Here's the thing you guys: I've been wanting to yell about dental dams and why no one knows what they are for like, years. So I'm making my own dream come true. We're talking about them. Right now.

A part of the reason no one uses dental dams is that many people assume that oral sex isn't "real sex." Which, first off, isn't true. There are many couples whose entire sex life is built on oral sex (because, yes, it can be that good), and the idea that oral sex isn't real sex tends to stem from the idea that the only real sex is PIV, or penis-in-vagina sex. Like, come on. Aren't we beyond that? Sex is so broad and fun and exciting and if you're only having one type of sex because it's the norm, let's switch it up, shall we?

Another reason people don't use dental dams is that, tbh, they really don't feel that sexy. The name, first of all, sucks. Condoms at least feel more neutral, but dental dams sound so medical (which is because they actually are. Fun fact: dentists use them, hence the gross name.) and not at all intimate.

Probably one of the main reason that people don't use dental dams, is that they tend not to be readily available. While you can get them in many college health centers, your average drugstore isn't going to have them.

And, of course, that they don't know WTF a dental dam is.

Here's what you guys said when I asked, "Do you know what dental dams are, and have you used them before?"

No and no. - Shelby

I have no idea what it is or how to use it. - Alexis*

I don't know what that is? - Sarah

A dental dam is a condom for females. I've never used one. - Jessica*

Yeah but never knew where to find them so I never used them. - Yuki

I don't even know what these are or how to use them. - Callie

But let's back it up: what is a dental dam?

A dental dam is essentially a thin sheet of latex (though some are latex free!) that you use as a barrier between you and your partner or partners. It's basically a condom, but square, and they work best for oral sex on vaginas or rimming (known in 2018 as eating ass, you're welcome). You open the package carefully, just like you would a condom, and then you place it on top of whatever you're going to be licking. Then, you get to it, making sure to keep the sheet in place.

Once you're done, throw it out. Don't re-use them, don't wash and re-use them, get a new one. Don't be cheap, this is your health at stake, thanks. 

Is it awk to talk to your partner about dental dams, and how can you make it, like, not be?

According to Sylvia Smith, Relationship Expert at Marriage.com, even couples who are killer at open and honest communication might still find it hard AF to talk about adding new safer sex practices into their lives. "While you may take pride in the kind of communication equation you share with your partner, proposing the idea of using a dental dam [may] not be easy. One way you can make your partner open up to this idea is by explaining to them that it does not take away the pleasure of oral sex."

How can you make dental dams suck less?

Dental dams are weird. Let's just admit it. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it.

Want to make them feel better on your bod? Smith has some ideas. "By adding some water or silicone based lubricant on the vulva side of the dental dam, the sensations that the oral sex recipient experiences will definitely intensify," Smith explains. "The barrier will not make it any less pleasurable, instead, it will just reduce the risk of STDs which might just propel your partner to engage in more oral sex!"

Cheers to that. 

How do I actually get my hands on a dental dam?

As I mentioned, many drugstores don't carry dental dams. It sucks. But, there are a few ways you can get access to them. The first is shopping online. Many online sex stores have them, from Lovehoney to Babeland. The second is making a DIY dental dam out of a condom. This is actually super simple. Find a non-lubed condom. Flavored is best if you want some ~pizzazz~. Just open the package like you normally would, and then cut the condom from the rim to the tip in a straight line. You'll end up with a giant plastic-y rectangle, and you can use it just like you would a dental dam. 

The main reason I wanted to talk about dental dams is to encourage all of us to have safer sex, regardless of your sexuality. Give them a try. Open one up and just play with it and see how it feels, or try it out with a partner. Normalize carrying one around or having a stash of dental dams just like you would condoms. Because not everything is about penises. 

*Names have been changed.

This was published as a part of The Most Real: Sex, Wellness, and Bodies, our answer to your questions (and, let's be real, our questions) about everything sexual health and wellness. Tampons, strap-ons, first time sex, ingrown bikini hairs, why you poop so much when you're on your period - we're getting real. Get real with us. Join the convo using #HCMostReal, and tagging @HerCampus.

When it comes to orgasms, we live in a weird freaking culture. For many women, first orgasm stories aren't just about the orgasms themselves: they're about the symbolic weight that it carries. For so many of us, sex and orgasms are intertwined, with sex, and the "loss" of virginity as the way we Become A Woman. Which is bullshit: you're a woman if you say you are. It has nothing to do with checking a list. But accepting that is easier said than done, and when you've never had sex, with yourself or with anyone else, and you've never had an orgasm, it can feel like you're missing out on this entire world of adulthood.

We chatted with some experts to figure out how to navigate the world of ~orgasms~ if you never have before, and to talk about why this journey is so important to so many of us. 

Why are orgasms so fucking stressful? 

Many women who haven't had orgasms by the "expected" age feel truly alone and awkward about it. Remy Kassimir, host of podcast How Cum, was over 20 when she had her first orgasm (something she talks about a lot on the podcast). When asked how that made her feel, she said, "It was horrible! I felt like a defective weirdo. It was lonely and sad to be excluded from something it seemed like everyone else was doing."

"A lot of women feel embarrassed if they haven't yet had their first orgasms," explains Vanessa Marin, sex therapist and creator of Finishing School: Learn How To Orgasm. "You may have this idea that it's supposed to happen without any effort whatsoever, so if it hasn't happened yet, you may worry that something is wrong with you or that you're blocked in some way. You may be scared that it won't ever happen for you. You may also be feeling pressured by your partner to orgasm. Or even feeling pressure from society or from your friends to orgasm." 

It's important to realize that just because something is "normal," that doesn't mean it's the right move for you. Maybe you just haven't had an orgasm yet. Maybe you never will. Maybe your orgasms are just different from what your friends are experiencing. It's all valid. 

How can you put less pressure on yourself to orgasm?

"If you're feeling a lot of pressure to orgasm, channel that energy into actually learning how to orgasm!" Marin says. "A lot of women get stuck feeling pressured and anxious, but still expecting orgasm to just happen. If orgasm truly is important to you, you can spend that energy exploring different techniques and figuring out what feels good for your body. My course, Finishing School, is an amazing resource for women who are serious about wanting to learn how to orgasm."

If you want to learn more about orgasms, there are endless resources. Get real with your friends. Talk to your mom. Read a book, or join Sex Talk on the @HerCampus Instagram. Figure out what makes you feel best, and start there. 

Why is it important for young women to know their bodies, and discover their "O"?

"The corniest answer would be that you can’t really be loved until you love yourself. But also — it’s true," Remy says. "You have to love yourself first, figuratively and quite literally too. A lot of women expect their partners to make them cum or have some special sexual knowledge, but there’s no better knowledge than knowing exactly what you want, being able to do it yourself and being able to ask for it. Usually masturbating or using a toy is the way to figure that out."

How Cum's Charlotte Kassimir agrees. "In a way, often sex and sexual discovery isn’t about sex at all, but rather learning how to take time for ourselves and to put ourselves first. Once we do that, when we are with a partner, we can communicate much better and make the experience enjoyable for ALL parties. It’s also just incredibly cool to have control over something that powerful and well, awesome."

It's never a bad idea to go into a sexual experience knowing what you're into. Talk it out with your partner, and let them know what you are and aren't comfortable with up front. Nothing is quite as awkward as having terrible sex and not knowing how to help out your partner. But if you get to know your body, you can fix it with a pretty quick, "Uh, no. How about this?" 

Your orgasms are for you. 

"It's also important to remember that your orgasm is for you. If orgasm isn't important to you, that's totally fine! You can have an active and satisfying sex life without them," Marin explains.

Preach. 

Why are orgasms empowering for young women?

"Orgasms are empowering for everyone!" Remy says. "Especially young women. It’s essentially realizing you can be being self reliant and able to give yourself a release. For some of us, it’s the first time we’ve ever been able to feel independent, and self satisfied. It also puts way less emphasis on finding, 'the one.' You’re the one! How fun is that?"

"Not to sound super cliché, but I really do that think that being confident and secure in your own skin, especially in such an intimate way (the MOST intimate way, really) affects all facets of your life for the better," Charlotte explains. "If you can speak up and advocate for yourself in what many would consider the most intimidating of settings, why not also in a classroom, boardroom, etc.?"

