Lady Gaga issued an emotional statement on Twitter early Thursday morning, apologizing for working with R. Kelly back in 2013. In the message, she detailed why she made the song “Do What U Want” and how she believes all of the women who spoke out in Lifetime’s documentary Surviving R. Kelly. 

“As a victim of sexual assault myself, I made both the song and the video at a dark time in my life,” Gaga wrote. “My intention was to create something defiant and provocative because I was angry and still hadn’t processed the trauma that occurred in my own life.” 

She continued, “The song is called ‘Do What U Want (With My Body),’ I think it’s clear how explicitly twisted my thinking was at the time.” 

The docuseries premiered last week and detailed the allegations that R. Kelly had sexually abused multiple underage women. Many of the allegations were largely ignored by the public, and R. Kelly has on multiple occasions denied these claims. According to The New York Times, the documentary’s reporting has since led the police to launch an investigation. It has also sparked the #MuteRKelly movement, which hopes to finally put an end to his career.

Celebrities such as John Legend and Chance the Rapper have appeared on the documentary series in solidarity with R. Kelly’s alleged victims. Many viewers expected Lady Gaga to also be a part of the project. According to Surviving R. Kelly producer Dream Hampton to The Detroit Free Press, she declined to participate. The two collaborated together for “Do What U Want,” which was Gaga’s second single in 2013 for her album Artpop. 

Lady Gaga has also defended the song before. The New York Times reports that she said at a news conference in 2013, “R. Kelly and I have sometimes very untrue things written about us, so in a way this was a bond between us.”

After the series finale on Sunday, fans begged Gaga on social media to apologize for the song. 

“I stand behind these women 1000%, believe them, know they are suffering and in pain, and feel strongly that their voices should be heard and taken seriously,” the singer wrote on Thursday. “What I’m hearing about the allegations against R. Kelly is absolutely horrifying and indefensible.” 

At the end of her apology, Gaga revealed she would remove the song from iTunes and other streaming services. As of Thursday night, the song has been removed from iTunes. As of right now, it has yet to be removed from Spotify. 

“I’m sorry, both for my poor judgment when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner,” the statement concluded. “I love you.” 

As President Donald Trump continues to demand for a border wall, an estimated 800,000 federal employees will be without their paychecks on Friday. But the Senate has unanimously passed guaranteed back pay for all federal workers affected by the government shutdown.

Congress approved similar bills in previous shutdowns, including the ones in January of 2018 and October of 2013. Federal workers will be guaranteed to receive their back pay as soon as possible after the president signs off on the federal budget. According to Vox, paychecks would be sent out even when they aren’t on the normal billing cycle. This includes those who were furloughed or (temporarily) given leave of absence. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on the Senate floor, The New York Post reports, that the president will sign the bill as soon as the House passes its own. 

“I had an opportunity to talk to President Trump a few moments ago, and wanted to indicate to our colleagues that he will sign the bill that we’ve been discussing here to guarantee that government workers who’ve been displaced as a result of the shutdown will ultimately be compensated,” McConnell said, according to Axios. “And so I want to ease their anxiety about that particular possibility.”

The government impasse has been difficult for many federal employees who have to cover daily costs such as rent, utilities and loans. The bills hopes to alleviate some of those pains, but many won’t reap the benefits of it and receive their back pay until a shutdown solution has been made, according to Vox. 

Democrats have even introduced measures to protect workers from the effects of potentially the longest shutdown in the United States history. According to the Huffington Post, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) created legislation to “prohibit landlords and creditors from taking action against federal workers or contractors who are hurt by the shutdown and cannot pay rent or repay loans. 

The shutdown will soon be in its 21st day, as of Friday. But there still isn’t an end in sight. 

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.) 

Michael Cohen Agrees To Testify Before Congress About His Work For President Trump

President Donald Trump’s former lawyer agreed to publically testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee next month. Before Cohen starts his three-year prison sentence in March, he will speak in front of the committee on Feb. 7. According to The New York Times, he will detail all the work he did for the president. 

Cohen voluntarily decided to testify, as CNBC reports. He believes that it will give him the opportunity “to give a full and credible account of the events that have transpired,” according to his statement.

“In furtherance of my commitment to cooperate and provide the American people with answers,” Cohen said, according to The New York Times. “I have accepted the invitation by Chairman Elijah Cummings to appear publicly on Feb. 7. I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired.”

Thirteen-Year-Old Jayme Closs, Who Was Missing For Months After Her Parents Were Killed, Has Been Found Alive In Wisconsin 

A 13-year-old girl, who was reported missing after her parents were fatally killed in their Wisconsin home, has been found alive, authorities said on Thursday. She had been missing for three months. 

The Barron County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin said Jayme Closs was found by deputies in Douglas County on Thursday afternoon. She was found around 100 miles from her home. According to CNN, a suspect was also taken into custody. Authorities have yet to release details about her condition or the circumstances of her disappearance. A press conference is scheduled for Friday morning BuzzFeed News reports. 

In a Facebook post, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald thanked law enforcement agencies for their assistance in Jayme’s search. “We want to especially thank the family for their support and patience while this case was ongoing,” he wrote. “We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise.”

Closs disappeared back in October after her parents, 56-year-old James Closs and 46-year-old Denise Closs, were fatally shot in their home. A 911 call had been placed from the house, but no one had spoken to the dispatcher, CNN reports. Authorities, at the time, couldn’t find their daughter.

Trump Claims He Never Said Mexico Would Pay For The Wall...Despite Saying So On Multiple Occasions 

Despite constant promises made on the 2016 campaign trail to build a wall and have Mexico pay for it, President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday at the White House that he “never said” that Mexico would actually pay for it. 

“When during the campaign, I would say ‘Mexico is going to pay for it,’ obviously, I never said this, and I never meant they’re gonna write out a check, I said they’re going to pay for it. They are,” he said, according to CNN.

He continued, “They are paying for it with the incredible deal we made called the United States, Mexico, and Canada deal. It’s a trade deal. It has to be approved by Congress.” 

Trump’s campaign detailed in April of 2016 how he would make Mexico to pay the U.S. ‘$5-10 billion’ to fund the border wall, USA Today reports. He repeated it at nearly every campaign rally, according to BuzzFeed News. 

“We’re gonna build a wall, and Mexico’s gonna pay for the wall. Believe me,” he said at a rally in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2015. “You know, a lot of politicians that said, ‘Oh, they’re not gonna pay, he don’t know anything about—’ They never read The Art of the Deal.”

