero vendor Juan Carlo instead as a potential bae for Lil So So.

I have to be honest, this clip made me so excited for this week. Emily Osment is in fine form as usual with her impeccable comedic timing—and let’s be real, Canals-Barrera was the best Disney Channel mom of your childhood. I mean, she had to be, if she could mother both Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.

As for Juan Carlo, I’m not so sure this part of Gabi’s plan will work out any better than the botched first half did, but we’ll have to tune in at 8 p.m. on Wednesday to find out!

President Donald Trump has made it pretty clear that overturning Roe vs. Wade is a top priority for his administration. Last month, the Trump administration moved forward on a dangerous policy against abortion rights. According to NPR, the Reagan-era proposal will ban groups such as Planned Parenthood from providing abortion and other related services under the same roof as procedures funded by federal family planning grants.

But, for people in a growing number of states, lawmakers have already obstructed their right to an abortion. For years. Politicians in states across the country launched full-on attacks against access to safe, legal abortions. According to the Guttmacher Institute, just in the first three months alone, 347 measures were introduced in 37 states to restrict access to abortion, contraception, or both. And now, with news that notorious Supreme Court swing vote Anthony Kennedy looking to retire before the primaries in November and Trump has announced Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his intended nominee to replace him, the future for Roe— and the federal-level implications of these state-level obstructions are going to be at the forefront of a lot of uterus-owning people's minds.

What are the goals of these laws? Well, that’s up for debate. But according to Dr. Jamila Perritt MD, MPH, FACOG, board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, reproductive health and family planning specialist and activist, and fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, told Her Campus that she finds that lawmakers propose arbitrary gestational limits and restrictions with the sole intention of making abortions harder to access and less safe for people who need them. While many people believe reproductive rights, particularly abortion, are a women’s rights and women’s health issue, reproductive rights affect everyone.

“These restrictions are just another way to limit access to abortion period. What we are experiencing is a rollback of essential, safe abortion services, with devastating consequences for women's health,” said Dr. Perritt.  

But let's backtrack a little: What actually is Roe vs. Wade?

On January 22, 1973, the US Supreme Court passed a landmark decision in the case of Roe vs. Wade. It essentially recognized the constitutional right to a person’s privacy extends to the right to make their own medical decisions. The decision gave the right for anyone to have an abortion during the entirety of the pregnancy, but allowed states to regulate abortion in the second and third trimesters.

When people talk about Roe, they’re talking mainly about a uterus-owning person's right to keep a private medical procedure between them and their doctor.

And what are the challenges and threats?

On the state level, there are a few different ways that anti-choice politicians have sought to undermine Roe v. Wade and keep individuals from being able to access abortions. They include creating physical, financial and logistical barriers, additional steps and complications for providers and relying on bogus, non-scientific studies to further that agenda.

1. Hyper-restrictive reproductive legislation

Iowa recently passed one of the most severe and restrictive abortion bans into law and directly challenged Roe v. Wade. According to Francine Thompson the Director of Health Services at the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City, Iowa’s “heartbeat” bill bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is typically around 6 weeks into the pregnancy. The only exceptions being in potential cases of rape, incest, or medical emergency.  

Many people, who are against the decision, have argued that the bill goes against a person’s constitutional right and that a state may not ban abortion prior to viability or the fetus’s ability to live outside of the uterus. “The [‘heartbeat bill’] is just one more thing in a long line of legislation that’s affecting how abortion providers can give women the best possible care,” Thompson tells Her Campus.

Prior, the state had permitted most abortions up to 20 weeks (which is the average gestational restriction for people seeking an abortion in other states). Thompson adds that the Emma Goldman Clinic and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland are the only two clinics that provide abortions in Iowa.

The 6 week time restriction, or really any gestational time limit, doesn't always work for people seeking abortions, as the deadline is often well before a person even knows they’re pregnant. When a person misses their period, we don’t usually jump to the conclusion that we are pregnant. Sometimes, stress, your birth control, or another medical condition can cause a missed period. Also, your periods could just be irregular, which is completely normal! Basically, there are a million things that could lead to a missed period before a person may think or realize they’re pregnant.  