Empowerment, here we come. But seriously. Don't feel weird or ashamed for exploring your own body, OR for choosing not to. These days there can be a hugely empowering aspect to sex positive culture, but that can also feel like a pressure, like if you aren't open about sex and masturbation, you're doing something wrong. At the end of the day, though, it's about you, and your body, and your experience within it.

Have a million orgasms, or zero. Whatever makes the most sense for you. 

*Names have been changed.

This was published as a part of The Most Real: Sex, Wellness, and Bodies, our answer to your questions (and, let's be real, our questions) about everything sexual health and wellness. Tampons, strap-ons, first time sex, ingrown bikini hairs, why you poop so much when you're on your period - we're getting real. Get real with us. Join the convo using #HCMostReal, and tagging @HerCampus.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s almost impossible to deny the popularity of the latest piercing trend: nipples. From Kendall, Kylie and Bella to everyone’s favorite style and beauty icon bad gal RiRi, nipple piercings have been — and still are — having a moment.

Decorating your boobs is nothing new, but they've become increasingly popular in the last few years. Whether you're looking to be rebellious, looking to add a little more pleasure to your sexual experiences, or simply like the way it looks, there are many reasons that women (and, well everyone) get nipple piercings, 

I’m a double Taurus, Scorpio rising (for all of the astrologically challenged, this basically means I’m stubborn AF) so when I decided I was going to get my nipples pierced, there was no turning back. And of course, living in Los Angeles, I had to go to the best — celeb piercer (Beyoncé!!!) and resident badass Brian Keith Thompson of Body Electric.  

For someone with quite a few tattoos, I’m not gonna lie — I was absolutely terrified the night before (and going into a 3-hour Reddit hole didn’t help). What would it feel like? Would the first hurt more than the second? What if I fainted — I’ve been known to pass out while getting my blood drawn. What if they don’t look good? I don’t have small, super perky boobs à la Chloë Grace Moretz. These thoughts and many more filled my mind right up until I walked into Body Electric.

Brian immediately made me feel at ease, and the adrenaline and excitement kicked in. The piercings were over before I knew it, and yes, obviously it hurtfor the few fleeting moments that I was actually being pierced. I’ve only had them for a few days but I already love them!

If I’ve convinced you to take the plunge or if you’re just curious, read on for answers to all of the questions you’ve ever had but never asked.

I’m set on a piercing. Now what?

Do your damn research. “Always start online. Look for a website,” Thompson says. “If the studio doesn’t have a website or if they’re on social media only, that’s a little bit of a red flag.” You should also check out the different piercers to find one that’s doing what you like.

Yelp can be your best friend and your worst enemy. Definitely read the reviews, but don’t let them be your only determining factor when choosing a studio. Thompson notes that sometimes the client-piercer vibe just isn’t there, and that can lead to bad reviews. Just like a bad Tinder date, “not every personality is going to mesh.”

Make sure you check out the studio.

Words to live by when it comes to piercings: “If the floor’s dirty, assume everything is dirty.”

And go with your gut.

“If you’re getting a good vibe, then go for it. If you have that little voice that tells you to fucking run, listen to that voice.”

What kind of metal should I get?

Thompson says to get pierced with titanium or gold only. Titanium is great for babes on a budget since it’s hypoallergenic.

What about the healing process?

This was the biggest shock to me — the healing process usually takes an average of 6 months, but can take up to a year! Your commitment to the aftercare process has a huge impact. “‘I’m special — I heal faster than everyone else’ — that’s where the problems happen,” Thompson says. No picking and no playing for the first few months. Be prepared to clean your piercings twice a day with baby soap, and stay far away from loofahs, that new mesh crop top, and anything else that may get caught on the jewelry.

The biggest nipple piercing myth

...that getting your nipples pierced decreases or increases nipple sensitivity. “It does neither. It depends on manifest destiny. If you want it to and you believe it does, then it probably will!” Manifesting. A man after my own heart.

Body Electric is a passionate provider of specialized tattoo designs and piercing services with veteran artists who possess over 100 years of combined experience. For more information on Brian and Body Electric Tattoo, please visit bodyelectrictattoo.com.

This was published as a part of The Most Real: Sex, Wellness, and Bodies, our answer to your questions (and, let's be real, our questions) about everything sexual health and wellness. Tampons, strap-ons, first time sex, ingrown bikini hairs, why you poop so much when you're on your period - we're getting real. Get real with us. Join the convo using #HCMostReal, and tagging @HerCampus.

Periods are rough. Pooping on your period is an entirely different level of rough. For many of us, when we have our periods, we're in hell. Like, let's not lie about this. No matter how much effort you might put into having a less wild period, it's just a hard experience. Your body is literally shedding itself: your uterus is contracting to push blood out of your body. And no, it's not in a beautiful, easy stream of red. It's in big creepy clumps and explosions the moment you dare stand up or sneeze or god forbid, laugh. It's gonna hurt. As if that doesn't sound awful enough, this leads to a number of other issues. You get cramps. You get headaches. Your legs and lower back hurt. You kind of want to throw up.

And, of course, you start shitting your brains out.

Despite random confused men thinking it's possible for women to turn their periods on and off on cue, those of us who have periods are well aware of just how unpredictable they can be, period poop included. It might be something that happens solely on day one of your period, but it's more likely to be a sort of sporadic thing. You're at work in a meeting, or you're running on the treadmill, or you're reaching for that third cookie (because chocolate really is a period essential) and then it hits you: the period shits.

But why do we poop so much on our periods?

First things first: you're not imagining things.

You really do poop more when you're on your period.

"It’s not in our heads that we, as women, with working menstrual cycles, would feel like we poop more during our periods," explains Jenifer La, MS, RD, LDN. "There are two main reasons attributed to this – hormones and diet."

And yes, it really is that bad. "The two hormones that could affect period poops are prostaglandins and progesterone," Dr. La explains. "Prostaglandins help our uterus to contract, in preparation to effectively push out blood. You can consider prostaglandins as Lord Walder Frey, from Game of Thrones, as it can cause not only just uterus cramping, but the 'Red Wedding' scene in a toilet bowl (a.k.a. period diarrhea). Oh the betrayal."

"Another hormone is progesterone, which helps our bodies prepare itself for contraception and pregnancy, as well as regulating our menstrual cycle. Progesterone can either slow down or speed up our GI system, leading to symptoms of either irritable or frequent bowel movements." So your butt might be mad at you, or your butt might be ~doing its thing~ more than usual, or BOTH. So. Much. Fun. 

You can blame it on the location of your uterus. 

"Okay, so the science behind period poops, to my understanding as a person who talks almost exclusively about my uterus and my b-hole, has a lot to do with your bodily logistics," Her Campus News Editor/Resident Poop Expert Katie Speller explains. "Your uterine lining is obvs thick and your hormone are going wild — and your uterus is located near your colon. So, the wild chemistry experiment going on in your uterus can have some effect on your poop-making materials, leading you to either never be able to poop or have to poop aggressively."

One of the worst things about period poop is that it doesn't give a fuck about what else you have going on in your life. You're probably very busy. You probably don't want to tell your boss/professor/date you can't come anymore because you're stuck on the toilet. But your period continues on, poop included.

Sarah* sums it up perfectly: "I don't have any secrets for period poop, but it's hell because sometimes you get hit with the double whammy of period poops + hangover shits...tmi but being a girl can be rough."

Because we love you, we asked how women deal with these shitty moments.

While it's always good to hear from professionals and experts when it comes to body issues, there's something comforting about hearing from Real Live Women. Felicity explained, "TBH, I always forget that period poops are a thing until they happen every month. I always confuse my actual period cramps and period poop cramps and then it just feels like a clusterf*ck of cramps that I don't understand. I never know if I need to take, like, 3 ibuprofens or just need to sit in the bathroom for a half hour. Oh, and don't even get me started on the gas that comes before — literally feel like my stomach is going to blow up from the pressure." 

"My period poop survival tips?" Katie says, "I strongly suggest having in your underwear collection undies that are either dark (Period Panties are a fave), White (bleachable) or just crappy, so you don’t mind that they might get some kinda racing stripe action (shit happens, leaks happen. Get used to it.)"