After he won the election, Trump still floated around the idea of Mexico paying for the wall. 

“I don’t feel like waiting a year or a year-and-a-half [to build the wall],” Trump said at a press conference on Jan. 11, 2017.“We’re going to start building. Mexico in some form—and there are many different forms—will reimburse us, and they will reimburse us for the cost of the wall. That will happen, whether it’s a tax or whether it’s a payment—probably less likely that it’s a payment. But it will happen.” 

Now, Trump has back away from his rhetoric. “When I said ‘Mexico will pay for the wall’ in front of thousands and thousands of people—obviously they’re not going to write a check,” he said. “But they are paying for the wall indirectly many, many times over by the really great trade deal.”

What To Look Out For...

Lauren Jauregui released her new single “More Than That,” and it’s honestly incredible! 

It’s no secret that dismantling institutional sexism is a long-term project, but now we can officially put a number on it. Business Insider reports that the World Economic Forum (WEF) calculated it will take 200 years to close the gender economic gap across the globe. The study also looked at disparities in politics, health, and education — and concluded would take 108 years to fully resolve.

Per usual, these numbers only tell part of the story, since gender equity is unevenly distributed throughout the globe and individual communities. Broken down by region, the 2018 Global Gender Gap Report concludes that the gender gap will be closed in 61 years in Western Europe, but not for a whopping 171 years in East Asia.

While the study looks primarily at countries as a whole, the history of intersectional discrimination means the fight for the rights of marginalized women will likely be much more arduous and time-consuming. For instance, Vox reports that black women in the US earn 63 cents for every dollar earned by a white man, which is 16 cents lower than white women who earn 79 cents to the dollar.

As part of their study, the WEF compiled a list ranking the gender equity gap in every country. The US ranking is one of the most disappointing, but, frankly, unsurprising statistics. At 51st in the world, the US is beat in gender equality by countries like the UK, Rwanda Latvia, and Canada—all of which are listed in the top 20. Countries at the bottom of the ranking include Yemen, Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria.

The top four countries (Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland) provide a practical blueprint for how countries can build a society allows women to gain power and prosper. In an in-depth study on why these Nordic countries rank so highly, the WEF found that their key attributes included female political representation, progressive policies, and paid maternal leave.

While national parks are one of the few establishments that have remained open throughout the government shutdown, lack of staffing because of the shutdown is likely to leave long-lasting damage to the parks. According to National Geographic, overflowing trashcans, trespassing and even unkept toilets could serious damage the ecological balance between wildlife, nature and humans. 

Many of the parks have managed to work with the limited staffing to mitigate these issues but some, like Joshua Tree National Park, have been forced to close after nearly 3 weeks of stretching funds. Visitors to the parks have created new roads and defaced trees because of the lack of ranger supervision available, according to The Los Angeles Times. 

Other famous parks have closed all or part of their land in order to protect it from human waste and negligence. For example, as The Los Angeles Times pointed out, Yosemite National Park closed their Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and two of their campgrounds because the human waste and other trash are considered a public health hazard. 

Along with the risk to guests who continue to visit the parks despite the lack of staffing, the delicately balanced relationship between humans and wildlife is already beginning to falter.

The Obama administration’s National Park Service director, Jon Jarvis, told National Geographic that the park service has worked diligently to train bears and coyotes from associating humans with food to lessen the number of dangerous encounters. Without the increased diligence by staffers to keep this up throughout the shutdown, risks of animal attacks and euthanized wildlife may increase.

The shutdown is also causing the national parks about $400,000 a day in lost entrance fees, National Geographic reported.

The amount of extra labor needed to clean up after the damage caused by the shutdown will also have long term repercussions on parks projects. Instead of working toward current projects, time and labor will instead be spent recovering from shutdown damage.

When the comedic film, Little, hits theaters this spring, 14-year-old Marsai Martin—best known for her role as Diane Johnson in Black-ish—will make history as the youngest executive producer of a major Hollywood motion picture.

Little is a modernized twist on Big (1988), which co-stars Regina Hall in the role of Jordan Sanders, a cold tech entrepreneur who wakes up to discover she is transformed into a 13-year-old version of herself, played by Martin. Issa Rae (HBO’s Insecure) co-stars as Jordan’s long-suffering assistant, April, the only one who knows her boss is trapped in the body of a middle-schooler.

As Martin prepares to make Hollywood history, let's take a look at how she got herself to this point...

She began her acting career when she was 5-years-old.

In an interview with TIME, Martin shared that her passion for performing began as a 2-year-old, when her parents were amazed to find her acting out scenes from Dreamgirls. “I think it’s been in my blood for a long time,” she said. According to IMDB, at the age of 5, she was immediately signed at the Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas.

Martin's first feature film was an American Girl film.

Martin starred in An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win, which is part of the American Girl franchise. The film tells the story of Melody, a young girl growing up in a segregated city who integrates into a white school. Similar to the actress herself, Marsai’s character is brave, vocal and aspirational.

She pitched the film, Little, at the age of 10.

The Black-ish star had the idea for the film after falling in love with the Tom Hanks film, Big. She ended up pitching the idea to Black-ish Executive Producer Kenya Barris when she was only 10-years-old (Ten, people! Makes me question what I was doing when I was 10).

“I hope that [in 21 years] we won't even have to be a first anymore: first black woman to do this, or first black male, or first woman to do that,” she told Teen Vogue. “I hope that we always have diversity, that we have equality and representation every step of the way.”

Others' opinions about her hustle won't stop her, as Martin recalled that she even fired an agent who suggested she “just chill and take a break” during a hiatus, instead of working on new projects. “People look at this 10-year-old girl or 14-year-old girl and seem to think, she's so small, what does she know?” Martin sais. “My peers are still growing and they have so many ideas, too. Sure, we can't drink or drive, but we can do the same things adults can. When they recognize us for what we're actually doing, they'll see us in a different light. That actually motivates me to keep going.”

Martin achieved what many adults wish they could have within her first 100 days in LA.

As soon as Martin moved to Los Angeles in late 2013, she quickly secured a major national commercial campaign with Meineke and was cast on ABC's hit show, Black-ish, in which she won two NAACP Image Awards and a Young Artist Award for her role as Diane Johnson.

Martin was one of TIME's "25 Most Influential Teens of 2018."

The actress was named one of TIME's"25 Most Influential Teens of 2018," for her incredible accomplishments at the age of 14.

