Blair Waldorf, AKA Queen B, ruled the Upper East Side of New York City on the hit television series Gossip Girl— and along the way also taught us a lot about life during the course of the show. Blair is smart and well-educated; she attended an elite private prep school. She’s pretty, feisty, sophisticated, driven and ambitious, sarcastic, wealthy and worldly. Blair doesn’t take no for an answer, has a strong sense of confidence, knows her worth and does whatever it takes to achieve what she wants. She is the perfect role model for any female!

Plus she possesses impeccable taste in fashion. Blair’s personal style became iconic, and continues to have many recreating her signature looks. (Her classic headbands, tweed jackets, colored tights, plaid skirts, Louboutin heels, trench coats, pearl earrings and preppy attire ring a bell?!)

As an experiment, I decided to fully live like Blair Waldorf for an entire week and employed a ‘What Would Blair Do?’ mindset. (After all; she is good at making decisions since she has many positive attributes and personality traits.)

As an original Gossip Girl fan from the beginning, I thought this would be fun to try since I have always loved and admired Blair – and already identify with her in certain aspects. (Plus I’ve read all the books, have binge watched the entire series too many times to count and have taken the Gossip Girl sites tour in NYC.)

RELATED: Quiz: Which 'Gossip Girl' Character Are You?

The timing now was perfect because I am a young ambitious female, who lives in New York City and attends a private college on the Upper East Side. It’s very Blair, right? The lifestyle here is fast paced, schedules are always hectic, you’re always striving to obtain goals, events and parties are a constant occurrence, celebrity sightings are inevitable and you are experiencing culture at its prime.

To live like Blair, and fully obtain her mindset, I followed these five steps:

1. Confidence

It is Blair Waldorf who proclaims, “I’m the best of the best. I’m Blair Waldorf.” When you are secure and confident with yourself, you feel better and happier overall in life. You also attract other secure and confident individuals into your life, then you all get along well and empower each other. Blair would cut out anyone from her life who didn’t want her to succeed and be happy – and we all should too. Life is too short to surround yourself with anything less than good people who want you to thrive.

When life got overwhelming and hectic with work, writing, events, and relationships I reminded myself, “I am Katie Gray. People don’t tell me who I am, I tell them.” When you whisper this to yourself in stressful situations you actually do feel better after saying it out loud. It’s like, ‘Oh I was momentarily flustered but I’m back again and I got this, obviously!’

At the end of the day, we all work hard so we do in fact have this! (Seriously, we can handle any situation thrown at us in life. Also, remember it’s the struggles that make it interesting and keep us humble and grateful.)

2. Fashion

Every day is a fashion show and the world is the runway – especially when you live in New York City and are in a Blair Waldorf State of Mind. New York is the epitome for fashion here in the United States. It’s where Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week famously takes place every September and February, and it’s where every major fashion magazine publication is located. Blair and fashion go together hand in hand.

To be like Blair, I did as she would do. I never said no to a shopping invitation, I dressed preppy and chic, I took the train as little as possible since she despises it, I wouldn’t purchase anything on sale and I avoided anything that was so last season. (Remember when Blair was interviewing new minions and with a dissatisfied facial expression, asked the girl, “Are those last season’s Tory Burch flats?!”)

“Whoever said that money doesn’t buy happiness, didn’t know where to shop.” – Blair Waldorf

It was all about accessories this week. Blair’s infamous headbands are symbolic because they are like her crown and tiara she puts on every morning. Her fashion dictates her mood and mine did too. When she’s feeling down she wears hats, capes and ponchos. When she is trying to be extra mature and seem older she wears oversized pearl earrings, argyle, turtle necks and tweed. When the weather is nice and she is happy she wears bright colors. She also always rocks a defined bold lip, so I did too and purchased MAC’s Cyber, Russian Red and Angel lip shades. She likes little black dresses and always looks chic and conservative at parties – which are matched with jewels. So I wore black dresses with Blair inspired accessories and makeup tones.

Although we all aren’t as fortunate as Blair to have a never ending source of income to buy designer goods, a fashion designer mother, a boyfriend like Chuck Bass to buy us expensive jewelry and a bestfriend/housekeeper like her Dorota – we can still channel our inner Blair!

3. Go-Getter

Blair is constantly striving and she is notorious for being a go-getter. Some of her fantasies and goals have included: Joining the Peace Corps, getting a killer tan, winning the Nobel Peace Prize and having dinner with the President of the United States. Hey, a girl has to dream, right?! I focused solely this week on making things that I wanted happen and did whatever made me happy. As Blair says, “Destiny is for losers. It’s just a stupid excuse to wait for things to happen instead of making them happen.”

RELATED: This Is What "Gossip Girl" Would Be Like If It Was Set In 2016

We have to take matters into our own hands. That means pursuing everything we want, taking care of our own business, researching everything ourselves and constantly learning. That’s how Blair knows absolutely everything about everyone. (I didn’t conduct any blackmailing and spying like she has been known to do from time to time, though! It’s best to avoid, if possible.) But B is right, “If you really want something you don’t stop for anyone or anything, until you get it."

4. Determination & Affirmations

If Blair is anything, it is determined. She never lets anything or anyone get in the way of her dreams, goals and desires. This alone is a great message for everyone to remember and encompass. I made sure to not let anyone interfere with my goals and visions. I made sure to channel this while I was interning in the beauty department of a public relations firm in the city and freelance writing all week.

Sometimes Blair can be extreme, such as her remark, “You can’t make people love you but you can make them fear you.” However; she has a point – we can’t put our focus on what people will think. We just have to be ourselves and the right ones will love us and the ones who don’t – it’s their loss.

Blair is willing to do whatever it takes in order to reach her achievements and has been seen reading ‘The Art of War’ by Sun Tzu. In my quest to be more Blair like I read the book this week. I actually already had a copy of it because it’s a classic, I’m a bookworm and I had noticed Blair had read it on the show when I was in high school so it was on my reading list for a while. I get what the buzz is about, there are good tactics listed to winning any type of war or endeavor. It was not only Sun Tzu, but Blair, who taught me that with determination and perseverance we can be successful at anything we put forth our minds and efforts too.