"Lots of water w/ lemon makes it worst temporarily, but then you like flush it all out, and you're gucci," Sarah* says. 

While chocolate and crying is all good and well, working out and eating veggies will help more.

What you eat does matter when it comes to having a better period. "Maintaining your fiber-rich diet will ease your period diarrhea symptoms," Dr. La says. "The fiber will help bind your stool to solidify itself. Fiber keeps us regular and our GI system happy! Gradually increase your fiber intake throughout the week and make sure you are drinking plenty of water to help ease any more symptoms of constipation. Aim for 25 grams of fiber per day, and at least 64oz of water per day."

Do you really have to work out, or can you just sleep on your heating pad all week? According to Dr. La, you should get moving to get it moving (har har. But really). "Healthy bowel movements also require physical activity. If we choose to wallow in our sorrows of bleeding, we aren’t helping our symptoms of cramps, bloating, and constipation/diarrhea. Although you don’t have to keep an intense work out, going outside for a brisk walk, or doing low-intensity-steady-state exercises for at least 30 minutes, 3-5x per week can be just as impactful. It does not have to be a consecutive 30 minutes; whether it is 15 minutes of an at home work out video before work and another 15 minute power walk during your lunch break, 30 minutes is 30 minutes."

Treat yourself, and your butt.

"Buy wet wipes. Pamper your butt like the fancy baby you were meant to be," Katie recs. "You deserve this."

Jenna totally agrees. "Baby wipes are a MUSTTT. I started carrying them around in my bag. But I wish women weren't so self conscious about this topic because its normal and I feel like we don't acknowledge what our bodies are going through and we just think its gross. But its so natural and normal." 100% yes. Adding shame to the mix isn't helpful considering the impact stress can have on your body.

You can also make your life easier by using products like Blume's Cloud 9 PMS Oil and Athena Club's organic tampons with no harsh chemicals can definitely make your life easier. I'm also a big fan of Yogi Tea's Woman's Moon Cycle Tea to help ease cramps. 

Don't be embarrassed - not with your friends, and especially not with your doctor.

Suffering tends to be a bit less sucky when we suffer together, and without shame. I asked Dr. La how we can stop being so freaking embarrassed about talking about our periods, and all that comes with it. "Period poops are normal - they happen. We should not be embarrassed of something that happens naturally! Plus, there are far more disgusting things than period poop."

Talk about your period, ask your friends to take notes in class so you can sleep and cry through it, and, seriously, talk to your doctor if you're concerned. Things like endometriosis are nothing to ignore, so it's always better to keep an eye on your body!

Dr. La is all about sharing, regularly and proudly.  "I would highly recommend speaking to either your primary care physician, or obstetrician/gynecologist for further questions if you believe your cycle and bowel movements are far more irregular than usual. It is important to talk about our periods, and all that it encompasses (i.e. bloating, cramping, and period poops for that matter) as it is all related to women’s health."

You won't know what's up unless you talk about it. "I have met both friends and patients who had undiagnosed conditions such as endometriosis, because they grew up thinking their symptoms were normal, since they 'never talked about it,'" Dr. La says. "You truly won’t know if something is 'normal' until you speak up and openly discuss it with your friends, parents, and health care team!"

This was published as a part of The Most Real: Sex, Wellness, and Bodies, our answer to your questions (and, let's be real, our questions) about everything sexual health and wellness. Tampons, strap-ons, first time sex, ingrown bikini hairs, why you poop so much when you're on your period - we're getting real. Get real with us. Join the convo using #HCMostReal, and tagging @HerCampus.

As college women, some of our best memories are made during “girls nights.” Who doesn’t love cracking open a bottle of pink Moscato (Barefoot Target line, you’ve done us a solid) with their best friends and just chatting the night away? Often times, these conversations take a hilarious turn—usually heading straight to our romantic pursuits and problems.

Whether you’re helping your friend draft the perfect “you up?” text or advising her on an argument with her S.O., we share a lot with our friends—and as of late, more women are even getting comfortable sharing their sex lives, too. Maybe for our parents that was a conversation that had once been private, but it’s different for our current age group where we can follow sex toy accounts on Instagram and basically treat masturbation as wellness.

That left us with a question: What do college women actually think about how normalized sexual-themed conversations have become? Are they into it, or is it something they still secretly feel weird AF about? We asked 14 college women how they feel about sex talk being less taboo, going in deep on how they talk about all things sexy and carnal with their BFFs.

On Talking About Your (Detailed) Sex Life:

“The lack of sex education in this country is astonishing. So often, people have no idea what they’re doing or what they could possibly do. Everyone is afraid to experiment and afraid to tell their partners that they’d like to experiment. Fear is normalized in our society and sex is a taboo conversation. For me, I’ll go out of my way to ask my friend sex questions, and make them slightly uncomfortable because the only way to normalize sex is to get used to the discomfort in the beginning.” -Jericha, Class of 2020

“When I got to college, I was more experienced than many of my friends and I always told them they could come to me and ask any question or talking about any part of the experience. And I have instilled that in my sister and younger cousin. No question or subject is too graphic.” -Talya, Class of 2021

“I think there’s something empowering in reclaiming the right to talk about sex and our experiences without trying to filter ourselves to look more ‘classy.’” -Geneve, Class of 2021

“[Sex] isn’t something I’ve ever considered to be super taboo and I think that every woman has a right to be as sexually active or inactive as she wishes without any judgment. I usually don’t go into any explicit details unless it’s a really good friend though.” -Grace, Class of 2019

On the Difference Between Hookups & Significant Others:

“I don’t think there’s a difference between talking about sex with significant others and hookups. That doesn’t change how much I talk about it with friends, it’s more just like who the friends are and what their past is as well with sex.” -Maria, Class of 2020

“I’ll usually engage in conversation about sex with my girlfriends if that’s what the topic is, but I’m never going into immense detail and I definitely NEVER talk about [my S.O.]. I wouldn’t want him to talk about stuff I do during sex with his friends, so I give him that same respect when I’m talking with my friends.” -Devon, Class of 2019

On Boundaries:

“I feel like my comfort level talking about sex honestly depends a lot on the friend I’m talking to. I never really feel comfortable saying anything super graphic beyond ‘we had sex,’ so I guess actual specifics of what happened are ‘off-limits’.” -Abby, Class of 2020

“I’m perfectly fine talking sex even down to the details with close friends.” -Maya, Class of 2020

“No topics are off-limits with me and my friend group—or with anyone for that matter.” -Jericha, Class of 2020

“I think we’re at a time when a lot more girls are becoming open with their sexuality…this isn’t new at all though, it’s exactly why you see in Sex and The City. In my experience, these are still conversations you’re only having with your close girlfriends. So, knowing I’m a Samantha, I try to stay conscious of my friends who are Charlottes.” -Jackie, Class of 2020

“I definitely find myself feeling a little awkward talking to my friends at [college] about [sex], simply because they come from cultural and religious backgrounds that are far more conservative than mine. I still talk to them about it, but I keep things as vague and PG as possible, and give them a heads up whenever I’m going to talk about anything sex-related. I definitely do feel uncomfortable giving graphic details or ‘play by plays’ of my sexual interactions though, just out of respect for the privacy of my partner(s) and our relationship.” -Maria, Class of 2021

On Upbringing:

“Generally, I do not talk about sex with my friends. They would often talk to me about their sex life though, yet I'm uncomfortable with talking about it… I think that my upbringing greatly influenced all of these events because my parents never really talked to me about sex, but when they did it was to tell me how ‘sinful’ and wrong it was, and that I'd regret it if I had sex outside of marriage. This being said, I am slowly trying to break away from these toxic ideas that I was taught and working on being more open about sex.” -Leanna, Class of 2021

“I was raised in a very conservative home, which was not actually a bad thing in many ways, but because of that, it influenced my view of certain topics like sex. I find it difficult to talk about sex with anyone really, because I was taught that it was kind of a taboo topic. It’s a weird topic for me because even though I’ve slowly grown more comfortable with talking about sex, it’s still slightly embarrassing for me. I don’t mind listening to other people talk about it or their experiences with it, but I have a difficult time talking about my own experience, and I think that’s influenced by the way I was raised.” -Sarah, Class of 2019

On Masturbation:

“As far as talking about masturbation with friends, I feel like that’s kind of a weird topic. It’s such a personal thing, even more so than sex, so I think that’s something that should be kept more under wraps. While I think it’s great that everyone should explore their own bodies and figure out what works for you, and be able to tell a partner exactly what you like, I totally understand why it’s so taboo. I feel more comfortable talking about that with my boyfriend because in a relationship you’re 100% vulnerable and your partner sees you literally and figuratively naked, so it doesn’t seem as odd.” -Devon, Class of 2019

“I don’t mind talking about masturbation, but only to a select group of friends who I know are comfortable talking about it.” -Maya, Class of 2020

“Masturbation is pretty off-topic between my friends and me, but I’m not really sure why. For girls, it always feels like there’s something more perverse or taboo about admitting to self-pleasure.” -Maria, Class of 2021

On Learning From Each Other:

“There is this level of comfort knowing that my friends may have experienced something I have or may have advice on something related to sex. Honestly, I feel like this is how we learn what to do and what not to do with a significant other in and out of the bedroom. The sex-related things I talk about with my friends are the things you don’t learn in sex-ed.” -Julia, Class of 2020

“Sex is natural and healthy, and talking about it with friends has strengthened my relationship with them as well as promoted self-growth. We talk about pretty much everything—from hookups, to past significant others, to sex toys. I would probably say the only thing that I wouldn’t talk about with my friends is a play-by-play of a recent hookup. We talk about certain things our partner would do that we liked, but not really the detailed run down.” -Eva, Class of 2020

While we’ve made great strides in being open about our sex lives with our friends, after talking with various college women, we’ve learned that there are still some boundaries friendships won’t cross. Though talking about your partners tends to be fair game, many women still feel that self-pleasure is private and would prefer to not talk about it with their friends. Whether you’re down to tell your squad all of your sexual exploits or prefer to maintain your privacy, there are many ways to answer any questions you may have about sex and your sexual health.

Never be ashamed of how much you choose to divulge about your sex life—everyone’s personal journey is special and unique!

This was published as a part of The Most Real: Sex, Wellness, and Bodies, our answer to your questions (and, let's be real, our questions) about everything sexual health and wellness. Tampons, strap-ons, first time sex, ingrown bikini hairs, why you poop so much when you're on your period - we're getting real. Get real with us. Join the convo using #HCMostReal, and tagging @HerCampus.

If you have boobs, you probably think about them pretty freaking often. Ever since I was like, ten, I've definitely wondered if my boobs are normal or not. It's hard not to. Even with things like the #FreeTheNipple Movement that seek to empower women, there's a lot of pressure to have boobs in this one specific way. More than once I've just like, stared at my boobs in the mirror and been like, okay you guys, here you are and done a little Q&A with my boobs. Should you be that far apart? Are our nipples a normal color? Is it good that you're like, kind of small? 

The importance of my boobs to me has shifted over time. Sometimes, I really don't care that they're not perfect. Other times, I blame all of my relationship and dating struggles on my boobs. If only you were better, then my life would be better. It's ridiculous, but it's true. It can be hard not to place a lot of weight on your boobs.

So I was kind of relieved when, this one time, I was talking to people about bodies and how weird they are and a friend mentioned she had a third nipple. My mind was blown. Was this my real life Harry Styles? What even is a third nipple? How does it work? And how does she feel about her extra nipple, and her boobs and her body in general? 

This is that conversation:

So you have a third nipple?

Elaina: Yes. When I was born, doc told my parents that he hoped for my sake that I wouldn't grow a third boob. He was joking. But he did say they'd keep an eye on it. In terms of function, it's just a nipple. I never even thought about it until I was watching Friends and there's what one episode about Chandler and his "nubbin." So I just kind of picked it up and started calling it that.

It looks like a birthmark. I’m actually really proud of it. I think it’s fascinating, kind of funny. It’s like a fun bar trick when I can bring it up in convo, like, oh, hey I have a 3rd nipple. I show people very often. I had the nickname tri-nip in college.

How do you think about your boobs in general?

Elaina: I’ve always wondered about them. There have been times when I’m worried about them, and compared them to other boobs and nipples I've seen. I guess they’re standard. What I did think about a lot more actually was boob hair. I was always really conscious about peach fuzz that grew around my nipples. I never wanted to be the girl with hairy nipples, especially once I started dating. I still remember the names of the girls that the guys said had hairy nipples. It was awful.

For a long time, I didn’t know it was normal to have hair around your nipples. I grew up thinking it was a bad thing, but eventually realized that it's honestly NBD.

In short, my relationship with my boobs was tumultuous until I started to learn more about them and started to appreciate them more.

Lets talk mechanics.

Elaina: My third nipple has everything a regular nipple has: areola, actual nipple part, peach fuzz, sensitive to cold and touch. It’s connected to breast tissue - on some people it isn’t (like on Harry Styles) but mine is connected. I can feel it in the freezer section of grocery store.

Basically, it’s my tiny little sidekick, tiny little warrior that reminds me that its there.

What about when it comes to partners?

Elaina: I’ve had a few partners that have found the third nipple funny. Some made it sexual, some made it a joke. I always found it funny that partners had to make a thing of it, instead of letting it just be a part of me. Like, it had to be funny, or it had to be sexualized. Why can't it just be a body part?

Boobs are personified by partners, but it feels unfair because these are mine. They're not up for discussion. Whether you have big boobs or small boobs, 12 nipples or 2, inverted or not, they're your boobs. Don’t let anyone tell you anything about your boobs that will make you think twice about them. They are YOUR boobs.

Once a partner said, “Don’t bend over naked, your boobs look like turkey tits.”

If I’m going to take my clothes off, you better worship me like the goddess that I am.

How did you become more empowered when it came to your own boobs?

Elaina: In college, I worked at a lingerie shop, and I learned to measure other people's boobs. It taught me a ton. At first, I was comparing my boobs to other people's boobs 24/7. It was almost a compulsion. But by seeing so many boobs, I realized they weren't dirty, or private, or even inherently sexualized. Boobs just became boobs.

It was kind of freeing and exciting to go into work and talk about boobs all day and be surrounded by other people who wanted to talk boobs and breast shape and best enhance what they had.

Boobs are kind of like, a thing now. Nipples showing is seen as empowering. Is it good to have a body part be a trend?

Elaina: I think it's a great trend. Anything that makes you feel stronger and more energized is a yes from me. The movement to make your boobs your own and do whatever you want with them is hugely positive. I actually wish I could not wear a bra. I honestly have to because of boob sweat. Nothing like a hot day with saggy, sweaty tits.

What advice would you give other women who are paranoid about their nipples? How did you learn to love yours?

Elaina: I’m proud of my nipple (and all of my nipples now), but growing up I wasn’t. I was always self conscious of how they were in general. I don't have the perkiest boobs, and I never have. I had friends with "way better boobs" than me, and it honestly made me jealous. But by working in women's media, I've been learning that all boobs are beautiful, and I've just learned so much more about the existence of tons of different boobs and nipples. It makes me feel more empowered, and more proud of my own.

So like, don’t give a flying fuck about what anyone thinks about your boobs. Your boobs don’t define you. 

This was published as a part of The Most Real: Sex, Wellness, and Bodies, our answer to your questions (and, let's be real, our questions) about everything sexual health and wellness. Tampons, strap-ons, first time sex, ingrown bikini hairs, why you poop so much when you're on your period - we're getting real. Get real with us. Join the convo using #HCMostReal, and tagging @HerCampus.

In the aftermath of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, our closets are overflowing and our bank accounts are depressingly empty. While it’s easy to hit up massive chain stores such as Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 for our quick trend fix, supporting smaller fashion brands that are run by diverse women of color makes such an impact on our society.

When badass women are at the helm, fashion companies hit their stride. The fashion brands mentioned below are ethical, sustainable, and inclusive of women everywhere. Because what’s better than shopping until you drop — and being socially conscious while doing so?  

1. Cee Cee’s Closet

Started by sisters Chioma and Uchenna Ngwudo, Cee Cee's Closet NYC enlivens even your basic crop top with vibrant West African prints. Designed by both Chioma and Uchenna and handcrafted in Nigeria, Cee Cee's Closet shares their culture through fashion all while providing a "transformative impact" on the lives of their partners in Nigeria. The playful two-pieceset featured above will stand out at any event next summer, whether you're taking an evening beach stroll or heading to a family barbecue.