“The vast majority of women get an abortion in the first 12 weeks. Arbitrary gestational age bans and cutoff points deny necessary health care to women who are often already facing complex circumstances as they seek care. Every person is unique, and every patient is different.  We shouldn't have blanket policies that drive women's health care decisions,” said Dr. Perritt.

On the same day that Iowa passed the heartbeat bill, South Carolina Democratic legislators blocked a similar measure. Even though Democrats won in a primarily red state, South Carolina will undoubtedly pursue legislation like Iowa’s bill that removes person's constitutional right to choose their own medical decisions.

2. Laws that are insensitive to sexual trauma survivors

Back in March of 2018, Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi signed in a different type of gestational law. According to NPR, it bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, giving exceptions only to medical emergencies or fetal abnormalities. Incidents of rape or incest aren’t exempt from this bill (which is a scary assault on individuals who have been already robbed of their choice, and are already in a vulnerable position because of it).

The state also would require a 24-hour waiting period for people seeking an abortion and bans telemedicine, which would allow physicians to provide people with abortion consultation and prescribe the abortion pill without actually having to be there.

Mississippi has only one health center, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, that provides abortions to people in the state. Telemedicine is then critical for the state. Many people have been forced to travel long distances and across state lines just to access an abortion clinic. This ultimately limits who can access these types of services.

“Although women from all walks of life have abortions, when we limit access to any health care service, including abortion, we know that those who are hit hardest are communities that are under-resourced and underserved. Young people, people of color, those who are economically disenfranchised are often bear the brunt of these policies,” said Dr. Perritt. (The Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi Center for Justice, and the Center for Reproductive Rights have filed a lawsuit against the bill.)

3. Forcing people to unnecessarily justify their decisions. 

There are many reasons as to why a person might have an abortion. Nearly 1 in 4 women in the United States will have an abortion by the age of 45, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Just last month, Arizona, who has multiple abortion restrictions, signed a bill that required people to provide a reason for why they’re seeking an abortion. This is incredibly invasive because it forces people who are seeking abortion to actively justify their reasoning, when they should need to validate what they want or need to do to their body.

One example? Nebraska. As reported by The Cut, Nebraska had already eliminated state funding to health centers that provide abortion including Planned Parenthood back in April. Title X or federal family planning programs are relied on by 93 percent of Planned Parenthood patients in Nebraska and represent a particular resource for low-income folks seeking reproductive healthcare. Although Planned Parenthood can’t currently use Federal funds for abortions (because of the Hyde Amendment), the procedure is almost unobtainable when you consider the other variables needed to get to their doctor, take time off work or get childcare in order to have the procedure on top of the financial burdens a lack of funding puts on patients.

According to Refinery 29, the bill specifically requires doctors to ask people if they are victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, or domestic violence, and report their answers to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Names of the patients would remain confidential — adding another layer of trauma to an already over-stigmatized situation.

Reproductive activists argue that this information is none of the government's business.

4. Prohibiting specific abortion procedures

In states like Kentucky, an abortion procedure known as dilation and evacuation was banned starting at 11 weeks after fertilization. In the updated legislature, medical emergencies are the only exception. In the procedure, a medical professionals dilate a patient’s cervix and then use suction to remove the fetus from the uterus. According to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, medical professionals use D and E in approximately 95 percent of abortions after the first trimester.

State politicians have implemented an extensive list of reproductive restrictions on the gestational time people can receive an abortion to the limitations on the types of procedures that can be used for an abortion.

It can be scary the power politicians have gained in the decision over individuals’ health and bodies. We cannot let access to reproductive health care prevent people from getting the information and treatment they need to make safe choices with their bodies, as people deserve more than what state legislation is providing.

“As a physician, I disagree with laws that ignore medicine and science in favor of ideology,” said Dr. Perritt. “If we truly care about women's health we would be expanding access to health care services, not limiting them.”

From toothpaste to ice cream, we’ve seen activated charcoal explode in popularity this year. But besides the aesthetic, what’s the point? 

According to Consumer Reports, activated charcoal has been used in emergency rooms for years as an immediate way to detoxify the body after a drug overdose. The American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, however, emphasized the limited capabilities of charcoal— like the fact that it’s only effective in certain cases. 

Recently, companies have caught on to this effectiveness and began infusing it in all sorts of products. Lisa Sasson, M.S., R.D., told Consumer Reports that “I don’t think that was ever the intent” of activated charcoal. And the leap to everyday charcoal was not based in science. 

According to Spoon, the activated charcoal in our food may actually be doing more harm than good. Charcoal is known for its ability to bind to toxins in the body to help the body expel it, but this means that the charcoal could just as easily bind to nutrients that the body needs. 

On top of that, over-consumption of activated charcoal could cause intestinal blockage or malnutrition, said studies obtained by Spoon. So, those cleansing properties may not go as planned if you’re too obsessed with the gothic food trend. 

Activated charcoal may appeal to your inner emo, but the truth behind eating it is pseudo-science. And as for controlling odor, clearing up your skin and whitening teeth? Well, there are no published articles confirming those claims either, according to Consumer Reports. 

President Trump announced Monday his plans to nominate Brett Kavanaugh to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. American Democrats are worried about what his confirmation would mean for issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, since Kennedy was known as a swing vote.

FiveThirtyEight used a measure of judicial ideology to determine Kavanaugh’s place in the court, and predicted that he would be the second-most conservative justice on the Supreme Court, just slightly to the left of Justice Clarence Thomas.

So how would Kavanaugh vote on all the hot-button issues? Based on his past record as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (and which groups support and oppose him), here's the basics on where Kavanaugh stands on the things you care about.

1. Reproductive rights and overturning Roe v. Wade

This is perhaps the most talked-about issue concerning the Supreme Court right now, since Trump promised during his campaign that he would nominate pro-life justices to SCOTUS so that eventually Roe v. Wade would be overturned, greatly restricting abortion rights for women.

According to CNN, Kavanaugh has never explicitly stated opposition to the Roe v. Wade ruling, and he’s been known to evade the issue. In fact, some conservatives believe he’s not harsh enough on abortion. Despite this, The Los Angeles Times pointed out that Kavanaugh was one of the names on the conservative Federalist Society’s shortlist of contenders sent to Trump, who were all chosen with the confidence that they were against Roe v. Wade.

And Kavanaugh has voted pro-life in the past—in an October 2017 case at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Kavanaugh dissented from the majority opinion that an undocumented immigrant teen had the right to seek an abortion, CNN reported. He wrote that "the government has permissible interests in favoring fetal life, protecting the best interests of a minor, and refraining from facilitating abortion,” and even though he acknowledged Roe v. Wade as precedent in his dissent, it’s clear that he poses a serious threat to the future of reproductive rights.

2. Environmental issues

Kennedy was again a swing vote on environmental issues, and comparing his views with Kavanaugh’s gives us a clear idea of how the court could change if Kavanaugh is approved, and the impact it would have on environmental law. According to The New York Times, Kennedy sided with the liberal minority in a 2007 case that allowed the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

CNN and The New York Times noted that Kavanaugh has been critical of the EPA himself, claiming that they “went well beyond what Congress authorized” to regulate greenhouse gases in a 2012 case. He wrote, “The task of dealing with global warming is urgent and important … [but] as a court it is not our job to make policy choices.”

In fact, during his time on the Court of Appeals, Kavanaugh was even once overruled by the Supreme Court, with Kennedy serving as one of the votes to overrule his decision. The 2012 case EME Homer City Generation v. EPA dealt with a rule to regulate air pollution that went across state borders; the Court of Appeals voted against this rule, Kavanaugh writing a similar sentiment to his 2012 opinion: “It is not our job to set environmental policy. Our limited but important role is to independently ensure that the agency stays within the boundaries Congress has set. EPA did not do so here.” When the case went to the Supreme Court, it was overruled 6-2.