Martin also campaigned for Stacey Abrams in Georgia and used Instagram to encourage her 460,000 followers she now boasts over half a million) to go to the polls despite not being of age to vote. “When you really believe in something,” Martin said, “you will stand up for it. You will push for it to become a reality.”

Talk about INSPIRING. Marsai Martin is proof that age doesn't matter when it comes to chasing your career goals, and I'm definitely going to support her when Little hits theaters on April 12.

Even though we all know that the glamorous life of an influencer requires a lot of smoke and mirrors to maintain that beautifully filtered, aspirational branding. But one influencer recently opened up about how ugly that pretty-for-pay industry can get. 

In a Q&A with her instagram followers, influencer, model and mommy blogger Ruby Matthews said her "life was tapas and cocaine" in an attempt to stay extremely thin — which, she acknowledges, is something plenty of her peers are also constantly trying to do. 

“I did a lot of cocaine, like a lot so basically I just smoked cigarettes, had long blacks and did coke,” Matthews said. “And in between, had the tapas. Like my life was tapas and cocaine." 

While that line "my life was tapas and cocaine" has made the rounds online as a bit of a punchline, Matthews was really candid about how damaging the effects of influencer culture could be — and how the work of making an Instagram feed seem so effortlessly ~aesthetic~ can do a lot to hide the IRL problems a person is facing.

Especially as more and more accounts gain notoriety for posting "aspirational" content, it's all the more important that we look critically at how our social media consumption might be warping our sense of what human bodies are supposed to look like and what we're willing to do to reach goals that are reductive (and uninteresting, and unhealthy) as they are unattainable. Some studies even have linked use of instagram with disordered eating — particularly one from University College London (UCL) that found a link between instagram use and rises in Orthorexia Nervosa (which is a disorder where a person obsesses over so-called "clean" or healthy eating.) 

“A lot of people never really understood like how I could eat and still be so thin. But I guess it’s pretty easy to hide an addiction,” she said. “Like people don’t really realize how easy it is to hide something. Whether it’s addiction, depression, anxiety.”

As PEOPLE notes, Matthews says she's since overhauled her health habits — crediting motherhood with helping her make the change.

In a recent instagram post, sharing a photo from four years before, she wrote: "What a difference 4 and a bit Years make. I was pretty tiny here, I actually have no desire to look like that ever again. The [modeling] industry is a tuff [sic] industry with the expectation of you having to look a certain way."

If you or someone you love are living with an eating disorder, you are not alone. You can contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) helpline at (800) 931-2237. 

If Rihanna wasn't known for being a total fashion icon or a legendary singer-songwriter, she is definitely known for being an advocate for inclusivity in the style and beauty industry. After breaking into the makeup scene with Fenty Beauty, filled with diverse foundation shades for every skin tone, she jumped headfirst into the lingerie game with the creation of Savage x Fenty. Although the lingerie industry has historically catered to smaller sizes, Rihanna's Savage x Fenty lingerie line has aimed to change the standards of lingerie inclusivity by accentuating and celebrating diverse bodies of all shapes and sizes.

With Valentine's Day season coming up, Rihanna has absolutely nailed it with Savage x Fenty's latest collection, titled "Savage Kinda Love." Trust us when we say we'll be happily shopping this collection until our bank accounts run dry. 

Rihanna released the collection on January 9th, displaying a gorgeous line of lingerie with the classic Valentine's Day pink and red color palette. This collection definitely treads the line between playful Valentine's Day vibes and classic, sexy style. Some pieces in the line includes bralettes, panties, and mesh suits, all in shades of red, pink and black. The collection carries an extensive size range from 32A to 44DD for bras and XS to 3X for panties (thank you, inclusive queen Rihanna).

There are cutesy pieces like this baby doll top and panty set, as well as more sophisticated sets like a pastel pink and black lace lingerie set. Feeling more risque? There's are a sexy mesh heart set for that. Not to mention, the collection carries a line of "accessories" as well for Valentine's Day. Yes, you guessed it, pasties, blindfolds and whips (oh my!). 

In all seriousness though, it's amazing for Rihanna to release yet another inclusive lines of products. You can grab your sexy V-Day essentials now on the Savage x Fenty online store.

It’s everywhere. You see it on billboards, and you even hear Cardi B rapping about it. That’s right—it’s all about the green, sis! We’ve heard that adage time and time again that money makes the world go round, and tbqh, it does. This can cause a lot of stress, and adding money on top of managing after college life is even more daunting. We at Her Campus know how difficult money issues can be and feel that it’s very important to know all you can know about money and how it works. That being said, here are five real AF things you discover about your finances post-grad.

1. Your first “grown-up” job isn’t necessarily going to bring in the big bucks.

You’ve made it. You have finally left the world of all-nighters and two-dollar Tuesdays to join the ranks of the pencil skirts and briefcases… or so you thought. You’ve updated your LinkedIn page more times than you can even imagine, and to make matters more stressful you’ve been eating, sleeping and dreaming in resume. Despite all your efforts, you have yet to land that “dream job” that you paid so much money for in undergrad. After all the time you spent on Microsoft Word and the money you spent on printing your CV, manage to get an internship at a start-up that offers a small stipend, but has free lunches and dogs in the office every Thursday.

It’s time to take off your green-tinted glasses and face the music. Having a degree, despite all the importance people have and continue to put on it, does not guarantee you a bomb-ass job. You may constantly find yourself looking for better jobs and better pay.  It’s annoying and disheartening, but don’t let that get you down. Your employment is not your worth.

Luckily, you’re not alone.  Post-graduates across the country struggle with the entry-level blues and even unemployment. Ginny, a master’s candidate in Curatorial Studies at The New School, spilled the tea on her experiences with unpaid internships. "Although these opportunities offer much promise, experience and even college credit," she says, “they alienate people of different backgrounds from being able to apply to these because they don’t pay. Working for free sucks!”

2. You don't have any money.

Let’s face it, adult life is freaking EXPENSIVE. Once you add up your rent, food expenses, transportation and the occasional bottle of wine, you will soon after finding that your paycheck was #HereTodayGoneTomorrow. Making weekly plans with friends becomes scarce, and you barely treat yourself to buying new clothes. The money that you thought you had is long gone, and so are your spirits.

Fret not, after-college amigo! You may be broke as hell, but you are still the baddest bish in the post-grad game.In those times where cents don’t make dollars, keep your spirits up, surround yourself with supportive friends and family and never feel too prideful to ask for help.

3. Checking your bank account is a horror story.

What’s scarier, asking your cubicle crush on a date or an email alert from Chase? We can confidently say that the latter is more frightening than any horror film you can think of.  It’s so easy for us to spend, spend, spend on glitz, glamour and, of course, food, and still think, “Oh, wow! I MUST have $152.31 left in my account.” However, once you check your banking app, you are unpleasantly surprised to see that you are $150.00 off. From this point onward, you swear to never spend again and are petrified of looking at your wretched account.

To avoid being shook, be sure to watch your spending and also be consistent in checking your account. It is crucial to keep track of any bills, i.e. Netflix and the gym, that get paid for via auto-pay so that it is no secret where your money is going.

4. Student loans and debt are even scarier.

If the boogymen known as banks aren’t enough to haunt your dreams, wait until you hear about Sally Mae. Ah, yes, Miss Sally—the queen bee of post-graduates’ nightmares. Signing a contract with her is worse than any deal you can strike with El Diablo himself. Between compounding interest rates, the inability to choose your loan servicer, and on top of that, being broke AF, it’s a never-ending cycle of losing money and bad credit.

It’s super important to not only read the fine print of your loans, but it’s equally important to talk to your loan servicer about other options for repayment.

5. Budgets and willpower are your best friends.

We know that it’s not easy being financially stable as a post-graduate. However, there are ways to cut costs. Creating a budget is a great way to both map out your cost to spending ratio and also to make your money more visible in order to avoid over-spending. Budgeting also helps you to get on the road to saving money so that you can take a much-needed vacay or buy those Balenciaga trainers you’ve been dying to have on your feet. Although this is a useful tool, it up to you to develop the willpower to stay on track. Once you have mastered the art of budgeting and saying no to the temptation of spending, you will be on your way to saving money like a boss!

It’s very easy for us to overspend when we are stressed about life. However, we must find other ways to curb our frivolous spending habits such as attending free events or looking for places and stores with great discounts and prices.  

Money management after college can be overwhelming. It’s one thing to have to adjust to paying bills, rent and having more responsibilities than you would ever imagine, but it’s completely different when adding low-paying jobs and lack of funds to the mix. On the bright side, having knowledge of money, loans and budgeting will cut your stress and help you navigate post-grad life like a pro. Let’s start snatching bags and avoid having our edges snatched.

Follow the good sis, Cheyenne Davis, on Instagram!

Let’s face it — Noah Centineo is the boyfriend of our dreams. Following To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Sierra Burgess is a Loser, Centineo is back for Netflix’s new upcoming rom-com, The Perfect Date, where he will pretend to be your boyfriend.

According to Netflix’s See What’s Next, Centineo will play Brooks Rattigan, an “enterprising young man” who, to raise money for college, creates a dating app where he stands in for nonexistent boyfriends.

Riverdale’s Camila Mendes and Lady Bird’s Laura Marano will also star in the film, and based on the first-look photos for the film, it appears that both ladies are enlisting Brook’s services, Entertainment Weekly reports.

However, there’s a downside to dating so many people at once, as “playing a different character every night of the week leads him to question who he really is…and who he wants to be with,” Hello Giggles reports.

But this isn’t the last the we’ll see of Centineo. The To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Sequel was officially announced in December, and he will reprise his role as Peter Kavinsky.

The Perfect Date doesn’t have an official summer release date yet, but honestly, we can’t wait.

Following Megyn Kelly’s controversial tenure at NBC, the television host has formally parted ways with the network and will receive the rest of her $69 million contract.

According to CNN, Kelly’s departure from NBC was announced Friday evening, ending a tense and lengthy exit that was put in motion after Kelly made comments about how it was acceptable to incorporate blackface in a Halloween costume during her 9 a.m. talk show.

The talk show host brought up the topic of blackface during a round-table discussion a week before Halloween with an all-white panel about offensive costumes.

Kelly defended a white reality star who had dressed up as singer Diana Ross.

“But what is racist?” she said during the round-table discussion. “You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface in Halloween or a black person who puts on white face for Halloween. Like, back when I was a kid, that was OK as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character.”

In defense of the reality star, Kelly said, “I felt like, who doesn't love Diana Ross? She wants to look like Diana Ross for one day, and I don't know how that got racist on Halloween.”

Despite Kelly’s apology for her comments the following day on the show, the daytime talk show was cancelled following her comments, ABC News reports.

NBC announced Kelly’s departure from the network late Friday with a brief statement.

“The parties have resolved their differences, and Megyn Kelly is no longer an employee of NBC,” a spokesman said.

NBC News reported that Kelly will leave the network with the remainder of her three-year, $69 million deal -- about $30 million.

Kelly, a former Fox News host, had joined NBC in 2017 where she was to host a daytime talk show, a Sunday night news show and be featured in political coverage on NBC’s news programs, ABC News reports. But the talk show host struggled to attract viewers.

According to CNN, Kelly will be subject to an industry standard nondisparagement clause, meaning that she will be limited in what she can say about her time at NBC and the executives that she worked with. Kelly is not believed to be subject to any non-compete clause, however, which means that she can join any network at any time.

When asked “will we see you on TV this year” by celebrity photographers on the street in New York City on Thursday, Kelly responded, “You will definitely see me back on.”

There’s officially another Bachelor nation couple who've tied the knot. On Saturday, Jan. 11, Arie Luyendyk and Lauren Burham got married in Hawaii on the island of Maui, according to US Weekly. 

Arie posted a photo of Lauren drawing a heart in the sand to his Instagram story on Saturday morning, writing “Happy wedding day!! 1/12/19 [heart emoji].” The couple officially said their “I dos” at Haiku Mill in front of 100 guests. The ceremony was also officiated by none other than The Bachelor franchise host Chris Harrison. And of course, the guest list also included a ton of Bachelor alums, such as Seinne, Jenna, Sean Lowe, Catherine Giudici, Jenny Delany and more. 

Arie and Lauren first met while filming Season 22 of The Bachelor in 2017. The two got engaged 10 months ago during The Bachelor’s After the Final Rose special. After the proposal aired in March, the couple told People that they wanted to be engaged as soon as possible. “We’re so ready for this,” Arie said. “Lauren told me I’m four months late on this proposal, and I wanted to give it to her and I wanted everyone at home to share in it.” The two revealed that they didn’t want a long engagement, and confirmed to People that a wedding would happen within the year. Lauren moved to Arie’s home in Scottsdale, Arizona in March, and the two later revealed they were expecting a baby girl.

On social media, the couple’s friends were quick to share their heartfelt congratulations and well-wishes. 

Sienne shared a gorgeous photo of the ocean on Instagram minutes before the wedding, “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. Beyond thrilled to celebrate the union of @laurenburnham and @ariejr in a few hours. Wishing you a lifetime of love, happiness, and beautiful Dutch babies!” 

Chris Harrison, who officiated the ceremony, had a ton of kind words for the happy couple. He shared a snap of himself with the couple in Hawaii, and he wrote, “It’s been an incredible week full of love and laughs. Today I’m honored to stand before your friends and family and officiate your wedding. Love you both @ariejr @lauren burnham I now pronounce you…..” 

Catherine Giudici and her husband, Sean Lowe, also shared some sweet words to the newlyweds on Instagram. “CHEERS TO LOVE Congratulations to Lauren and Arie (and Baby Girl Luyendyk) on making it official tonight! So honored to have witnessed it and to have celebrated you (Also, have you seen this stunning of a bride before?!?)” 

It seemed to have been the perfect day, surrounded by friends and family. The wedding is just the beginning for the couple, who are starting a family together in Arizona. And even though this relationship had a bit of a rocky start, the wedding day suggested nothing but a happy ending for this Bachelor nation couple. 

The Washington Post reported on Sunday details of how President Donald Trump allegedly tried to conceal details of his meetings with Russian leader Vladimir Putin from the rest of the U.S. government, his personal staff, and even his advisors.

The news comes one day after The New York Times reported that the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether the president worked for Russia against the United States. This was around the time Trump fired former FBI director James Comey in 2017.   

Trump and Putin have met five times so far, and the report revealed that very few within the administration knew what the two leaders discussed behind closed doors. According to the report, Trump’s meeting with Putin in Hamburg, Germany, ended with the president telling his interpreter “not to discuss what had transpired with other administration officials.” A White House spokesperson told The Post that at the meeting former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shared a “readout to the press,” and an official needed more details, but he could not get it from the interpreter. The Post’s report also said it was unclear whether Trump had taken the notes from interpreters in other meetings, or just in the meeting with Tillerson. 

Sources also told The Post that there hasn’t been any detailed records of Trump’s conversations with Putin—even in classified files. According to The Post, U.S. officials have also been unable to get a transcription of Trump’s two-hour meeting with Putin in Helsinki, Finland last summer. No cabinet officials or aides were allowed in the meeting too. 

Former officials told The Post that the president’s secrecy might have stemmed from worry about leaks.

Trump has yet to give a comment on The Washington Post report, but he addressed The New York Times report on Jeanine Pirro’s Fox Newsprograms. On the program, Pirro asked the president whether or not he worked for Russia. “I think it’s the most insulting thing I’ve ever been asked,” Trump responded. He then claimed that he had been tougher on Russia than any other president. 

He continued with, “I had a conversation like every president does. You sit with the president of various countries. I do it with all countries. We had a great conversation, we were talking about Israel and securing Israel and lots of other things and it was a great conversation. I’m not keeping anything under wraps. I couldn’t care less.”

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders responded to the report on Sunday. “The Washington Post story is so outrageously inaccurate it doesn’t even warrant a response,” Sanders said to CNN. “The liberal media has wasted two years trying to manufacture a fake collusion scandal instead of reporting the fact that unlike President Obama, who let Russia and other foreign adversaries push America around, President Trump has actually been tough on Russia.”

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), who is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told The Post, “Every time Trump meets with Putin, the country is told nothing. America deserves the truth and the Foreign Affairs Committee will seek to get to the bottom of it. 

The darkest secrets of high school teachers. [BuzzFeed]

11 women reveal why they're doing dry January. [Bustle]

The new, low maintenance way to go blonde. [allure]

A unique way to honor the lives of the students killed in the Parkland shooting. [Teen Vogue]

People keep stealing Mile 420 signs on this state's roadways. [The New York Times]

10 times Kim Kardashian was absolutely savage to her sisters. [PEOPLE]

The future of music festivals. [Vulture]

Meet the starters in this year's Puppy Bowl. [Entertainment Weekly]

Demi Lovato's latest move on Instagram has us LOL-ing. [Cosmopolitan]

Ranking the best bagged popcorn. [Spoon University]

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.) 

A Federal Employee, Who Had Been Furloughed During The Government Shutdown, Won The Lottery

As of Saturday, we are currently in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The shutdown has broken the previous record of 21 days, and it has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay. The president and Congressional leaders still seem no closer to a spending deal that would put federal workers back to work. Now, a wife of a furloughed federal worker won the lottery in Virginia, according to The Washington Post. 

The family took home a $100,000 check and a new SUV as part of the state’s Ford Expedition Plus $100K Promotion. “I cried,” Carrie Walls said, according to the Virginia Lottery. “I couldn’t believe it.”

But Wall’s win was timely, as the Virginia resident told the Virginia Lottery that her has was a furloughed federal employee. On Friday, her husband and thousands of other employees weren’t able to pick up their paychecks from the government, but Walls was able to pick up her $100,000 check from the Virginia Lottery.  

The Virginia Lottery’s official Twitter account posted a photo of Walls with her $100,000 check and sitting behind the wheel of her brand new SUV. She plans to take her family on a trip to Disney World, according to the Virginia Lottery. 

TSA Workers Will Receive Some Money To Ease The Strains Of The Government Shutdown, But It’s Not Too Much

Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) workers will have some relief coming their way amid the partial government shutdown. TSA workers will receive $500 and one day’s pay to“alleviate some of the financial hardship” they’ve faced. 

Administrator David Pekoske announced the move on Friday via Twitter, finding it “legally & financially” allowed. According to CNN, the $500 is actually a bonus “in recognition of [officiers’] hard work during yet another busy holiday travel season, maintaining the highest of security standards during an extraordinary period. The finally pay period of the year still remains on hold. “I’m able to do this because of unique authorities provided TSA in law,” he tweeted. 

Pekoske also recognized that workers didn’t deserve to work and not receive their pay. “While I realize this is not what you are owed for your hard work during pay period 26 and what you deserve, I hope these actions alleviate some of the financial hardship many of you are facing,” he tweeted.

A Suspected Mass Overdose in California Has Left One Dead and 12 Hospitalized

One person died and 12 others were hospitalized on Saturday in Chico, California, after overdosing on reportedly synthetic opioid drug fentanyl, police said.  

First responders received a 911 call from a resident in the area at around 9:00 a.m., according to BuzzFeed News. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and 12 others were quickly transported to a hospital. 

“Every indication is that this mass overdose incident was caused from the ingestion of some form of fentanyl in combination with some other substance, though that is yet to be confirmed,” Chico Police Chief Mike O’Brien said in a press conference on Saturday. 

CPR and naloxone, which is a narcotic overdose treatment, at the scene, O’Brien said. “It certainly would have been far worse without the response and dispensing of naloxone by Chico police officers,” he added. 

Four out of the 12 overdose victims remain in critical condition. “Certainly there’s potential for additional fatalities,” O’Brien pressed. “I want to emphasize that.”

What To Look Out For….

An account on Instagram, @world_record_egg’s, is trying to break Kylie Jenner’s record for the most likes with a photo of an egg. It was published on Jan. 4, and as of Sunday, the post had over 15 million likes. Kylie Jenner broke the record for most likes in February of last year with a photo of her announcing her daughter, Stormi, name. The post has more than 18 million likes. 

2018 was a loooong year. There was a royal wedding, we had a Winter Olympics, kids ate tide pods, and, apparently, wearing bike shorts outside of athletic events made a comeback from the days of leg warmers and Princess Diana. Also known as cycling shorts, these bad boys popped up on the Dolce & Gabbana runway and on Instagram influencer profiles. They’ve even been ~sported~ by Mrs. Kim K herself.

Athleisure is nothing new to Millennials and Gen Z, with an estimated 44 billion dollar market size in the US in 2018, it’s been predicted that global sales will grow to over 350 billion by 2020. But why is stylish athletic wear so popular? Writers at Forbes believe it’s due to younger generations spending their money on experiences rather than material goods. “As athleisure clothing is typically worn for an experience…[Millennials] are more likely to spend their money on it.” And just like any other fashion style, athleisure wear also cycles through new looks – thus, the bike short trend is re-born.

This sartorial statement has been popular both on and off runways and social media and is projected to be one of the biggest trends of 2019. Obviously there are a ton of ways to wear bike shorts, so if you’re interested in jumping on this train but you’re not too sure where to start, here a just a few ideas to get your wheels turning (see what I did there?).

1. Pair them with an oversized top

Whether you’re wearing a crop top underneath an oversized bomber jacket or a baggy sweater, deciding to pair a loose top with a tight bottom is always a safe bet in the fashion world. For anyone who’s looking for a more comfortable way to wear these fitted shorts, this pairing is foolproof. And for those who are still feeling out the style and seeing if it’s going to be their new thing, this simple combo is a great place to start. This style also gives you that Ariana Grande vibe, which is all the more reason to try this out.

2. Play with color

Fashion is meant to be an experiment, so playing with colors and prints is a surefire way to make a statement. You could pair your neutral-colored shorts with a bright top, or wear your favorite vibrant hue or geometric print on the shorts themselves. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, make your outfit all one color. Wearing all black, all gray, or even all orange (if that’s what you’re feeling at the minute) is completely on trend right now.

3. Accessorize

From the hundreds of pictures of bloggers, influencers and celebrities in bike shorts, it’s safe to say that about 70 percent of their outfits include a fanny pack. Some matched the bag with their outfit, and others used it as a statement piece. With the right accessories, you can easily transition your look from a day-spent-in-the-library look to an I'm-ready-to-party look for a night about the town.

4. Pair them with heels

Another great way to elevate your bike shorts is by accessorizing with a killer pair of shoes. While wearing bike shorts with some sort of athletic shoe is expected (and definitely the route most people often take), there’s also the option of wearing heels. Have some fun with your accessorizing and swap your sneakers for a pair of high-heeled, thigh-high boots or even a strappy wedge.

Related: 11 Fanny Packs You'll Actually Want to Be Seen With at Coachella

5. Wear them under denim shorts

This is a great way to wear your favorite shorts that might be a touch too short for your school’s dress code policy. It also gives any outfit that extra boost to take it to a whole new level.

You can style this look with a nice top and neutral-colored cardigan, a chunky necklace and round it out with a pair of flats. But if you're really feeling the denim look, why not eliminate the middle man all together like Gigi Hadid and wear a pair of denim bike shorts? Alternatively, if you're simply not interested in rocking the Levi's, try the avant-garde approach wear them underneath a printed skirt or short dress as seen in the MSGM show during the Milan Fashion Week.

There are even options to add a bit of texture to this look - like these lace trim "slip shorts" featured on Amazon.    

6. Go full-on sporty

Who said athleisure has to die in the new year? There’s nothing wrong with wearing clothes that make you feel comfortable while at the same time allowing you to always be ready for an impromptu jog to Taco Bell. So wear your bike shorts with a sports bra or a workout hoodie and rock your new look! Because this is a classic ensemble, you'll have the opportunity to put your own spin on it. Try playing with the color or invest in a stylish jacket to be the accent piece. 

The sporty look is best paired with a chunky sneaker - like the Fila Distruptor II (which even comes in pink if you're looking for color).

Related: The Best Chunky Sneakers for When You're So Over Heels

7. Try business casual

Hear us out: When we say “bike shorts” the last thing you usually think of is a blazer and a pair of red-bottom heels. But hey, it works.

It’s definitely a statement, but if you’re ready to give it a go, then why not? While we don’t recommend wearing this outfit to a job interview, this is a great way to spice up a class presentation or just go about your business around town.

If you're interested in another perspective, fashion blogger Sarah Spellings chronicles her quest to find the best way to wear bike shorts like an influencer, and she includes pictures of her attempting three different looks. She even references this look from Maryam Nassir Zadeh which is a great example of combining business, a pop of color, and minimal accessories that tie the outfit together. But whether you’re looking to pair them with an oversized sweater and a pair of Converse, or you want to make a statement with Christian Louboutins and a blazer, there’s no wrong way to wear a pair of bike shorts.

Let us know if you give this look a try by posting a picture to Instagram and tagging @hercampusstyle or adding the hashtag #HCWearsWhat. We'd love to know what you think!

Here’s the deal, y'all. I like to try new things. I like to save money. So any time I can combine the two, I jump at the chance. I am the kind of person who will spend $300 to bleach and color my hair, but I refuse to spend $25 on a haircut. There was one time I tried to cut my own hair in first grade, and all I remember is deciding to chop off a section of my hair, and then giving it to my mom as a gift (LOL). Needless to say, she did not like the gift, and I was forever scared of touching my own head with a pair of scissors again...until recently, when I decided to try cutting my hair again.

Unfortunately, an almost-finished journalism degree and a few hundred hours of watching beauty vlogs did not properly train me to be able to call this attempt a complete success. So, I am here to share with you all of my mistakes, that way you don’t have to make the same ones. 

Related: 7 Things You Need to Know Before Getting Bangs

Do your research.

For some reason, I thought that if I watched one tutorial from a girl with thick hair down to her waist, that it would teach me to trim my shoulder length and practically invisible thin hair. The first lesson for any kind of attempt to do permanent change to your body should be: RESEARCH. Do more than just Googling a few tips and tricks. Look up specifics for your hair type and length. Make sure you know the proper way to hold your hair and section it off, too.

Don’t use kitchen scissors.

LOL guys, this is when I realized this attempt would be more of a fail than anything else. I grabbed trusty scissors that I'd been using to cut open plastic wrappers, boxed packages and sometimes even food – thinking it would be fine to cut my ends with the same tool. I could tell something was off right away, because they weren't slicing my hair as easily as you'd imagine. Not only was it a struggle, but it probably wasn't the safest or healthiest idea to use these on my hair. You can find the right type of hair-cutting shears on Amazon for less than $10, and if you plan to keep up with caring for your hair on your own, it's definitely a great investment. 

Professional Barber Hair Cutting Scissors/Shears (Amazon, $8)

Don’t attempt cutting the back of your hair.

So this might be obvious, but you should only trim the parts of your hair that are super easy to see. I would suggest only trimming the really dry ends because those tend to fall off eventually from breakage. Unless you’ve had a ton of practice or you’ve been well-trained, it can be easy to think you’re cutting a clean line until – you brush your hair out and realize one side is hanging a bit lower than the other.

Make sure you section your hair off as well. You may not think you've left your 'do in layers, but you will when your roommate takes a picture of your hair from the back.

Maybe just go to a professional.

All in all, being able to trim your hair is probably a good life skill to have. If you can keep your hair healthy without needing to go to your hairstylist to cut two inches, you have truly achieved a certain level of greatness. Sadly, if you’re like me and are more likely to cut your side-bangs a bit too short, I’d say to just save the snipping for the pros.

Things may have wrapped up in Rosewood for Lucy Hale, but that doesn’t mean the 29-year-old doesn’t have big things on the horizon. Her Campus had a chance to chat with the former Pretty Little Liars star about her new partnership with Honey Nut Cheerios, what she learned in her 20s (plus, what she's looking forward to in this upcoming third decade of life), her secret tip to becoming everyone’s source of brow envy and more.

Hale recently partnered with Honey Nut Cheerios through the Good Rewards program, along with Michael B. Jordan and Rob Gronkowski. Each celeb chose a charity that resonates with them—the ASPCA for Hale, Feeding America for Jordan and the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation for Gronkowski—and through April, any time you buy a box of Honey Nut Cheerios and scan the “Buzzcoin” on the box, you can vote for your favorite at Beegoodrewards.com.

“I have partnered with Honey Nut Cheerios, and I chose ASPCA,” Hale says, “which is the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And this is really important to me because I'm obviously a huge animal lover, and animals don't always get a voice in something. So, the ASPCA's job is to protect, rescue, and support these sweet little babies.” The ASPCA is the first animal welfare organization in North America who serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals, so we can see why she was drawn to it.

The winner of the Good Rewards program will receive a donation of $100,000 to their chosen charity, but even if Hale doesn’t win, she’s still doing some massive good—the second-place winner’s charity receives a $50,000 donation and whoever comes in third place will still get $25,000. Hale mentioned that even though she’s involved in a super-busy lifestyle (like many of us college women!), Honey Nut Cheerios gave her a fun and easy way to give back.

“For me, it's always about finding something that resonates,” she says of finding causes to support. “You don't have to do everything. I used to think that I had to do everything, but now I've just found programs, or charities, that really speak to me and that's why partnering with Honey Nut Cheerios really made sense because it makes giving back really fun and easy for people that have really busy schedules, or don't know how to give back. This made sense to me—ASPCA really spoke to me. But I think it's more about just finding what works for you, and then it doesn't feel like a job, it just comes naturally.”

Beyond her philanthropic involvement, however, Hale has more excitement coming up in the form of a milestone birthday: the star will turn 30 years old in June. Her 20s saw her get her big break as Aria Montgomery on PLL, so she definitely learned a lot and came into her own over the last decade.

“I think your 20s are all about trial and error, whether it be who you date, how you talk to yourself, the everyday decisions that you make, and you live and you learn,” she says. “I don't have any specific advice, but I would say that 20s are about discovering who you are.”

And what is Hale looking forward to in her 30s? “I'm just gonna own it and love it,” she declares. “I think that you always hear people say, ‘Your 30s are you best years of your life.’ And so I'm looking forward to not worrying as much about the things that I used to worry about.”

Moving on to her 30s also means moving on from the roles of her 20s, however, so if you’re hoping to see Aria return to Rosewood, you may be stuck waiting a while. Even though anticipation is high for the PLL spinoff Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, Hale admits, “As of now, I'm not a part of the spinoff, but I know that a couple of the girls are going to direct, which is very cool.”

Never say never, though: Hale continues, “I have a feeling the show will go for a little bit, so I'm sure you'll see, whether it's me or someone ... You'll see them pop up in the show somewhere.”

Finally, we couldn’t not ask Hale about her amazing eyebrows and see if she has any beauty tips for getting those thick, strong brows she’s known to rock. Her biggest piece of brow advice? “Don't do anything to them. I will occasionally go get them trimmed, but the wilder the better, in my opinion. I don't really tweeze them. I kinda let them grow wild, and always brush them up. Fluffier the better.”

We can’t wait to see what Hale does next—and, based on her upcoming projects, it seems like she has a lot in store: beyond the Good Rewards program, she has at least two movies—A Nice Girl Like You and Unicorn—coming out in 2019, and will soon start filming on Fantasy Island. She’s also keeping her options open, though: “The year is young, so maybe more wonderful things” will happen, she says.

It looks like 2019 is going to be a great year for Lucy Hale.

Lana Condor, star of the beloved Netflix rom-com To All the Boys I've Loved Before, revealed to Jimmy Fallon on Thursday's Tonight Show that the spark we all witnessed between her and her dreamy co-star was genuine.

Condor and Noah Centineo have been praised for their on-screen chemistry, which has made fans question whether any of their fictional feelings transferred over into real life. According to Condor, the potential for that to happen was there from the beginning. She told Fallon that she and Centineo had to make a no-dating pact right from the start, after an adorable-sounding afternoon spent at a hot-yoga class, followed by pizza.

“I felt something,” Condor said. “I looked at him and I was like, ‘Noah, it’s not gonna happen between us.’”

After the audience finished laughing at her very direct approach, the Deadly Class actress continued, “Because I felt that for the show to do well, we had to be best-friend professionals!”

Centineo apparently agreed with her, stating, “Yeah, it’s not gonna happen.” Thus came the dating pact... allow Lana to explain.

According to Condor, the two film stars still share a "spark," but a romance between them is currently off the table. With the second installment of To all the Boys I've Loved Before confirmed, if the series follows the books, there could be a third movie made as well. 

Fallon echoed what most of us seem to be not-so-secretly hoping for, “Then, after the third one, you really fall in love.”

Whether or not the too-cute pair will ever end up being an official couple is up in the air, but we can still dream.

The pursuit of good, comfortable, stylish jeans is one that takes pretty much your entire life. I feel like I've probably tried on 500 pairs of jeans in the last 10 years, only to buy about 10 of them and actually end up wearing two. It's hard to find a good pair of jeans. You need them to be stretchy, but not too stretchy. You don't want them too high-waisted, but you definitely don't want them low-rise (well, I definitely don't). And god forbid you find a wash that isn't absurd.

When you do find a good pair of jeans, you want to share them with the world. But, unfortunately, more often than not when you find a good pair of jeans, they probably don't come in a super wide range so you can share that wisdom with your friends. There's nothing like trying to tell your BFF about a pair of jeans that just rocked your world... and them not coming in a size she can actually wear. So when Warp + Weft, fashion's favorite, new-ish denim line, reached out, we were like, yes, let's do this.

We tried three pairs of their jeans to see if inclusive denim can really, truly be a thing.

Felicity, our Assistant Editor, Gina, our Beauty Editor, and Rachel (me!), our Senior Editor, put these to the test. Because all butts are good butts, and all butts deserve good denim.

But first, let's talk about how cool these are.

Our resident style expert, Felicity, explained, "These jeans are totally approved as a 2019 trend. The wash is unbelievably cool — there’s an acid-wash feel to it without going completely overboard. But I need to address something about these jeans: the one, frayed and ripped back pocket is what really gives these jeans their ~edge~ and I’m SO about it. This edgy detail gives it an unexpected twist that’s most definitely on-trend right now."

Gina, a size 14, tried the JFK Petite Skinny Dorset. 

"OMG the subtle detailing at the end of the jeans looked so good with ankle boots," Gina said. "And I think they’re super transitional from winter to summer as well. I don’t think they’re the edgiest denim I’ve ever seen, but rather a really good staple pair of pants that I’d wear all year round."

Felicity, a size 8, tried the MXP High Rise Legging in Encore.

"Remember those pajama jeans that were a thing for a hot minute? These definitely had that same feel with the stretchy jegging material. Although I love that tight and high-waisted feel, it’s not the most comfortable article of clothing to run your errands in all day. Warp + Weft honestly get it right with their material — and it makes for a completely comfortable jean."

Rachel, a size 10, tried the ICN Wide Leg in Lotus.

"I'm absolutely in love with these jeans. And I hate jeans. Most denim is just way too harsh for me, from the lines they create on your body to the fabric itself. But these felt super soft and gentle. The cut was killer, as I love nothing more than a deconstructed pair of jeans."

How was the fit?

Gina:"I felt soooo stretchy and free. In terms of fit, these are elevated enough to wear to work and out with friends, but they’re also cozy enough that I could see myself lounging in them all day, without feeling stuff. Like, I can bend in these!"

Felicity: "The length was just right on me — the end of the jeans meet my fave pair of ankle boots just perfectly. I recommend sizing down just a bit if you like that tight, high-waisted feel like I do. If you prefer a casual fit, then these jeans are great for keeping it just a little loose and flexible."

Rachel: "I probably should have sized down, as these definitely stretch through the day, but I appreciated how they looked with an oversized sweater, and imagine they'll look very chill and artsy paired with a fitted bodysuit in warmer weather."

How were our butts?

Gina:"I’m 5’ exactly, so I love when a petite jean hits just right and I don’t have to worry about tailoring. They’re totally adaptable to all kinds of curves, and let me work the ~booty~. I love!"

Rachel: "Throughout this shoot, we couldn't stop talking about our butts. They were so happy. Such good butts."

How would you rate the price point here?

Gina:"I’m cheap AF, but definitely willing to drop money on really good denim. I would be first in line to buy these on a sale day, and if I had extra cash would totally splurge on another pair. They’re not unaffordable, but definitely an investment purchase instead of an all-the-time purchase."

Felicity:"If we’re being real, it’s hard for me to spend anything over $50 on one article of clothing. (#ballingonabudget) But I will say that I whole-heartedly believe in investment pieces, and a good pair of jeans that fit you just right is a damn good investment. Knowing how well they fit and how high quality they are, I would definitely buy these IRL if I were looking for another pair of go-to jeans."

Rachel:"I hate shopping for jeans, so when I buy them, I want to buy one pair and keep them for as long as humanly possible. So I'm someone who spends more on denim (probably around $100/pair, sorry guys). These, especially on sale, are super worth it."

LBR: are these really inclusive?

Gina: "Oh, YES. I loved watch the way these jeans worked on editors of all different sizes, and appreciate the range of sizing going up to 24. Also, shoutout to the petite and maternity choices as well."

Felicity: "Giving this three thumbs up for three cute booties that these jeans blessed us with. Not only is their sizing inclusive, but they have so many shapes and fits to please any pants preference."

Rachel: "Absolutely. The range is from 00-24, with maternity and petite. I was so happy with these, and I feel good supporting them." 

Denim on denim is a very big Thing these days, so it's important that we can all find a pair of jeans that we're happy with. We want to feel good in our clothes. It's a simple ask. And brands that allow us to do that by making it possible for us to wear their styles with massive amounts of confidence are clearly leading the way. 

Follow Rachel on Instagram.