2. b. Yellowtail

b. Yellowtail, created by Bethany Yellowtail, is a fashion brand that supports indigenous women across the United States through selling their handcrafted jewelry and accessories and creating apparel of their own. As a member of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne nations herself, Yellowtail is using her platform as a fashion designer to advocate for marginalized indigenous peoples, often "fundraising through apparel sales." Committed to showing your support for indigenous peoples' rights? Check out this super cute graphic tee featured above. 

3. Adele by Adele

According to the Adele by Adele website, founder and designer Adele Jackson seeks to find sustainable ways to combine fashion and art, all while remaining culturally relevant. If you're a California girl, Jackson's designs will especially speak to you: she specifically draws inspiration from the urban lifestyle of California and blending the differences between NorCal and SoCal. Her cute long-sleeve featuring the state animal is sure to please anyone, California resident or not. 

Related: 3 Sustainable Fashion Brands to Support Because It's 2018 & Sustainability is Freaking Important

4. Nor Black Nor White

Founded by Mriga Kapadiya and Amrit Kumar, two Canadian-Indian women, Nor Black Nor White was originally founded to both honor the past creations of talented Indian artists while creating innovative pieces that reflected their own modern interests. You can see this in their bold and beautiful prints and their futuristic designs. If you're looking for a diverse formal dress that follows the recent trends, look no further than their silver watercolor dress. 

5. Naja

Looking to surprise your S.O. after a long winter break this year? The underwear brand Naja will not only have you feeling confident but also have you feeling that like you gave back to the world. This vegan and eco-friendly brand, founded by Catalina Girard and actress Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin, anyone?) strives to not only make lingerie less objectifying for women, but also employs marginalized women in Latin American countries and gives single mothers the power to make a living from their home while looking after their children. Whether you purchase Naja as a sexy surprise or just to make yourself feel good, you're helping mothers with every lingerie set bought. 

6. Brujas

Created by a group of WOC who formed their own skateboarding crew, BRUJAS NYC is an eco-friendly brand devoted to raising political awareness in youth culture and causing "radical" and "political organization" through their fashion. Ultimately a collaborative effort, BRUJAS empowers women through community-building and embracing differences. Their apparel will most certainly have you feeling badass. 

7. Adorned by Chi

Let’s admit it — in our own ways, we’re all a little quirky. Life is about accepting ourselves and becoming steadily more confident in our quirks. No one knows this better than Adorned by Chi founder Jacque Aye, a self-proclaimed anime fan who wanted to provide a space for young black girls to feel confident in themselves. Her feminist slogan tees and retro designs will add a twist to any basic outfit you may wear strutting to class. 

Whether you're looking to upgrade your wardrobe a few notches or are just tired of shopping at stores that don't necessarily align with your values, these seven shops above are sure to prioritize diversity and inclusion for all genders and races. Fashion — and the future — is most definitely female (and intersectional)!

If we believe in one thing, it's the power of self care. While self care can get a bad rep for being an excuse to avoid dealing with real issues and for evaluating yourself, it's not impossible to balance being self aware with being kind to yourself. Especially for marginalized people, there are few things quite as important as taking care of yourself so you can live your best life and contribute in the most positive of ways to the world around you, whether that means fighting the patriarchy and following it up with a sheet mask or calling your senator week after week from your bathtub as yummy-smelling bath bombs swirl around your newly-hydrated bod. Because we can love forms of self care that are more product based (hellooo, dreamy beauty essentials and candles that make us feel good inside) while also challenging systems around us and taking care of the people we love and want to empower.

But self care tends to be easier said than done. Experts talk self care a lot, everyday people like us talk self care a lot, and, at the end of the day, it's a complex topic, and it's hugely personalized. What is self care to you might not be self care for someone else. And that's okay.  

We heard about Blume, a new company that creates boxes full of period supplies that are essentially dreamy self care kits. Honestly, there are few times we need self care quick as much as when our periods and the hormones that go along with them are wreaking havoc on our mental and physical health. Naturally, we had to get our hands on them.

Here's what our Senior Editor, Rachel...

...and Associate Editor, Gina had to say about Blume's self care driven wellness products. 

1. Meltdown Blemish Treatment ($26)

Rachel: Wow, I love this stuff. For a long time, I reached for really harsh solutions to acne. I tend to break out a lot on my cheeks and chin, and randomly on my forehead, so I’ve done a good amount of trying new acne treatments. Tons of them are really drying, so it always felt like I had to choose between getting rid of zits and living without random flakes of dry skin (ew). 

Gina: My body basically just got womped this week with a terrible, crampy period accompanied by an unexpected breakout. It sucked, but this blemish treatment came through for me.

Rachel: It's just generally very, very gentle, and loving. I also enjoy the color of it. I’ve been using this for hormonal breakouts alongside my pimple patches, and I don’t know how I’ll ever live without this combo.

Gina: Agreed. It felt like a very gentle (and fast) way to calm acne, and I like this a lot more than using a drying treatment or stick-on acne dots. I also LOVED how natural the scent was, and I wish I could have an an entire moisturizer that smells the same way. Also, I feel like I’m going to have this forever because just using a single drop goes such a long way.

2. Daydreamer Face Wash ($14)

Rachel: Pro tip: this face wash is literally a dream for double cleansing. I’ve been double cleansing for about 4 months -- basically washing my face with an oil cleanser first, and following with a foam cleanser -- but I swapped my foam cleanser for this gentle, creamy cleanser, and my skin is DIGGING IT. 

Gina: Wow Rachel, thank you for all that double cleansing inspo, I need to try that so bad. I have cleansers I use to wash my face with every day, and then different cleansers I use when I’m in the shower. This is one I kept in the shower because it’s super effective on, like, surface impurities which is mainly what I’m targeted when I wash my face there.

Rachel: Especially since my skin is so much drier in the winter than it is in the summer, it’s game-changing to have something with such soft ingredients to make sure any sunscreen and makeup is 100% removed. Also, it pairs really well with my Clarisonic, which I use once a week for some physical exfoliation.

Gina: I also love using this on my neck + chest since I’ll occasionally put concealer on a chest pimple or blend foundation below my jawline, and this face wash was perf for cleansing the décolletage too. After I use it, I have an all-over glow, which I love.

3. Hug Me Deodorant, $12

Rachel: I am BIG INTO NATURAL DEO. I just like it. It makes my skin so much happier.

Gina: I’m ashamed to admit that I only juuuust recently switch to natural deodorant, BUT since I have, I’ve been testing out a bunch and trying to find the one my pits love most.

Rachel: Hard agree. it's not easy to find a good one. My main concern with this one is the baking soda. So far, I'm loving it. I've been wearing it daily for the last two weeks. But I've been known to love a natural deo and then, a few months in, had my pits hugely break out due to baking soda. Maybe one day they'll make a baking soda-free version? 

Gina: This deodorant definitely landed high up on my list, mainly because I felt like this one was very hardworking and long-lasting. Some natural deodorants I have to apply three times a day to keep feeling fresh, but with this it’s study enough for one generous swipe in the morning – and then I’m good to go.

4. Cloud9 PMS Oil, $18

Rachel: I like, don’t believe in taking medicine for my cramps. I think it makes me paranoid that, one day, I’ll have THE ULTIMATE CRAMP and the medicine won’t work. I know, I’m ridiculous. That said, this is something I feel really awesome and positive about. 

Gina: I just went through one of the word periods I’ve had in my young life, and this oil HEALED ME. I noticed that this was the most effective with bloating – it totally soothed and eased all the crampy feelings going on. I still took my normal dose of advil because I’m a baby when it comes to pain, though. The rollerball made it easy to apply without getting oil all over my tum. ALSO, love the scent here.

Rachel: I smeared it all over my low back, where my cramps are the worst, and also ran a line of it over my scalp to help with cramp headaches, and, like Gina said, I just truly loved how it smelled. I’m big on lavender oil and peppermint oil and putting them all over my damn body when I’m stressed, and I feel like I’m going to keep doing the same thing with this one, cramps or not.