Kavanaugh’s replacement of Kennedy would swing the court to the right, and a lot of environmental regulation laws could be hurt in the process.

3. Executive power

This is an area that’s extremely worrying concerning the separation of powers in the federal government. In 2009, Kavanaugh wrote an article in which he urged Congress to “consider a law exempting a President—while in office—from criminal prosecution and investigation, including from questioning by criminal prosecutors or defense counsel.”

Allowing the president to be essentially consequence-free during their term, when they have perhaps the most power any American person could have, is a dangerous line of thinking. It’s one that has Democrats especially worried during a volatile presidency such as Trump’s. Senator Elizabeth Warren said that Kavanaugh “thinks presidents like Trump are above the law,” while Senator Ed Markey said, "It should come as no surprise that a president under federal investigation would nominate a judge who has written about the inadvisability of indicting a sitting U.S. president and the need to delay civil legal proceedings against one."

Despite his stance on indicting a sitting president, however, Kavanaugh seems to be in favor of the impeachment process. According to Business Insider, Kavanaugh was outspoken in favor of Bill Clinton’s 1998 impeachment, and views impeachment as the best process for presidential misbehavior. However, there are varying opinions on whether impeachment is all that effective, especially in checking a president’s power: as law professor Suzanna Sherry told ABC News, “It’s only happened twice and so the general thought is that it means whatever the House and the Senate think it means.” And with a majority Republican House and Senate, and the general consensus that Trump will not be impeached while in office, as pointed out by ABC News, liberals are worried about Kavanaugh’s stance on executive power.

4. Same-sex marriage and LGBT issues

The Los Angeles Times drew attention to the issue of the right to privacy: the American right to privacy was the rationale that upheld both Roe v. Wade and marriage equality, and means that Americans can make personal decisions, like whether to have an abortion or to get married to someone else, free from government interference.

But as we know, Roe v. Wade is now in possible trouble with Kavanaugh’s nomination. If the court changes their mind on the right to privacy in order to overturn Roe v. Wade, it could mean changing their mind on how the right to privacy applies to marriage equality as well.

Beyond that, Kavanaugh’s views on LGBT issues are “hazy,” according to Bustle, but he has had past support from the Family Research Council, a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group that is staunchly anti-LGBT. While Family Research Council’s support doesn’t necessarily mean that Kavanaugh shares their exact ideology, a recent poll by the Public Religion Research Institute found that a majority of Republicans oppose same-sex marriage, so Kavanaugh won’t exactly be waving the rainbow flag, and his nomination is still alarming to LGBT activists.

5. Healthcare

The Washington Post argued that healthcare would take center stage at Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing. Healthcare remains a contentious topic in the federal government, and since failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, the Supreme Court could play a bigger role in the future of American healthcare.

Kavanaugh’s most notable decision regarding healthcare occurred in a 2011 case, Seven-Sky v. Holder, for which the court majority upheld the ACA’s constitutionality. Kavanaugh dissented from the majority—but interestingly, Republicans felt he didn’t go far enough in declaring Obamacare unconstitutional, because in his opinion, he wrote, “This legislation was enacted, moreover, after a high-profile and vigorous national debate. Courts must afford great respect to that legislative effort and should be wary of upending it."

HealthLeaders Media also reported Kavanaugh’s record on contraception: in a 2015 case, he argued that the ACA’s mandatory contraception requirements were a threat to religious freedom, again implying that if confirmed, cases surrounding reproductive rights could face a tougher court.

Thus, Kavanaugh will likely field tough questions from both sides at his confirmation hearing when it comes to healthcare, albeit for different reasons.

6. Gun control

According to Teen Vogue, gun control activists are horrified by Kavanaugh’s nomination. Moms Demand Action tweeted on Monday that “President Trump's nomination of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court is a Christmas in July gift to the NRA,” and Senator Chris Murphy wrote that he was a “true Second Amendment radical.”

This is because of Kavanaugh’s track record with cases concerning the Second Amendment. CNN writes that in 2011, Kavanaugh dissented from a majority opinion about a ban on semi-automatic rifles. He wrote that because SCOTUS found semi-automatic handguns to be constitutionally protected, “It follows ... that semi-automatic rifles are also constitutionally protected and that DC's ban on them is unconstitutional." He went on to say that “Gun bans and gun regulations that are not long-standing or sufficiently rooted in text, history, and tradition are not consistent with the Second Amendment individual right,” consistent with his originalist approach to Constitutional law.

The NRA tweeted their public support of Kavanaugh’s nomination on Monday night, and wrote that they will be “activating our members and tens of millions of supporters throughout the country in support of Judge Kavanaugh.” With the recent national attention on public shootings, especially school shootings, since Parkland in February, Kavanaugh’s confirmation would be a step backwards for gun control activists.

Next in the process for Kavanaugh’s nomination will be “courtesy visits” to the Senate ahead of the confirmation hearing. Because it is precedent for nominees to refrain from making public statements until after the hearing, we won’t hear Kavanaugh’s opinion again until he is before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Al Jazeera reports that the Republican Senate leadership wants to complete the confirmation process before the midterm elections in November.

Katherine Bailess will captivate you with her southern charm. She's kind, polite, witty, and can go on for hours raving about her passionate and loyal BFF, Logan Browning.

The Mississippi-born star, who many of us (or maybe just me?) came to know and love as Erica Marsh on One Tree Hill all those years ago, is back as Kyle on the new season of Hit the Floor. The series, which originally aired on VH1, is making its return after a two-year hiatus and has found a new home on BET. In case you weren't already a fan, Hit the Floor follows the Los Angeles Devil Girls, a premiere dance squad for the Los Angeles Devils, as they navigate a world where fame, money and power usually equates to plenty of drama.

Her Campus sat down with Bailess to get the scoop on Hit the Floor's fourth season, where we'll find her character, her days on One Tree Hill (including details around the co-star she dated!), her sister-like friendship with Dear White People's Logan Browning (who used to play a Devil Girl herself in previous seasons), and more.  

Her Campus: Hit the Floor is coming back after going on a two-year hiatus, which is kind of insane. Did you ever think that maybe it would never come back at all? What were your thoughts?

Kat Bailess: Oh, for sure! It’s kind of a funny story: people recognize me, and they’re like, “Oh my gosh, I love you on the show! Is it coming back?” This was last April. And I’m so positive, I’m always staying optimistic, and I’m usually like, “Oh, yeah, we’re just waiting!” Finally, I was like, “No, it is not coming back, but thank you for watching.” And literally, the next day—the next day!—we found out through the craze that we were getting picked up by BET. It was the craziest thing ever.

HC: Oh my gosh, you put it out into the universe! That’s what happened.

KB: I did! But I was like, “Is that the way to put it out there?” I don’t know. But the fans are really stoked. I think it’s kind of 50/50 too, because a lot of the characters aren’t coming back, like half the characters. I think they’re going to be very surprised at how good the show is and how new and fresh it is.

HC: That’s exciting, new network and everything. So what can you tell us about this season and your character Kyle?

KB: Well, after the summer special, my character is given the position of captain from Jelena. So Kyle's captain, in charge and louder than ever. Obviously, there’s never a dull moment with my character and this year is really exciting because she’s got new people on the team: Teyana Taylor and Kyndall, they’re playing London and Jamie, and obviously there’s going to be tension between the two of them—the trailers have come out, so that’s out there. And that’s pretty much all I can give away with Kyle, because there’s a lot of fun stuff happening; I just can’t say a word or I’ll get fired. [Laughs]

But I think this season is really cool. It’s really sexy, it’s got even more humor, there’s a lot of new girls, so yay!

HC: I noticed that you and Logan Browning are best friends. She’s actually going to be one of our keynote speakers at Her Conference, so we’re super excited.

KB: Oh, yay! That’s amazing!

HC: How would you describe your friendship?

KB: We literally met at the first day of dance rehearsal for the Devil Girls, and I think she was one of the last ones cast, because she actually went out for role of Ahsha and they said, “No, you’re right for Jelena,” and she went, “Okay,” and she killed it, obviously. But we instantly became friends—me, Taylour [Paige] and Logan. We were inseparable, obviously, and we were even inseparable after the pilot, because we were just like, “You know what? No matter what happens, we’ve already created this friendship.” And Logan is from the South, too, so we had a lot in common.

I always tell her she's my hero, because she wasn’t a trained dancer like the rest of us, and she went to class every single day for eight months and became a phenomenal dancer. You are my hero! And then she looked like she’d been dancing for her whole life. I literally talk to her every day.

HC: What’s one thing that you really admire about her?

KB: I’ve always thought that she’s just so well-spoken, and she has so many passions. When she’s passionate about something, she won’t let it go, and I think that’s a major trait that a lot of people don’t have. Also, just her work ethic is ridiculous. Like I was saying with the dancing, learning how to dance for a show, and she was playing the captain! I mean, she had to really show up, and she did. And then, she just did a movie, and she had to learn how to play the cello. I mean, come on, Logan! What else can you do, Logan?

She’s also just a loyal friend. She’s always got your back. She’s my sister.

HC: That’s hard to find, so when you do find it, you never want to let it go. I get it.

KB: No, no, no. We’ll be sisters for life, for sure.

We also do the Southern Women Channel videos together on YouTube, and we do these videos called, “Sh%t Southern Women Say.” She did "The Dixie Download." I think she did one “Sh%t Southern Women Say,” and then she did all of our "Dixie Download" ones. That was a lot of fun, going back to our roots. I mean, I haven’t lost my accent. [Laughs]

HC: I always remember you as Erica Marsh, just so you know.

KB: No way. That’s so funny.

HC: To me, you will forever be Erica Marsh from One Tree Hill, because I was obsessed with that show.

KB: Hey, I’ll take it!

HC: Can you share some of your best memories being on OTH?

KB: It’s funny because, the first day on set, I didn’t really know a lot of people, and I’d say, “Oh, hey, I’m Kat, I’m playing Erica.” I think the first time I met Sophia [Bush] was when we did our scene, our very first scene when I turn around and I’m like, “Hey. Erica Marsh.” I literally think I scared her. She was like, who is this biotch? This bratty girl. But we ended up all becoming friends, and I think there might’ve been a relationship that bloomed offset for me too…

HC: Wait, with who? How did I miss that?

KB: Yeah. Well, it was Dan Scott.

Paul [Johansson] and I dated for a long time, but we’re still friends. He’s a great guy. But yeah, we met on set.

That’s a really close-knit little family. Kind of like our family on Hit the Floor. I mean, you work together for so long, and that show went on forever. I wish I had stayed on it a little longer. They were like, “We don’t know what to do with your character!” And I was like, “I can figure it out!”

HC: If they were to ever decide to do an OTH revival, would you be all for it?

KB: Oh, for sure. For sure. I mean, gosh, it’s been so long since I was on that show. That’s crazy. But I really did love the fact that they—I don’t know what season it was, but they fast forward four years. Because all of us were older playing high schoolers … like, nobody was actually 16, you know?

HC: Do you still keep in touch with anyone from the cast?

KB: I talk to Paul occasionally. I saw Sophia the other day—I had not seen her in forever. I’ll see Bethany Joy Lenz out and about, and… who did I run into recently? Maybe it was Lee, Lee Norris. He’s so sweet.

HC: That was your love! That was Erica’s love!

KB: That was my lover. I know, that was our first love. Oh my God.

HC: So good! What are your current TV obsessions, when you do have time to watch?

KB: Oh, goodness. This year, it was definitely This Is Us. It’s one of my favorite shows. I’m obsessed.

HC: Oh my gosh, don’t get me started. All I do is cry when I watch that show.

KB: Every single episode! And then, I was so bummed, because I got into Rise. Did you see that?

HC: Yeah! I can’t.

KB: Ugh, and they canceled it! I was like, what? You cannot cancel this amazing show!

HC: Isn’t that the worst, though? You get hooked on something and then all of a sudden it’s like, bye!

KB: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. They can’t do this. It’s a musical theater show. I’m obsessed. And I love watching Dancing with the Stars, and The Voice this year. Amazing. My friend produced the Genius series on Nat Geo, and I’m obsessed with that as well.

HC: You attended Marymount Manhattan. What’s one thing you would say you miss about being a college student?

KB: I think I miss… well, obviously, the friends that you make in college. They just kind of shape who you are as a young adult, and you learn who you are. But I also miss the structure of college [and] just having a set schedule. But going to school in Manhattan was like no other, because I didn’t go to some huge school; I went to a small college in Manhattan and didn’t know a soul, didn’t go to the sorority stuff. I don’t think I missed out, though. I think what I went to, and what I did, and who I met, and all the experiences I had in Manhattan was just perfect for me. And I never would’ve changed anything.

HC: What’s your biggest advice to young college women who are trying to find their way?

KB: Well, I know I’m not everybody [but] obviously, I knew what I wanted to do when I went to college, and I knew why I went to New York. I had a dream that could happen. But sometimes you figure it out when you’re in college, and that’s okay! Figure out what interests you, and don’t stress out too much about, “I don’t know what I want to do for the rest of my life!” Enjoy your time in college, enjoy your freedom, enjoy not having to pay for everything. [Laughs]

HC: Like you mentioned, you are originally from Mississippi, [and] you’ve lived in two major cities now, NYC and LA. Do you have any words of wisdom for a soon-to-be college student or a recent grad preparing to move into a big city? Because it can be a change.

KB: I mean, firsthand over here. Vicksburg, Mississippi, born and raised, and [went to] New York City. My mom was crying the entire day she was leaving me. It was bad. But I was determined. I knew what I wanted to do.

You have to stay focused. You can’t get lost. You have to have a goal. Write out your goals. You definitely, definitely need to be aware of what things cost. You learn so much in a big city that you don’t learn in small towns. You have to also be very self-sufficient. You can’t just go and be like, “Everybody do everything for me!” … I didn’t know anybody. People are always like, “Oh, you got so lucky,” and I’m like, not really. I just trained my butt off. I took every class out there.

And my parents were very supportive. Like, I did have their support.

When I moved to LA, I was like, oh no, I miss New York! But it was the right decision because I literally booked my very first audition when I moved to LA, and then the rest is history.

Everything’s going to be a struggle. But if you stay persistent, things will happen. A lot of people come to LA, or go to New York, and they say, “Nothing’s happening for me; I’m leaving right now.” Well, did you really give it that much of a shot? Did you give everything you could’ve given? And so that was my mentality. I was like, “Oh, let me stick around with it longer, I’m not ready to leave,” and every time I do, something happens. You just never know.

HC: Yeah, you never know. Sometimes you have to take those risks, as scary as they may seem. You think nothing’s going to happen, and you go through those periods where you’re like, “Oh my God, I’m such a failure,” but then there are those moments where you get that epiphany and everything starts to change.

KB: Yeah. Even at this stage in my career, I still have doubts. I’m like, oh gosh, why isn’t one thing happening? And then I’m like, okay, calm down. You’ve got things happening. And just embrace it because this may never come back again. So just live in the moment. Enjoy it.

It’s funny. I do spend a lot of time and effort with my career, but I’m also a really big family person, and you always need to go back to your family. You need to be close to them. I go home a lot, I talk to them a lot. I talk to my mom everyday. It keeps me humble, it keeps me real. I don’t get worked up in this whole LA scene. You’ve got to stay true to yourself, because even if you’re like, “Oh, I don’t want to be that person from Mississippi,” that’s who I am. And I’m a city girl now, but I’m still that girl from Mississippi.

Hit the floor season 4 premieres tonight at 10/9c on BET!