That means when people try to rain on our parade and be negative, you have to shut it right down and not let it bother you. This week when people were being even the slightest bit discouraging, I ignored it and kept calm and carried on. I remembered what Blair would say to anyone who tried to doubt her or stop her from achieving her dreams

We all need to remember our worth. It's just like Blair explains, “I’m not a stop along the way. I’m a destination.” This particularly comes into context when dealing with interpersonal relationships. Blair is right, “A girl wants Romeo, not Hamlet.” She’s also right that, we all need a 'Knight in Shining Armani'. But when they aren’t up to par and don’t know how to treat us the way we know we deserve we have to remember Blair, “My life is so bountiful, I don’t need a boyfriend to feel fulfilled.”

5. Blair’s Favorite Things

This week I indulged in all of Blair’s favorites. That means I watched the beautiful classic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, ate macarons and Godiva, partook in quintessential New York activities like brunch at Bagatelle, looked religiously at fashion magazines, focused on my college goals, hung out with my best friends (constantly dragging them on adventures with me) and read many novels including 'The Art of War'.

RELATED: 15 Signs You Should've Ended Up with Chuck Bass

I also went to places that Blair frequents and would approve of, such as: Central Park, the Met (and sat on those famous steps like Blair did every morning of her high school years), Henri Bendel, the Empire Hotel for drinks, Lavo for dinner, etc. I made sure I drank a gin martini, as Blair prefers. (Remember when she scolded Little Jenny Humprhey and explained, “This is a Gin Martini. As it should be.”)

At the end of the day, we must:

You’ve picked out the perfect swimsuit. You’ve been working on your bikini bod for the past few weeks and planning your trip for the last six months. It’s time for spring break… and a new guy pool! Between the sunny days and breezy nights, there is plenty of mingling to be done. Here are five guys you are sure to meet on your sun-soaked adventure this spring.

1. The Straggler

He’s cute and he’s charming, but you’re not exactly sure who he is. You’re not sure whom he came with or whom he knows, but he always seems to be there. Most likely wearing a cheesy graphic tee with mismatched swim trunks, he’s made friends with you and all your friends, but his origins are still unknown.

Oddly loveable, this fellow is always down for adventure. Because he doesn’t seem to have a group of his own to coordinate with, he is up for anything. Boogie boarding, parasailing—the sky is the limit! His nomadic air and adventurous spirit make him the perfect party pal. Just don’t be surprised if he’s a part of your posse one day and gone the next.

2. The Party Animal

This guy stands out among the throng of bros chilling in the sun. Wearing Chacos, pastel swim trunks and a visor, he’ll be the one egging you on to bong the next beer. Feel free to decline his generous offer.

There’s no such thing as “taking a break” for this wild child. He’s ready to have the sickest week of his life, and he wants everyone to have the same experience. This ringleader is a great guy to know because he will always know the hottest party spots and will even have backup plans in case the destination turns out to be a dud.

Whether he’s rallying the troops at the end of the night to have another beer or searching for his Ray Bans the next morning because he went a little too hard, you’ll recognize this guy. And the party’s not over until he says it’s over.

3. The Guy Who’s Just Along for the Ride

This guy is the epitome of what it means to “tag along.” Spring break sounded like an interesting concept back in October when his friends first talked to him about flocking south. He figured hitting the beach would be more fun than spending a week at home getting ahead on upcoming assignments. This guy just wants to see what all the hype is about.

You can find this dude toward the back of the pack, soaking up the experience without getting directly involved, wearing an understated, plain, white T-shirt and sun-faded swim trunks from last summer. Comfort and mobility are his style goals; he never knows what his friends may try to get him to do.

While he may be a little more hesitant to join in the fun simply because he’s out of his element, that doesn’t mean he won’t try. You may have to be the one to offer him a drink instead of the other way around, but once you get him warmed up, he’ll be the life of the party in no time.

4. The Townie

A bunch of college kids coming to the beach for a week of lighthearted decadence is only appealing to one type of guy: The Townie. This guy lives for spring break season, when thousands of girls flock to his local beach.

A tad older than the rest of your crowd, he has this inviting, casual air around him. His intriguing, legitimately vintage T-shirt and hemp necklace almost allow you to forgive him for wearing khaki cargo pants. Almost.

For him, you are part of a new, transient babe pool, and he is ready to dive in. This is his spring break as much as it is yours. From late nights at the bar to casual walks on the boardwalk, this is his chance to show you what his town really has to offer. He’ll probably offer to teach you how to surf or invite you to dine with him at the best sushi restaurant in town.

While he may occasionally be sporting a “been there, done that” expression on his face, the opportunity for him to show off in his element is sure to make him come alive.

5. The Creepy Old Guy

This guy is a spring break staple. An older, slightly creepier version of the townie, this leathery local seems to always be conveniently sunning himself wherever you and your friends are at the beach.

While he may be wearing clothes that don’t fit his age (or his beer belly), he’s a potentially harmless, people-watching local just trying to catch some rays. He even told you about the local diner where you can get the cheapest, most delicious late-night food in town. But he may cross a line when he steps up to shotgun the next beer with your guy friends. Just casually laugh and find an excuse to walk away… Oh! Is that a bird eating the turkey wrap you left out on your towel?!

The guys you meet on spring break are one of a kind, and they always spice up any situation. No matter what their type may be, if you feel comfortable hanging out with them, go for it. It’s spring break, and the week is full of surprises!

It may be cold out now, but collegiettes everywhere are cuddled up under their blankets with visions of spring break dancing around in their heads. If your choice of vacation spot is the beach, you'll need to stay hydrated. What better way to get rid of the winter blues than by customizing your own water jug?

1. Monogrammed Lilly Jug

Don't think you can freehand this on your own? Use patterned duct tape or print out your favorite pattern on adhesive paper!

2. American Flag Bottle

How patriotic! This is one bottle you'll want to use all summer long. 

3. Floral Perfection

Adding flowers to pretty much anything takes it from drab to fab! Here's your proof.