Gina: Like, I was not aware that a PMS oil could also be aromatherapy?? I’m literally going to buy these for all my friends and shove these at them while screaming about how life-changing it is. More natural treatments please 👏👏👏

It's only a month before Christmas, but the Beyhive has their wishlists ready after Queen B released her new Holidayoncé collection.  Beyoncé dropped her holiday collection on November 19th on her online store, featuring hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, ornaments, totes, scarves, joggers, crops and even wrapping paper. Prices range from $10 to $105, not including apparel bundles that go for $125.

In case you were wondering, we've picked out some of our favorite pieces from the collection that we're dying to grab before the holidays. Here's what we had in mind:

Beyoncé Lace & Leather Crop Tee

For those shameless Beyoncé fans in your life, this black crop top screams your love for the queen loud and clear. A simple print of Beyoncé in a badass fit on an edgy crop top? What more could anyone need?

Holidayoncé Joggers

The bright neon green "HOLIDAYONCÉ" trailing across the leg on this simple black jogger really makes a statement. And of course, no jogger can look too casual when it comes from Beyoncé herself. 

Homecoming Mug Set

Fierce mugs like these might seem trivial, but TBH, I wanna feel like a boss when I'm sipping my coffee in the morning. These mugs fit the bill for sure (a practical gift too!). 

Beyoncé Noels Carter Crewneck Sweatshirt 

This red crewneck looks fabulous with a green gown wearing, glammed up Beyoncé at the center. This sweatshirt rocks holiday cheer with the red and green color combo, but still muted enough to rock throughout the entire year. 

After the success of her "Bey Mine" Valentine's Day collection early in the year, it makes sense that Beyoncé would release some cute merch for Christmas. These pieces are perfect for street wear and can easily be worn throughout the year while showing our die-hard love for Queen B. 

The popular blogging platform, Tumblr, recently announced a ban on all adult content on its site. Adult content is defined on the Tumblr website as media showing “real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples, and any content—including photos, videos, GIFs and illustrations—that depicts sex acts.”

Since Tumblr is known as an online home for weird, edgy, and, occasionally, shocking content, the decision left many Tumblr lovers reeling with some going so far as to say the decision marks the “death” of the site.

This heightened policing of controversial content originated with the company’s intention to crack down on the proliferation of child pornography on the site after receiving numerous complaints from users. In this crackdown, however, many NSFW blogs that did not feature child pornography were also terminated. Not to mention the regressive nature of banning "female-presenting nipples" (wtf is that phrase?) feels very 2012 and like it is disproportionately going to affect individuals who look for adult content that isn't created largely for the male gaze. 

The Daily Dot spoke to one such blogger named Jas, whose erotic art features “aged-up” versions of manga characters, and therefore does not fall into the category of child-porn. Both of Jas’s blogs, including one that was SFW, were taken down, which, as a creator, could impact her ability to make money.

Tumblr’s decision comes with some stipulations that will likely not do much to quell the already burning outrage of its NSFW bloggers.

Newsweek reports that exposed breasts will still be allowed “in connection with breastfeeding, birth or after-birth moments, and health-related situations, such as post-mastectomy or gender confirmation surgery.” Additionally, while visual content like GIFS and photos may be banned from the site, sexual content is still allowed in the form of written erotica, sculpture, and illustration.  

Tumblr CEO Jeff D’Onofrio wrote in a posted on the site that the company “spent considerable time weighing the pros and cons of expression in the community that includes adult content. In doing so, it became clear that without this content we have the opportunity to create a place where more people feel comfortable expressing themselves.”

Ok, guys, time for a confession: I’ve been an avid glasses wearer for as long as I can remember (thanks to my awful vision). However, I never really gave much thought to how ~stylish~ my glasses were until recently. TBH, I wish I realized earlier how much glasses and sunglasses can elevate your entire look. For the past few seasons, glasses have been the accessory to have on hand at all times, no matter if you want to make a sophisticated statement or give a fun and unexpected twist to your outfit.

Her Campus had the opportunity to team up with Zenni for the Collegiette Point of View Tour, and I fell in love with their unique collection of frames right then and there. From super-essential prescription glasses to some pretty unique sunglasses, Zenni is most definitely killing the game when it comes to must-have eyewear for any occasion. Here are three of my fave looks from Zenni right now.

Everyday in-class chic

If your daily dress code for class consists of stylish athleisure and the trendiest pairs of sneakers, you’ll want a pair of statement-making prescription glasses to bring the whole look together. A charming pair of prescription glasses can really up your accessory game even when you’re sitting through a lecture. My favorite prescription glasses look right now has to either be the classic tortoise frame (which gives such a sophisticated look) or the wire frame glasses that make me feel oh so classy. Either way, incorporating a little bit of style into your prescription glasses is 100% a fool-proof accessory that matches any outfit, no matter how casual or dressed up. 

Statement-making style

If you want to step out of your regular comfort zone, a brand new pair of glasses are the perf accessory when you’re looking to try a new look. I personally tried out some bold glasses, especially when I wanted to give the UV+ blue-blocking lenses a go. Zenni’s blue-light blocking glasses are so essential for any college student, hardworking intern or new grad in the #adult working world — they protect your eyes from eye-straining blue light that’s emitted from our laptops and phones. A vibrant and unique pair of frames is so necessary for adding some fun into your work life.

Must-have weekend sunnies

From taking a stroll around town on the weekends to taking a quick weekend road trip with the girls, you’ll want to make sure you have some fashionable sunnies by your side. Sunglasses can immediately kick an outfit up a notch and add a whole other level of style. The best part about Zenni is that you can take literally any frame that you’re obsessing over and turn them into a pair of tinted, UV-ray-protecting pair of sunglasses. As for my favorite style of sunnies at the moment, I’m totally digging the mirrored lenses right now (and they also happen to super cute in photos). 

Want to win an entire new wardrobe of glasses from Zenni? Enter our Campus Tour Giveaway today!

Two of the Internet’s favorite things are epic proposals and adorable puppies, and one couple managed to combine them into what is undeniably the best engagement photo shoot of all time.

Author and journalist, Laura Stampler thought that she was simply going on an easy hike with her boyfriend Maurice, but as he lead her up to the crest of a large hill, with sweeping views of Los Angeles, she quickly realized that the hike was about much more than giving them a chance to stretch their legs. 

When she saw a trail of rose petals leading to the crest of a hill overlooking Los Angeles, everything clicked into place. 

To make the moment even more magical, her fiancé hired a choir to sing classic love songs like “Kiss the Girl” and even had Laura’s best friend handy to snap pics of the special moment.

However, arguably the best surprise came just after the proposal as a pack of sixteen adorable dogs, not doves, were released onto the mountain, surrounding Laura and Maurice. The some of the dogs included an adorable French Bulldog and a majestic Golden Retriever.

In a video posted to Instagram moments after the proposal, Laura and her fiancé play with the pups as her friend asks“what just happened?”

“I just got engaged. And I’m surrounded by dogs!” she replies elatedly.

In a series of tweets announcing the engagement, Laura expressed how much the moment meant to her, writing “In conclusion: It's been a rough year, but sometimes life can be really beautiful and, well, good. I really love my fiance, and united we'll continue in our quest to pet every dog."

A noble goal Laura, a noble goal indeed. 

It’s pretty safe to say that most movie fans get a kick out of hearing that two actors from their favorite movie or show had chemistry both on and off the screen. From The Last Song’s Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth to Green Lantern’s Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, everyone loves a good showmance, even if they’re rarely built to last. And one showmance that’s been speculated about for quite some time is none other than Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf.

Fox and LaBeouf co-starred in 2007’s Transformers, as well as its sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Though Fox was not included in later films due to controversy with director Michael Bay, she clearly made an impact on the franchise and, according to Marie Claire, sparked dating rumors because of her undeniable chemistry with LaBeouf. Now, we're finding out for the first time—directly from Fox herself—that the rumors were true.

While appearing on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, host Andy Cohen put Fox in the hot seat with a game of “Plead the Fifth,” where she was only allowed to back out (or, well, “plead the fifth”) of one question. Looking to get the best sound bites, Cohen’s questions didn’t hold back, but Fox kept her cool—even when it came to her rumored relationship with LaBeouf.

When asked how she would characterize her relationship with him, Fox hesitated for a moment before confidently saying, “I would confirm that it was romantic. I love him. I have never been really quiet about that. I love him.” That’s all we needed to hear before getting hearts for eyes.

It’s, of course, been over 10 years since Transformers was filmed and both Fox and LaBeouf have moved on (Fox is married to Brian Austin Green). Fox even agreed that it was only a showmance. Still, like I said before: everyone loves a good showmance.

You, the thriller series starring Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley as a bookstore manager that becomes obsessed with a young woman who is a writer, is getting a new home.

Just Jared reports that Netflix will release the second season of You, which originally aired on Lifetime. The Hollywood Reporter cites low ratings as a primary reason for Lifetime’s decision to drop the show, even though they had originally made the optimistic move of renewing the show for a second season before its first even premiered.

The series boasted a star-studded cast: Besides Badgley, familiar faces like John Stamos and Shay Mitchell appeared on the show. It was also in seemingly good hands with showrunner Greg Berlanti, the mind behind everything from high school drama (Dawson’s Creek, Riverdale, Love, Simon) to superhero shows (Arrow, Supergirl).

Interestingly, Berlanti is also a producer on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which, like You, was meant to air on live TV but ultimately moved to Netflix. Sabrina, which was meant to be on The CW along with its sister show Riverdale, found success and popularity on the streaming service, so who’s to say the same can’t happen for You?

You is based on a Caroline Kepnes novel of the same name, which has a sequel called Hidden Bodies. According to THR, the series will continue to follow the books in season two and focus on Badgley's character, whose love-turned-obsession proves to be more and more dangerous as he starts taking out anything and anyone that stands between him and the woman he "loves."

Season one will be available to stream on Netflix starting December 26, so if you haven’t seen the show yet, you’ll want to get caught up before season two drops.

Pete Davidson is speaking out mental health and being bullied online and in public following his split from Ariana Grande. On Monday, the Saturday Night Live star took to Instagram to reveal that he has been “online bullied” since he and Grande called off their engagement, and shared his struggle with mental illness and his efforts to raise awareness about it.

“I’ve kept my mouth shut. Never mentioned any names, never said a word about anyone or anything,” Davidson posted to Instagram in a text post.

“I’m trying to understand how when something happens to a guy the whole entire world just trashes him without any facts of frame of reference. Especially in today’s climate where everyone loves to be offended and upset it truly is mind boggling,” the 25-year-old comedian’s message continued, explaining that this is why he has been so open in the past about his mental health struggles and his experience with Borderline Personality Disorder. “I’ve been getting online bullied and in public by people for 9 months.”

“I’ve spoken about BPD and being suicidal publicly only in the hopes that it will help bring awareness and help kids like myself who don't want to be on this earth,” Davidson added.

“I just want you guys to know. No matter how hard the internet or anyone tries to make me kill myself. I won't,” the comedian admonished his tormentors. “I’m upset I even have to say this. To all those holding me down and seeing this for what it is – I see you and I love you.”

Davidson has been extremely open in the past about his struggles with mental health, and unfortunately, online trolls have tried to use this against him. According to Hello Giggles, some of those trolls even tried to suggest that Davidson shouldn’t date because of his diagnosis. Davidson at the time responded that it was “f*cked up to stigmatize people as crazy.”

According to E! News, a week after Davidson broke up with Grande, he made his first public appearance while co-hosting a comedy show in West Hollywood, where he tried to make light of the situation. “Well, as you could tell, I don't want to be here. There's a lot going on,” Davidson said. “Does anybody have any open rooms? Looking for a roommate?”

Meanwhile, Grande recently channeled their breakup into her new smash hit “Thank U, Next” where she name-drops Davidson, as well as her other famous exes, PopSugarreports.

Grande’s video for the song officially dropped on Friday, and in her “Burn Book” in the music video, Grande features Davidson’s photo next to the statements like “Sry I dipped” and “I love u always.”

At the end of the day, though, no one deserves to be bullied, especially if that person is trying to be open with their feelings and struggles with mental health.

Among those mourning George H.W. Bush’s death, is the former president’s faithful service dog, Sully. In a moving photo on Sunday night, Sully was captured resting near his handler’s casket, peacefully watching over him.

Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath shared a photo of the yellow Labrador retriever lying forlornly beside Bush’s casket, captioning it, “Mission complete.”

Bush’s second son, former Florida governor and 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush, commented on the photo of Sully, writing, “Sully has the watch.”

According to ABC News, Bush was matched up with Sully after his wife of 73 years, Barbara Bush, passed away. The former president, who had a form of Parkinson’s disease, had used a wheelchair in recent years. The service dog, named after pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III who safely landed a plane full of passengers on the Hudson River in 2009, was trained in a prison puppy program before moving to a special school in New York to learn “refined” skills that would help his handler, according to nonprofit America’s VetDogs.

“America’s VetDogs’ trainers and staff worked closely with the president’s team to find the best match,” John Miller, president and CEO of America’s VetDogs, said when Sully was placed with the 41st president in June.

Bush announced the new “member of the family” in June with a photo, adding that Sully was “a beautiful -- and beautifully trained -- lab.” He also thanked VetDogs for their “commitment to our veterans.”

It didn’t take long for the former president, who was often known for wearing vibrant and cheerful socks, to debut a special pair of socks to mark his new friendship with Sully. In August, Sully, who has his own Instagram page, posted a photo of Bush wearing a pair of light blue socks covered in photos of Sully.

Bush, who passed away on Friday, was flown from Ellington Field in Houston to the Joint Base Andrews military facility in Maryland on Monday, according to USA TODAY. Sully was by the Bush family’s side throughout the ceremonies on Monday, which was very fitting since Bush was the president to sign the Americans With Disabilities Act into law in 1990. Sully could even attend the services inside the Washington National Cathedral later this week.

According to Bush’s son and former president George W. Bush, Sully’s next mission will be as a service dog at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he will assist veterans.

“As much as our family is going to miss this dog, we’re comforted to know he’ll bring the same joy to his new home, Walter Reed, that he brought to 41,” he wrote on social media.

The 41st president will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. from Monday to Wednesday, and members of the public may pay their respects. A state funeral will be held at the Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday, USA TODAY reports.

We can all take a collective sigh, Friends fans. Netflix is not breaking up with the beloved sitcom classic — at least not yet, that is.

Fans went into a panic over the weekend when reports (falsely) claimed that the show would be leaving the streaming service in 2019, but Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos told The Hollywood Reporter that it’s just a rumor.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the panic all started when Netflix added an “available until Jan. 1” note on the show’s “details” tab. A Change.org petition was even started to convince Netflix to keep the show on its streaming service, with passionate fans adding that its removal would be “unfair, unacceptable and downright inhumane.”

The January 1st removal date has since been removed from the “details” tab.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Netflix bought the rights to all 10 seasons of Friends in a $118 million deal back in 2014. The streaming giant even remastered all of the episodes for HD streaming.

The former NBC series became massively popular again, and became an incentive for new users to sign up for Netflix.

The Hollywood Reporter did note, however, that WarnerMedia, which owns Friends, is planning to start its own streaming service, so it would be like losing Disney or Marvel movies or shows — it would likely show up again on another platform.

But you don’t have to worry just yet Friends fans — the show will still be there for you to enjoy over the holiday season. Although, you could still watch all 230 episodes if you wanted to, because we totally will be.

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.)

Michelle Obama Drops Expletive When Explaining That “Leaning In” Doesn’t Work

Former First Lady Michelle Obama made it pretty clear over the weekend that when it comes to work-life balance and marriage equality for women, “leaning in” doesn’t always work, saying “that sh*t doesn't work all the time.”

“Marriage still ain’t equal, y’all,” Obama said during an event in Brooklyn on Saturday, as part of her international book tour for her memoir Becoming, CNN reports. “It ain’t equal. I tell women that whole ‘you can have it all’ — mmm, nope, not at the same time, that’s a lie. It’s not always enough to lean in because that sh*t doesn’t work all the time.”

According to The Huffington Post, the crowd of 19,000 erupted in laughter when the former first lady dropped the expletive.

“I forgot where I was for a moment!” Obama added quickly. “I thought we were at home, y’all. I was gettin’ real comfortable up in here. All right, I'm back now. Sometimes that stuff doesn't work.”