4. Ombre

Obtaining this ombre look is so much easier than you think. Just find three coordinating colors and blend them together—you're set!

5. Custom Big/Little Jugs

Going on a trip with your big? Surprise her with these adorable customized water jugs!

6. Beachy Keen

This tropical design should get you in the spring break spirit.

7. Aztec Print Bottle

Bright colors and a creative design like this one will make your water jug impossible to misplace.

8. Black & White

Keep it elegant with this chic black and white design, which wouldn't be complete without a pop of pink.

9. Chevron

A chevron pattern will jazz up your water bottle with little to no effort.

10. Vineyard Vines Jug

This jug will put all of your friends' store-bought bottles to shame.

11. Sorority Bottles

Start with plain black water bottles; then, use paint makers to customize. It's that simple!

12. Teal Dream

This classy pattern will add some charm to any water bottle.

13. Color Blocking

Elevate your bottle with this color blocking design, which proves two very different hues can lead to the cutest craft.

14. Bedazzled Vera Bottle

This bottle has the perfect combination of sparkle and color, don't you think?

15. Monogrammed Koozies

Make your own koozies so you can keep your water as cold as possible while you're relaxing on the beach!

Kylie Jenner certainly isn't shy when it comes to launching new endeavors. From her beyond popular Lip Kits to her recent foray into filmmaking, the youngest Kardashian is adding even more to her list of skills: chef extraordinaire.

The first episode in her cooking show appeared on her app and website earlier this week, and we get to watch her whip up some candied yams—a favorite of hers, she says. 

"Cooking is very therapeutic," she says in the video.

So what will you need to make Kylie's recipe? Lots of organic ingredients:

• Organic yams
• Organic brown sugar
• Organic orange juice
• Organic ground cinnamon
• Organic coconut oil
• Salt
• Marshmallows
• Aunt Jemima maple syrup

We have to admit, our mouths are watering just thinking of this concoction.

Emma's life was completely normal when she went to the dentist to have her wisdom teeth removed. But when she woke up, still loopy from the anethesia, she thought she was Kylie Jenner.

The hilarious video, shot by Emma's mom, shows the teenage girl reevaluating her life as Kylie Jenner... perhaps because her lips were still swollen from the dental procedure? Regardless, she goes on a 3-minute roller coaster of emotions, coming to terms with being Kim Kardashian's half sister and the daughter of Kris and Caitlyn Jenner.

"You're Kris Jenner and my dad is Caitlyn," she tells her mom. Her mom asks, "Is that a bad thing?" Emma responds in tears, "I don't know!"

It was so much information for Emma to process, she didn't even realize her mouth was bleeding. The anethesia eventually wore off and she assumed her normal identity, but we wonder if she has any recollection of her brief experience as Kylie Jenner.

Your twenties are a time to reinvent yourself—and have fun doing it. Whether you think you have your life figured out or you’ve just decided that you want to switch gears, being in your twenties is a learning period. It’s a time when collegiettes are graduating college, sending out job applications to dream companies, and decorating grown-up apartments. While being a twentysomething can be exciting, it can also be a bit confusing. As long as you cut these ten things out of your life, you’ll be in good shape!

1. Comparing yourself to others

Some of your friends may have become teachers while others decided that medical school was the best route to take. Whatever the case, try not to compare yourself to them. It’s hard to focus on yourself and your accomplishments when everyone else’s successes are so publicly displayed—especially in regards to social media. But remember that outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram usually only show one side of the story: the positive side. Don’t be hard on yourself if you haven’t landed your dream job just yet or you haven’t found a relationship with someone you think is marriage material. Your twenties are a time to try new things and learn from past mistakes, so do your best to focus on what you have accomplished.

2. Relying on your parents for everything

Now that you’re in your twenties, it’s time to start taking over your own life admin. If you don’t already, start by taking care of your own laundry, paying for your cell phone, and making your own doctor’s and dentist appointments. Your parents will definitely notice your initiative to take more responsibility and, in turn, will treat you like the (awesome) adult you are.

3. Procrastinating

It’s one thing to take a break here and there. It’s another thing entirely to sit in your pajamas, day in and day out. Procrastination leads to last-minute stress and being lazy leads to an inactive lifestyle—both of which are hard to shake once they’ve become routine! In order to avoid procrastinating, prioritize your tasks by creating a to-do list and following through. There is no better feeling than crossing things off of that list… like finally buying matching place settings so that you can properly entertain guests in your grown-up apartment.

4. Sleeping in until noon every weekend

When was the last time you woke up in the middle of the afternoon with a raging hangover? Hopefully, the answer to that is college, because when you’re a functioning adult, you just don’t have the time to sleep the day away. Even if you’re not working full-time yet, don’t make a habit of sleeping late in the morning. The more you stay in bed, the harder it is to get up and start your day. Sleep is good for you, but getting too much can have an adverse effect on your system, making you feel tired, sluggish and even depressed. Use the morning hours to exercise, plan out your day or week, read a book, or complete a project that you’ve been putting off. Get up early, make the most of your day, and we just might grant you a well-deserved afternoon nap

5. Going to your pediatrician

Between applying to colleges, graduating high school, and starting your freshman year at a new university, you probably didn’t think about switching from a pediatrician to adult primary care physician when you first left home; and chances are, that hasn’t changed much. While there is no set age for pediatricians to stop seeing patients, most child doctors recommend that you start seeing an adult physician by the time you turn 21. We know it’s hard to kiss your pediatrician’s fun (not to mention colorful) waiting room goodbye, but it’s time to switch that fire truck examining table for the real deal.  Do your research, and don’t settle on a new doctor before ensuring he or she is in network with your health insurance!

6. Binge drinking

Let’s face the facts: they may have been fun while they lasted, but those late night drinking and keg parties shouldn’t be regular occurrences in your life anymore. We’ll give you a free pass when you visit your college town with your besties to relive your glory days, but other than that, they should be avoided! Hangovers get worse as you get older because your body not only changes, but your tolerance becomes lower as well. In a time when everything goes on social media, future employers who are looking deeper into potential candidates’ lives don’t want to see how much alcohol a graduette is capable of consuming. While it’s certainly okay to drink socially and have a few cocktails with friends and co-workers, don’t overdo it and revert back to your crazy college days. We’re sure no one misses wandering around the sticky floors of a college bar or running into your ex on frat row when you’ve had one too many. If there’s ever a time to reevaluate your alcoholic consumption, it’s when you hit your twenties.

7. Being afraid of new opportunities

Trying new things can be scary, and there’s no shame in feeling that way. It’s a natural response to feel nervous and jittery, but if you do find yourself fearful every time you try something, catch yourself. Do your best to turn your feelings of fear into a positive learning experience. Whether that’s starting a brand new job or traveling to a different part of the world, be confident in yourself and everything you do. Need a boost? Stand up straight, adopt an “I can do this” attitude, and think positively about yourself. The more sure you are of what you’re doing, the more confident you’ll be when venturing into new areas.

8. Eating pizza for dinner… every night

We know you love a good pizza night every now and then (who doesn’t?!), but you should probably limit the junk food you eat late at night, and the amount of unhealthy food you eat all together. Without the convenience of a dining hall, we know how hard it can be to eat three proper meals a day, but we promise it’s doable! Start by going to the grocery store and stocking up on fresh ingredients to work with; and if you don’t have time to cook every night during the week, spend your weekends whipping up food that’ll last you an entire workweek. Bonus: Eating right is a great excuse to browse Pinterest for fun healthy recipes!

9. Putting your style on the back-burner

In college, it was totally acceptable to wear leggings as pants or slippers to the library—everybody did it. And while you’re totally free to lounge in sweats in the comfort of your own home, wearing gym clothes in public because you don’t feel like putting on real clothes isn’t something you should be doing regularly. We know the importance of being comfortable while running errands, so there’s no need to look like a runway model every time you leave the house—but you should still look polished (we recommend boyfriend jeans and espadrilles!). Oh, and putting your hair in a top-knot to hide the fact that you haven’t showered? Use only in case of emergencies.

10. Inviting that hottie from the bar back to your apartment before learning his or her name

Dating in your twenties can be a daunting task. Finding places to meet people and being open to new opportunities are great places to start, but you should probably learn more about your potential boyfriend or girlfriend than what a good kisser they are before bringing them home. Be picky with whomever you choose to pursue a relationship with because they just may be meeting your parents someday. Not looking to settle down yet? You don’t have to give up those one-night stands! Just make sure you know enough about your fling to invite him or her home (for safety’s sake!) since you don’t have college besties to vouch for that person!

Whether you’re just starting your twenties, or you’re mid-way through, remember these are the years to make the full switch to adulthood. We’ll let those hot pockets you have for lunch every day slide, but stop having your mom stick them in the microwave for you.

Dancing the night away for an amazing cause PLUS walking away with two round trip tickets for the vaca of your dreams? Sounds good to us! Two American Airlines certificates redeemable for 25,000 AAdvantage miles (the equivalent of 2 round trip tickets!) a piece are up for grabs — just register for Boston's The Jimmy Fund Dance Party presented by Capital One to win!

The Jimmy Fund Dance Party presented by Capital One is a 12-hour, overnight event that raises money for exceptional cancer care and research. The event will take place on Saturday, April 2 from 8:00 P.M. until Sunday, April 3 at 8:00 A.M. at The Castle at Boston Park Plaza.  Register online with the promo code HERCAMPUS, and join us for a night of dancing, zumba, yoga, contests and more—all for a great cause!

Ready to dance your way to a fabulous vacation? Register now to win!

Jimmy Fund Dance Party

If you’re up on your pop culture news, you know that recently, actresses and actors including Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis and Bradley Cooper have addressed the gender-based wage gap and overall lack of female opportunity (further multiplied for women of color) that exists in Hollywood. After all, Patricia Arquette’s Oscars speech on the rampant sexism in the entertainment industry did result in this iconic Meryl Streep moment:

Hoping to explain this phenomenon that is contributing to the suppression of women and their talents, Cosmopolitanrecently spoke with a Hollywood agent (a woman who asked to remain anonymous) who went over possible reasons women are earning less than men for roles of equal breadth and skill.

In the interview, the agent speaks to some of the systemic forces of inequality that are in action when actresses and actors negotiate movie contracts, and how these forces result in conditions and stories like those exposed by the Sony hack.

“Women all across the board are just not valued,” she outright states. This makes it easy for production companies on the other end of negotiations to back out of deals with actresses that they consider to be asking for too much; production companies regard actresses as easily replaced. From their point of view “there’s no one like [Leonardo DiCaprio, but] Jennifer Lawrence, you just get someone else.”

In order to combat this problem, the agent suggests that female actors need to stand their ground in salary negotiations and that filmmakers need to create female roles that are simply better. Women in movies need to have roles that equal those of their male counterparts in terms of screen time, presence and plot necessity. Women need to be offered more main character roles, and these roles need to have greater depth.

As stated by the agent, “it’s better for creativity if you allow different diversity of storytelling.” Hollywood needs to take heed of this call and learn from those who are speaking out. Until the opportunities for women in entertainment are made equal, it is a simple fact that the quality of the products Hollywood is selling us will remain subpar.

A tweet by @PopCrave went viral after it apparently dug up one of Dr. Luke's tweets from 2009. What's the big deal? It shows a photo of Kesha sleeping with the caption, "Damn my artists work hard!!!!!!!!" In light of recent events involving Kesha and her record producer Dr. Luke, this tweet just feels... wrong. What makes it worse is that Dr. Luke has gone back to delete it from his Twitter feed.

Yes—this means that first, he had to have remembered tweeting the photo out all those years ago. Then, he would have had to go back all the way to his tweets from 2009—a task that must've taken forever—to find the tweet. This has #FreeKesha supporters wondering what in the world he was trying to hide? It's giving us the creeps just to think about it.

Students, faculty, and alumni of the mostly-white Fairfield University criticized an off-campus party that had a “ghetto” theme, calling it "embarrassing," according to The New York Times. People who attended the party Saturday night allegedly wore brown makeup and baggy clothing.

The president of Fairfield University, Reverend Jeffrey P. von Arx, denounced the party.

“To some within our community, this incident is symptomatic of conditions on campus that inhibit our many positive efforts to build a more inclusive, respectful and safer community,” said Father von Arx in an email statement to students.

 Jennifer Anderson, a university spokeswoman, told the Times, “The university is dedicated to continuing cultural diversity on campus…we’ll learn from this.” Although university officials and residents were surprised by the event, many of the students were not.

“Even though the school is becoming more diverse, the students aren’t being integrated well,” junior Juanita Rainey said in an interview with CT News Junkie. 

Fairfield University has around 5,000 students—78 percent of the full-time undergrads were white.

“I think there are more people adding to the diversity of the campus, but it’s definitely not a diverse campus," an unnamed student told the Times.

The party was held at a house near Fairfield beach, according to Ctpost.com. The university insists that the students, whether on or off campus, are held to the same high standards as always. When are people going to learn that these racist parties are not okay?

Richmond University Medical Center, the hospital that sent paramedics to treat Eric Garner, has agreed to pay his family a settlement of $1 million. Garner's death was one of many killings of unarmed black men and women that helped spark the Black Lives Matter movement.

Garner died in July 2014, after NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo put him in an illegal chokehold while attempting to arrest Garner for selling cigarettes. A witness videotaped the incident, capturing Garner's last words: "I can’t breathe." Although he was struggling for breath, the two EMTs and two paramedics sent by the hospital did little to help Garner, according to the New York Daily News.

“The EMTs did not conduct the appropriate examination [of Garner, and]…failed to provide him with the necessary life-saving procedures,” the court documents read. All four of the emergency responders were temporarily suspended but have since returned to regular duties. 

According to BuzzFeed News, even though the New York medical examiner declared his death a homicide, Pantaleo was not indicted by a grand jury.

This payment was separate from the $5.9 million settlement that the Garner family reached with New York City in July.

It's been a long time since the 2009 VMAs, when Kanye West stole the stage from Taylor Swift—but just when we thought the two had buried the hatchet, the drama is starting up all over again.

The most recent incident comes in the form of a Kanye song, "Famouse," where his lyrics read, "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. I made that bitch famous." Although it's as good as been denied, Kanye is stillclaiming that Taylor approved of the lyrics. During a nightclub appearance on Tuesday night, TMZ caught a video of Kanye ranting (or, in other words, being Kanye), claiming that in response to those controversial lyrics, she said, "Ooooh, I like that line."

As if putting words in Taylor's mouth wasn't enough, he went on to diss her Grammys acceptance speech, where Taylor had addressed the issue.

"Then she won her award and said something completely different. She ain't cool no more. She had two seconds to be cool and she fucked it up," Kanye shouted into his mic at his club appearance. We don't know about you, but... we're pretty sure it's the other way around.

Camille Cosby has been married to her husband Bill Cosby for 52 years, and earlier this week was forced by law to give a deposition in the case against him.  

For those of us that don’t understand legal terms, a deposition is just a type of testimony that takes place outside of a court room. With decades of marriage between her and Bill, Camille’s testimony is probably jam packed with information.

No biggie, right? Spending seven hours answering questions about your husband's sexual misconduct must be a breeze!

For the past three years, we’ve heard numerous allegations made against Bill Cosby, with over 50 women saying that he sexually assaulted them. The civil lawsuit involves only seven of these women, against whom Cosby filed a countersuit in December. Thus, we end up here, with Camille Cosby forced to give a deposition against her husband, even though her lawyers have been trying to fight it.

According to ABC News, the U.S. District Judge in charge of the case, Mark Mastrioanni, decided that Camille would not have to answer any questions that would be protected by Massachusetts’s marital disqualification rule, which protects a person’s right to not have to disclose intimate conversations they had with their spouse.

Throughout the seven-hour deposition, Camille only actually spent about two and half hours answering questions, since so much time was taken to determine what she could and couldn’t be asked as Bill Cosby’s wife and business partner, according to USA Today.

Camille has always stood in constant support of her husband, and it will be interesting to see what parts of her deposition will become public knowledge. 

Adele has just joined the list of celebrities offering their support to Kesha, and in a very public way. When she took the stage to accept her award for best British solo artist—the first award for the night—she took a moment to dedicate her thoughts to Kesha, saying, "I'd also like to take this moment to publicly support Kesha."

Interestingly enough, Adele is also signed to Sony, the label that Kesha is trying to get out of a contract from on the grounds of sexual assault by one of its producers, Dr. Luke. It seems that Adele's support—as well as the support of many artists and celebrities—has not gone unnoticed. Just hours ago, Kesha posted a heartfelt message to her fans and supporters on her Facebook page, where she noted, "Other entertainers who knowingly put their own careers at stake by supporting me, I will be forever grateful."

You can read her full post below:

A new vaginal ring might be able to prevent HIV transmission in women. That's AMAZING news!

According to Cosmopolitan, a trial was done in which 2,600 sub-Saharan African women wore a vaginal ring that released the drug dapivirine over a sustained amount of time. The goal of the ring is to help women prevent the contraction of HIV from their sexual partners.  Currently, over 35 million people are infected with HIV, and more than half of those people are women—So basically, we really need this.

The study showed that protection wasn’t entirely complete, but there is a lot of potential despite that. The ring's efficiency had a lot to do with the age of the woman wearing it, and ladies on the younger side has a less positive result that could be attributed to a number of causes. Overall there was only a 27 percent decrease in infection rates, but that's still a huge step for women's agency, especially if their partners won't wear condoms. Even if there's still a long way to go, this ring is an exciting development.

“I remember talking with some of the participants in Zimbabwe part way through the study, and they would say, ‘This ring is mine’. There was ownership of the ring because she could control it,” Jared Beaten, the co-author of the study, said in an interview with The New York Times. It’s good to have something that’s ours, especially since the ring only costs $5, and can stay in for up to four weeks. Much easier than one-pill-a-day birth control, for example.

Since the trial is now finished, experts are going to be getting together in March to plan out future research for this precious little vaginal ring. We can’t wait to see what happens next!

We’ve all had a toxic friend—whether it was back on the playground in elementary school, during the terrible middle school years or even more recently. Toxic friends are never healthy, and they can trap you in a dysfunctional relationship that you might not even want to be in. But have you ever considered that you might be a toxic friend? If you think your friendships are a little bit rocky but can’t quite put your finger on the source, you might want to take a look at yourself. Here are six signs that you may be a toxic friend.

1. You’re never wrong

If you have a hard time admitting you’re wrong, you might be making your relationship hard on your friends. It’s good to feel right, but if you find that your friends are exasperated during discussions—which seem more like arguments—you may be making your friendships more difficult than they need to be.

Abbie Doward, a senior at the University of Florida, says she was once friends with a girl who never admitted to being wrong. “If I ever tried to bring up an issue I had with her, she could never admit a wrongdoing or take responsibility for anything,” she says.

Be sure you’re taking responsibility for your words and actions. If you find that you can’t admit your faults and wrongdoings, you may be toxic to your relationships. Next time you get frustrated when things don’t line up the way you want them to, ask yourself if you’re being too stubborn—and why.

Related: 9 College Women Get Real About the Worst Thing They've Done to a Female Friend

2. You get jealous of friends

It’s normal to get jealous of friends from time to time—especially if they, say, ran into Chris Pine on the street or got a new Kate Spade handbag for their birthday. But if you find yourself constantly getting jealous of friends over small, relatively meaningless things, you might want to take a step back and evaluate.

Abbie says her toxic friend was also jealous of anyone else she spent time with. “If I made plans with other friends/people, she would be angry if I didn't include her or tell her about it,” says Abbie. “She had to be involved and included in everything. She would say I was trying to cut her out and ostracize her if I made plans to hang out with a friend we both knew, which was totally untrue.”

If you often envy your friends—especially your friends’ friends—take a moment and try to figure out why. You could be feeling jealous because of your own insecurities or if you’re not feeling confident in your current friendships. If you’re causing tension within your friendship because you’re jealous of simple things, you may be a toxic friend.

3. You’re self-centered

It’s understandable to prioritize your own needs, but in order to keep up a healthy friendship, you need to care about your friends. It goes without saying that a one-sided friendship is an unhealthy one.

Abbie says her friend “talked endlessly over and over about her own problems and issues and stories and didn't take the time to ask me about my day or my issues.” In this case, she was focused on herself and didn’t have the time, or the interest, to hear about her friends.

It’s easy to get caught up in your own problems, so make sure you’re making a point of reaching out to friends about their own lives. Ask what’s been going on, keep up with their lives and spend time with them regularly. If you find that you’re genuinely not interested in your friends’ lives, you could be making your relationships unhealthy.

4. You talk about friends behind their backs

In large groups of friends, the conversation can often lead to discussing mutual friends. And while it isn’t bad to discuss friends, it’s another thing to talk behind someone’s back.

“I would say that you can tell someone is a toxic friend when you feel like they are going to talk about you behind your back,” says Bridget Higgins, a junior at UMass Amherst. “In my case, mutual friends came forward and told me about the things my ‘friend’ would say about me when I wasn't around,” says Bridget. “She even talked about a lot of secrets I told her!”

Next time you’re about to share a piece of gossip about a good friend, try to hold yourself back. Being manipulative is mean-spirited and can have a negative effect on other people, so make sure to remain genuine. If you have a problem with a friend, try to deal with it one-on-one.

5. Your friends aren’t a priority

With school, work and family time (and probably more) already on your plate, it’s understandable if your social life has to sit on the back burner every once in a while—but it shouldn’t be happening regularly. In order to keep up a good relationship with your friends, you should be treating your friendship as something that’s important to you.

“Another type of toxic friend are those who do not make your friendship a priority, or don't seem to put in as much effort as they should,” says Ariel Vaisbort, a third-year at Western University. A one-way friendship is no fun for anyone, so make sure you keep that from developing. Ensure that you’re always showing your friends that they’re important to you. And if you don’t consider them a priority, you’re probably making the friendship a little toxic and definitely one-sided.

6. You act differently around other people

It’s natural to act differently around other people, but if you find yourself acting like night and day around your friends, you might be coming off a little two-faced. It’s one thing to behave differently around your parents and family than you do around your best friends, but when you’re changing aspects of your personality when certain people are around, you might be crossing a line.

Try to remain genuine in your friendships and be your truest self around everyone. We all act a little differently when new friends or significant others are around, but try to remain true to yourself in all situations. If you’re being yourself, you cut out the risk of being ingenuine and manipulative.

It’s easy to go on in a friendship without thinking that you’re causing any problems. But if you find that your relationships are in uncertain waters lately and can’t quite identify why you’re feeling this way, consider taking a look at yourself first—you may be the toxic friend. 

In every social scene, there is an extrovert -- and where there's an extrovert, there's a party going on. Extroverts are quick, curious and always live in the moment. It's not all peaches and cream, though. As a frequent rider of the extrovert struggle bus, there are quite a few very real drawbacks every outgoing person can relate to.

1. There's nothing holding us back.

It's like the laws of physics and social standards do not apply. We're loud, proud and can't help it.

2. We must introduce ourselves.

It's not that we need to meet everyone in the world, we just -- well, actually, yep. That's the goal.

3. Our faces are always "on."

Without even realizing it, extroverts snap into this expression comparable to a mix of Katie Couric mid-interview and Miss America hopefuls. 

4. Low-key is not a part of our vocabulary.

If we like your shirt, we're going to tell you. Then, we're going to ask you where you got it and about that time your mom lost you in that store and how that was the moment you discovered your passion for fashion and that's why you're applying for an internship at Cosmo in their beauty department and now they know your whole life story. 

5. There is no shutting us down.

Don't you dare try and rain on our parade!

6. Many extroverts tend to be crude.

If we don't think you're ready for this jelly, we'll tone it down. But don't get salty if you run into a sass master with a sailor's mouth.

7. Empathy runs deep.

Even if we have not been in your situation, we will try our best to understand what you're going through and be at your side until smoother tides ride in. The problem? We tend to get sucked into the drama of it all.

8. We often recognize people who don't recognize us.

Since making connections is our life motive, we won't forget a face. Whether it's someone we met five minutes ago or five years ago, we know who you are. And reciprocity is not always the case.

9. Emotions, emotions, emotions!

Don't come 'round here with that Marley & Me business unless you're ready for a world of waterworks.

10. If an extrovert isn't bouncing off the walls at all times, people assume there's something wrong.

A typical scenario: "Oh no, are you okay? Are you sick?""What? No, I'm just not smiling.""You can tell me. I'm here for you.""I'm just sleepy!"

11. We get way too close to strangers.

The deli guy? Know him. That man on the bench? His daughter's studying international relations in Prague. The lady at the front desk? She's currently on day 10 of her detox and she has an uncontrollable craving for chocolate, but taking magnesium pills has helped.

12. We can't sit still in waiting rooms.

What parks are to dogs is what waiting rooms are to extroverts. So many conversations to be had, but so many boundaries that could be overstepped.

13. Family gatherings mean nonstop cacophony.

If you think one extrovert is a handful, try keeping up with a whole gaggle of them. Who knew people could be so big on small talk?

14. Introverted people are frustrating.

Try as we might, it's hard to enjoy conversing with an introvert. The challenge to open them up is intriguing, but usually results in a one-sided lecture.

15. Sore throats are the worst.

After a long day of gabbing, the ol' chatterbox gets worn out. Don't even get me started on laryngitis. 

You hear so much about feminism — but why does it really matter and why do we need it?

We asked 7 college women why feminism matters to them, and why society still needs it.

“We've made progress. Everyone can acknowledge that, but is it enough? The answer is no. Progress shouldn't indicate the waning or ‘calming down’ of feminism, equality should, and there is no denying that we still have endless miles to go. Feminism is a necessity for this path to justice. We need to remember that there exists a world outside of the United States. We need to examine the fight for women's rights from a global perspective. In Miryang, South Korea in 2004 several middle school girls were raped over and over again by 41 high school boys. They were later shamed because they, ‘embarrassed his hometown.’ Female genital mutilation is still ongoing. So is bride kidnapping. Until we radically transform the society's ideological view of women as objects, as weak and as lacking, we need feminism more than ever.”

-Grace, New York University Class of 2019

“We need feminism because the children of our world are being raised into forms decided for them. We need feminism because the societal gender roles established define them before they even know how to use their thoughts and voices.”

-Daphne, Gettysburg College Class of 2019

RELATED: What it Means to Be a Feminist in College

“Feminism brings to light inequality on a daily basis. Many guys say that the 73 cents to every dollar is because men do jobs that pay more but those statistics are based off of women and men in the same field. I shouldn't have to work harder than a man in order to make the same amount of money. If that is the case why don't I get to go to college for 73 cents for every guy’s dollar? Feminism is important because it is a platform for women to speak up and say that we are not ok with being second.”

-Marissa, University of Utah Class of 2018

“I think we need feminism because all humans deserve equal opportunity, plain and simple. We may not all come to desire the exact same things, or all be on the same moral plane and thus not earn the same opportunities, but we all fundamentally deserve the same opportunity as all other humans. Feminism is rooted in women's movements, but it has grown to be a hugely intersectional effort that cannot be interpreted or captured in one unified way, and is up to each individual to embody and act upon. Whether or not you call it feminism, the world needs it.”

-Katie, University of British Columbia Class of 2016

“We need feminism because it's 2016 and presidential frontrunners are demeaning to women. A certain candidate boasted that ‘women left the kitchen’ to go vote for him. Another has even gone so far as, to quote a tweet on Twitter, saying, "If Hillary can't satisfy her husband, what makes you think she can satisfy America?" Even if politics isn't your cup of tea, we need feminism because the pay gap between men and women for doing the exact same work is still evidently clear. Furthermore, Women feel less inclined to report their rapes because only 2% of reported rapist serve jail time. Women who do step forward and report a rape are microscopically picked apart to see how ‘perfect’ of a victim they are. Additionally, men who are clueless about the needs of women in regards to health are regulating the laws on healthcare. They remain devoted to defunding Planned Parenthood, despite the array of beneficial and needed services they provide. While abortions only account for 3% of their services, these men would rather eliminate the service in total, because they know what's best for a woman, right?”

-Kayla, Kennesaw State University Class of 2018

RELATED: 39 Reasons Why We Should ALL Be Feminists

“Male friend: ‘What is a Women's Studies class anyway? What is there to study? Do you learn the qualifications of a secretary position?’ (This is why the world needs feminism.)”

-Kaitlin, Chatham University Class of 2017

“1. Women are still cat called and groped without consent in public places, and many people still think it's a ‘compliment.’

2. Chris Brown can beat women and continue making music about having sex with countless women, while Kesha, who expresses her sexuality freely and is called a whore for doing so, is sexually abused and accused of lying.

3. Terms like ‘pussy’ and ‘bitch’ are highly insulting terms used to put down other men for not being ‘manly’ enough, but they are terms commonly used to describe women.

4. Motherly duties like caring for children and housework is expected of women but not valued or praised as ‘real work.’

5. Many men still see issues like rape culture and violence against women as ‘women's issues’ that have nothing to do with them.

6. Despite more accomplishments, the UConn women's sports teams still have far less support than the men's teams because of beliefs that women are inherently inferior to men.

7. Most portrayals of women in the media and entertainment are sexualized, or roles meant to be the love interest of a male hero.

8. Women in leadership positions are called bossy and bitchy for showing traits that are praised in men, like determination, stubbornness, and independence.

9. Rape culture telling women they must cover up and stay at home, or else risk being sexually assaulted by men who can't control their sexual urges.”

-Cat, University of Connecticut Class of 2017

Let's face it, Drunk You has no limits or concept of reality––but who's to say that's a bad thing!? If Drunk You is Sober You's mortal enemy, maybe it's time you reconsidered all of the great things that Drunk You has done for Sober You. Need a refresher? Read below and check out the 17 reasons why Drunk You is the absolute best you:

Drunk You is honestly a master chef

Should we dip these carrots in cream cheese? Hell yes, we should!

Drunk You can always find the pizza

Who cares if it's 4 in the morning!? You'll find the nearest open pizza place. 

Drunk You really care about your BFFs

...and send them drunk texts that make no f*cking sense.

Drunk You is confident as f*ck

You have no problem ignoring people who try to bring you down. 

Drunk You can make friends with everyone

We aren't just talking about the girls in the bathroom––we're also referring to your Uber driver and the delivery guy!

Drunk You always shares your snack

Because you probably strongly overestimated how hungry you were.

Drunk You looks out for Sober You

Hey, maybe you texted your ex... but you also washed your face and that's the most important thing, right?

Drunk You loves to give out compliments

"Hey, you! You are just so f*cking beautiful, oh my god!!!" *Hugs stranger*

Drunk You takes 'shoe rack' to the next level

Cause, duh! It only makes sense to put your heels in the fridge.

Drunk You can turn even the most random places into a bed

That cold, wooden corner? PERFECT place to sleep tonight!!!

Drunk You leaves Sober You great surprises for the next morning

Called your ex nine times last night? Wow! Awesome!! #Nice

Drunk You can be a complete and total psychopath

And you don't care who sees it! If they can't handle you at your worst, they don't deserve you at your best...

Drunk You thinks Sober You's problems just don't matter

"If you ain't talkin' whiskey, we don't wanna talk!" *Dances away from haters*

Drunk You has NO problem flirting with the handsome stranger next to you

Hey! That could be the love of your flippin' life.

Drunk You never forgets to appreciate your loved ones

*Calls mom at 3 a.m.* "Hey, mother. I don't tell you enough, but I just wanted you to know you're beautiful and I love you so much––seriously!!"

Drunk You usually get a great night's sleep

Alcohol and a good night = sleeping like a baby

Drunk You makes the best memories

We can't remember what happened last night, but we'll never forget it!

We’ve all been there: you get asked out by that cutie you’ve been eyeing and after the initial excitement wears off the questions come flooding in. Is it a date? Is it just a hangout? Is it a ‘Netflix and chill’ type of situation? It can be tough to distinguish between a date and a hang out, especially in college when most are on a tight budget and dinner and a movie can be totally out of the question. Don’t worry—Her Campus talked to expert Adam LoDolce, the founder of Sexy Confidence, a website dedicated to helping the 21st century woman create a love life she loves, about how you can distinguish between the two. Here’s what he told us.

First things first—what’s the difference?

Before being able to distinguish between a date and a hangout, you have to realize there is a distinct difference between the two. LoDolce tells us that “a date implies that there’s a future potential for a relationship, hanging out is merely for hooking up.” Examples of a date may be going out for drinks or coffee, being taken to dinner (regardless of who pays) or going out to see a movie, whereas a hangout is staying in to watch Netflix or hanging out late-night after a party or going to a bar. Each scenario is totally fine, as long as it’s what you’re looking for.

Related: What I Wish I Could Tell You On Our First Date 

How can you tell?

Sometimes life is simple and you’ll be asked, “Do you want to go on a date?” However, sometimes it isn’t always so clear-cut. While dates and hangouts can be different in activity, sometimes your budget doesn’t allow for extravagant dinners or a movie each weekend. This is where the ground between a date and a hangout can become unclear. Charlie, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, says that he considers carving out a night to watch a movie and make dinner with someone he’s interested in a date. “I’m on a really tight budget and don’t really have the opportunity to take someone out right now, even if we split the bill,” he says. “For now, if I like a girl and I choose to spend the day or night with her I consider it a date.” In a case like Charlie’s, it doesn’t hurt to inquire about their motives and expectations to make sure you’re both on the same page.

Carly, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, believes in a situation like the one Charlie presented, it needs to be established as a date because she feels if it's left unclear, it’s considered just hanging out. “My boyfriend and I have date nights sometimes but we hang out all the time. Movies at home can totally be dates,” she says. Sometimes the line between date and hangout is merely using the word “date.”

LoDolce says that you’ll know you are just hanging out if the use the words “hang out,” they aren’t putting in much effort or they don’t show interest in seeing you during the day. Those are signs that they aren’t looking for anything serious and are only in the market for something casual. A date doesn’t have to be extravagant to signify effort—asking to get coffee together may seem like just hanging out but it puts the emphasis on getting to know each other and fostering conversation, which is much more date oriented than a hangout.

It seems like a hangout, but you want it to be a date—now what?

LoDolce recommends asking the person who asked you straight up, “So are you asking me out on a date?” if you are unclear about the situation. It is the quickest way to relieve stress and to know where you two stand. It’s important to make it clear what you are looking for so neither of you have unrealistic expectations about what is going to happen when you get together. If one person is on the page of just wanting to hook up and the other is looking for a relationship, things can get really sticky really fast.

It may be scary to straight out ask if you’re going on a date if you’re worried about coming on too strong. However, if you “scare off” your date by asking them if it’s one, you no doubt have your answer. “If you’re scaring away someone who doesn’t want a relationship it’s a win/win,” LoDolce says. “Don’t just accept hangouts if you’re in the market for a relationship.” If you start just hanging out with someone you want to pursue romantically, you’ll end up unsatisfied and let down.

It’s a date!!!

Her Campus is just as excited as you are, and we’ve got you covered. Here’s the ultimate pep talk for talking to your crush, 5 mistakes not to make, and of course how to score a second date!

Whether it’s just hanging out or the date of a lifetime, being clear about your expectations and how they match up with your partner’s is the most important thing when it comes to dating vs. hanging out. It’s the best way to avoid being caught in a sticky situation or getting your feelings hurt. As LoDolce recommends—when in doubt, just ask. If that scares them away, you know you’re too good for them anyways! Happy hanging and happy dating!