The former first lady appeared to be disagreeing with Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg’s feminist philosophy encouraging women to be more ambitious, which she discusses in her book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Sandberg argued that women could “have it all” — family, career and happiness — if they worked hard enough.

According to HuffPost, Sandberg even later admitted that “leaning in” hasn’t been as effective as she had hoped it would be.

Congress Seeks Extension to Delay Government Shutdown

Congressional leaders are attempting to delay a potential government shutdown with a two-week funding bill introduced Monday after ceremonies honoring former President George H.W. Bush, who passed away Friday, brought business at the Capitol to a halt. The bill will extend government funding until December 21st, two weeks later than the Friday deadline for funding for a portion of the government, including the Department of Homeland Security.

According to Politico, congressional leaders are hoping that this extra negotiating time will help to come up with a resolution to their standoff with President Donald Trump over his demand for $5 billion to build the border wall between the United States and Mexico.

While the two-week spending bill does buy some times for the two sides to come to an agreement, it doesn’t mean that they will reach a consensus on the border wall.

According to ABC News, Trump kept up the pressure Monday for Democrats to fund the border wall and threatened actions to deter illegal immigration.

“We would save Billions of Dollars if the Democrats would give us the votes to build the Wall,” Trump tweeted Monday, but did not provide evidence. “Either way, people will NOT be allowed into our Country illegally! We will close the entire Southern Border if necessary.”

Democrats had preferred a one-week extension, but said they would not oppose the two-week delay. Trump also made it clear that he would support the funding extension to allow for ceremonies to honor Bush.

Democrats are not interested in providing Trump with the $5 billion he is seeking for the border wall. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has said that he will not budge from the $1.6 billion allocated to border security funding agreed to as part of a budget deal agreed on earlier this year, Politico reports. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who is set to become the next Speaker of the House, isn’t interested in providing any money for the border wall. Many of Pelosi’s Democratic colleagues, especially incoming Democratic representatives, have pressed her to block funding for the border wall, and since she will need nearly every Democratic vote to gain the speakership, it’ll make negotiations more limited for her.

Schumer and Pelosi were scheduled to have a meeting with the president Tuesday, but Democrats asked to postpone it because of Bush’s funeral. The meeting has been tentatively rescheduled for December 11th, ABC News reports.

Besides the funding bill, Congress is also looking to pass a farm bill and a criminal justice reform package, along with funding for disaster aid after the devastating wildfires in California and Hurricane Michael in the Florida Panhandle, Politico reports.

Trump Says Cohen Should Go to Prison

Michael Cohen, once President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and confidant, is now the center of a tweet storm by the president after Cohen requested leniency in the courts Friday for cooperating with the special counsel.

According to ABC News, Cohen pleaded guilty to making false statements during his testimony to Congress about the Trump Organization’s dealings with Russia. He had previously pleaded guilty to six felonies associated with his own business dealings and two felonies for campaign finance violations.

Cohen’s attorneys requested Friday that Cohen be sentenced to "time served" in a 29-page sentence filing, saying that Cohen had cooperated with prosecutors, and due to the toll this has taken on his family and the attacks he has had to endure from the president.

“Michael Cohen asks judge for no Prison Time.” You mean he can do all of the TERRIBLE, unrelated to Trump, things having to do with fraud, big loans, Taxis, etc., and not serve a long prison term?” Trump wrote on Twitter Monday, blasting Cohen. “He makes up stories to get a GREAT & ALREADY reduced deal for himself, and get.....his wife and father-in-law (who has the money?) off Scott Free. He lied for this outcome and should, in my opinion, serve a full and complete sentence.”

Trump, however, praised another longtime adviser, Roger Stone, on Monday for saying that he wouldn’t testify against him, ABC News reports.

“‘I will never testify against Trump.’ This statement was recently made by Roger Stone, essentially stating that he will not be forced by a rogue and out of control prosecutor to make up lies and stories about ‘President Trump.’ Nice to know that some people still have ‘guts!’,” Trump tweeted.

Stone recently appeared on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos and said he would not go against the president.

What to look out for...

Hallmark is expanding their holiday content, with the network announcing that it will be airing two new Hanukkah-themed movies next year!

New York City is arguably one of the best fashion capitals in the world. Yes, we know that romantic Paris is often lauded as the cornerstone for all things fashion. But NYC’s style has a breath of fresh air associated with her. The streets of Manhattan and Brooklyn are where luxurious designer combines with effortless streetwear. You’ll never see a style so unique as NYC fashion — or fashionistas as eclectic.

After looking at some of the best winter trends this year according to ELLE, we’ve decided to turn to our favorite NYC bloggers for tips on how to style the hottest new winter trends. Here’s to hoping that some of these amazing pieces end up in our closets this holiday season!

1. Animal print

Fur coats may be out, but who said animal print had to join it too? Gone are the days where animal print is associated with over-the-top style. The resurgence of cheetah, leopard, and even snakeskin print is best done with an understated outfit. Just check out CeCe Olisa’s interpretation — she lets the jacket shine, pairing it with a simplistic black outfit and bright boots. Let your animal print do the talking to execute this trend this winter!

2. Glossy shine

The new trend of mini-dresses and party outfits that shine bright like a literal diamond (shout out Rihanna) are the perfect touches for any New Years’ Party you attend this year. Not only will you be completely on trend, but you can accessorize your silvery getup with some statement earrings — much like NYC blogger Alexandra Dieck.

Related: 3 Cozy Winter Essentials You'll Need for When It's F*cking Freezing

3. Jumpsuits

Jumpsuits are back baby, and we’re loving every second of it. Jumpsuits are simply the best fallback outfit for any event — you can push the boundaries at your formal, or simply put a stylish twist on your typical class outfit of jeans and a sweater. Not only will the sidewalk be your catwalk, but you’ll also be staying warm and comfy throughout the chilly winter. Karen from wheredidugethat.com demonstrates the best way to beat the city chill this winter by pairing her daring jumpsuit with a turtleneck.

4. Checkered print

Don’t want to lose your bold spring style but aren’t sure how to combine the best of both seasons? Don’t put your printed coats away yet—Olivia Jeannette shows the rest of us how to walk the fine line of staying cozy whilst maintaining a sense of style. Checkered print coats will have you looking ready to strut down 5th Avenue while protecting yourself against the bitter wind. Wear this print with a decent pair of jeans and a solid pair of boots.  

5. Luxurious, soft coats

If you don’t want to sacrifice style for warmth this winter (let’s be real—our parkas just make us look like the Michelin man), you’re in luck. One of the biggest trends this wintry season are luxurious coats (faux fur, obviously) and teddy coats that’ll keep you snuggled for your winter hibernation. Our bright and bubbly NYC fave Color Me Courtney already has this trend down, showing you don’t have to forgo your girly side for comfort in the freezing cold!

6. Berets

So while NYC definitely has the most unique fashion in the world…that doesn’t mean that NYC-based bloggers can’t take inspiration from the best. Berets are finally back in, and our middle school dreams of rolling up to school in a beret and red lipstick can finally be attained. You may not be able to jet set to Paris over winter break, but you can bring Paris to your closet—much like NYC blogger Andrea Pion, who pairs her standout beret with a less exaggerated outfit. Much like animal print, let your hat be the center of your outfit here!

7. Tweed 

If you want to feel like a professional badass this winter while still maintaining your boundary-breaking individuality, brightly printed tweed is the look for you. Man Repeller's CEO Leandra Cohen pulls the trend off perfectly with a royal blue tweed blazer with several statement pieces and a warm, printed turtleneck. Head to a brunch meetup with your high school friends looking like a boss in your new tweed blazer.

Whether you’re driving around the backstreets of your hometown or making the streets of your favorite city your personal red carpet, these trendy essentials are your next step to becoming the fashion blogger you’ve always dreamed of! Who knows—maybe you’ll be the next influencer on this list someday. Happy shopping!

ICYMI, GQ has announced their full support of the bootcut jean trend. However, the Goddess of Twitter Chrissy Teigen has spoken, and let’s just say if she isn’t about it, who is? Yesterday, GQ tweeted a link to one of their articles, “Bootcut Jeans Are Making A Comeback,” and Teigen was quick to completely shut that down by retweeting and adding her own comment: