Two transgender cadets – one at the Air Force Academy and one at the US Military Academy at West Point – will be allowed to graduate in May but will not be allowed to serve afterwards.
USA Today reports the Air Force and Army will not allow the cadets to serve alongside their fellow graduates because the Pentagon has yet to establish procedures for integrating transgender troops, although a blanket ban on trans troops was rescinded last year.
The academies have not released the names or genders of the two cadets but have spoken about them to the press.
“Currently, there is an Air Force Academy cadet who has identified as a transgender individual,” Lt. Col. Allen Heritage, an academy spokesman, told USA Today. “The cadet can graduate. But, per the current [Defense Department] transgender policy, this cadet cannot commission into the Air Force. However, we are strongly recommending this individual for Air Force civil service as an option for continued service after the academy.”
The policy that would allow transgender troops to be accepted into the military is supposed to be developed later this year, according to the Daily Mail. The Air Force Academy graduation ceremony will take place May 24.
An Army spokeswoman also confirmed there is a transgender cadet at the US Military Academy at West Point.
“We can confirm that a military academy cadet has identified as transgender, however, per the current Department of Defense medical accessions policy, this cadet cannot commission,” spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a statement to USA Today.
West Point will recognize the cadet’s biological sex rather than their identified gender at the academy’s graduation ceremony on May 27.
RAND Corp. estimates there are currently over 6,000 transgender troops in active duty out of about 1.3 million.
For plenty of reasons, people are not happy about the latest health care bill that was passed by the House of Representatives last week. One among the many issues people have with it is the fact that it allows states to drive up the cost of insurance for those with pre-existing conditions - including having been previously raped or sexually assualted. (Seriously.)
Obviously, this is a major problem - and these teens in New Jersey were absolutely not afraid to confront their representative, Tom MacArthur (who is basically responsible for getting the bill passed in the first place), about it at a recent town hall meeting.
According to Refinery29, high school students Joseph Zetkulic and Daisy Confoy grilled MacArthur, with Joseph first asking him, "How did it pass your conscience to allow rape to become a pre-existing condition? Is rape considered a pre-existing condition under your amendment, yes or no?"
At first, Mac Arthur reportedly refused to answer the question, saying the concerns about what constitutes a pre-existing condition "hysteria." And that's when Daisy, Joseph's friend, decided to step in.
"I’d like to go back to a question that my friend Joey asked you, which you neglected to answer," she said. "Is rape considered a preexisting condition under your amendment?"
In video footage of the town hall, MacArthur can be seen awkwardly continuing to avoid answering the question - which is when Daisy savagely reminds him that it is his responsiblity as her representative to give her some answers.
"My peers and I plan to continue getting involved. You will answer to us. You are our representative," she added. YAS girl.
This is not a drill: Selena Gomez has been posting some pretty mysterious photos to the 'gram, and it might mean that she'll be hitting us up with some new music very soon.
On Wednesday, the singer, actress and producer took to Instagram to post a series of photos of mirrors with the words, "BAD LIAR" splashed across them (which looks to be written in lipstick). She didn't stop there, either - she continued with the mysterious posts Thursday, this time with photos of the same words written on a leg (hers?), and a date: May 18th.
This can only mean one thing: Selena is about to drop some new music. I don't know about you, but "Bad Liar" definitely sounds like a song or album title to me, and those Instas are pretty enough to be album artwork. One thing's for sure, and that's the fact that something serious is going down on May 18th regardless.
As Entertainment Weekly points out, this would be the first time we've gotten anything new music-wise from Selena in a long time - her last album Revival was released in 2015, and since then, she's only collaborated with Kygo on the song "It Ain't Me." Fair enough, considering she's obviously been busy with other things like producing Netflix's 13 Reasons Why and being super cute with her new BF The Weeknd.
Taking her nearly-naked Met Gala jumpsuit into consideration, Bella Hadid has basically mastered the whole "looking hot AF when you know you'll be running into your ex (The Weeknd) and his new girlfriend (Selena Gomez)" thing. But apparently, she had to go to some pretty, erm, drastic lengths in order to look as #goals as she did on the red carpet.
According to the model's recent interview with Harper's Bazaar UK, she kind of couldn't pee all night because she had to be sewn into it.
"It was nerve-wracking," she told the magazine. "I couldn't pee because I was sewn in from the top. I put my foot in the wrong part of the leotard at one point, so I had to take it off and put it back on again. It was hassle, but worth it."
Am I the only one who thinks this sounds truly terrifying? Holding it all night? Luckily, Bella has a good relationship with the jumpsuit's designer, Alexander Wang, and she was able to laugh off her nerves.
"Alex [Wang] made just one piece for me and didn't really give me a choice," she added in the interview. "Once I put it on, I loved it. He knew I'd be worried to wear it, but he wanted to put me in that piece so I obviously wasn't going to say no to him. I trusted him and we worked it out together."
Of course, it also didn't hurt that according to Bella, the jumpsuit was super comfy - and I mean, if Alexander Wang custom-made me a jumpsuit and told me to wear it, I'd probably stop complaining really quickly too.
People from all over the world gather in Washington D.C. to work, live and play, everyday. A melting pot of people from all different backgrounds, D.C. is a fast-paced city unlike any other—and it takes some getting used to. Whether you're a tourist or a fresh D.C transplant, there may be a bit of a culture shock adjusting to the city, but locals will tell you these 21 things you'll eventually learn before you can call yourself a D.C. native.
1. Asking people where they’re from based on their metro line
Instead of saying the actual name of the town you’re from, you say “I’m third stop on the orange line.”
2. Referring to the collective area as the “DMV”
No, not the Department of Motor Vehicles.
3. What real traffic is
Los Angeles and New York have nothing on us during rush hour on I-495.
4. The beauty of CAVA
CAVA > Chipotle, and we’re not sorry.
5. The beauty of Shake Shack
You can keep In N' Out and Five Guys if we can keep Shake Shack.
6. The importance of walk left, stand right
It’s a D.C. commandment
7. The importance of owning a SmartTrip Card
Because paper Metro passes are for tourists who have ample time and money, unlike locals who are always in a rush and looking to go as far as possible for as little metro fare.
8. The beauty of a rent-controlled apartment near a metro line
A reasonably priced apartment in Northwest on the red line is a DC native’s idea of real estate porn.
9. Georgetown Cupcake is overrated
Baked and Wired for life.
10. How Scandal is not an accurate representation of Washington.
Someone tell me why Olivia Pope and Associates don’t have a SmartTrip.
11. Laughing at tourists who lay on the ground to get a National Monument picture.
You do realize how dumb you all look, right?
12. DC “slang” like “blown” or “faking”
Out-of-towners wonder if we’re actually speaking the same English.
13. Not truly believing someone’s occupation
Oh, you’re a real estate agent in DuPont? Are you sure you don’t work for the CIA?
14. Protesters. So. Many. Protesters.
Another day, another thousand people screaming outside of the White House.
15. All four seasons…in one day
Sweaters, rainboots, shorts, and a parka all in one day is the norm... it doesn't even phase us anymore.
16. Avoiding South-East DC
Don’t go to Anacostia. Don’t. Do. it.
17. People blaming DC natives for the actions of Congress
Not everyone within a spitting distance of DC can control the actions of Congress... we're just as confused and angry as you are.
18. How “what do you do” is asked right after “what’s your name?”
Because networking is always the underlying motive to make friends in this city.
19. Going to the monuments at night
Because when the sun sets is when all of the tourists leave the city and the locals come out to play and enjoy the beauty of Washington at night.
20. The ups and downs of gentrification
The revitalization of neighborhoods like Chinatown and Shaw seem like a great idea, but when the rent prices are astronomical and local shops get turned into Starbucks…
21. Knowing DC is the best East Coast city
Sorry New York and Boston, but living in the most powerful city in the free world is pretty great.
By now, you've probably heard Katy Perry's latest (catchy AF) single 'Bon Appetit' over and over again. On Friday, the singer dropped the song's music video - and OMG what did I even just watch?
Apparently, Katy decided to go for a rather literal approach for the video, which features her literally being served on a platter to a bunch of fancy people in a restaurant. The video opens with Katy lying in a nude bodysuit under plastic wrap, being chilled as an actual piece of meat - until a bunch of chefs show up rip her out of the plastic, flour and knead her body, cover her with vegetables and put her in a giant boiling pot. FYI, it's every bit as creepy as it sounds.
I didn't think it was possible, but things get even weirder from there. The chefs wheel Katy on a platter out to Migos, where she somehow comes alive again and begins pole dancing while the chefs turn on the restaurant guests and begin to cook them. (You can't make this stuff up.) The end of the video cuts to Katy with a fork and knife ready to dig into a pie that was presumably made from the aforementioned restaurant guests. WTF?
Katy has definitely done some wild things for her videos in the past, but this one definitely takes the cake. (Er, um, pie? Ha.) I'm not saying you should watch it (because I low-key lost any appetite I might have had before), but I'm also not saying not to watch it considering you really just have to see these types of things to believe them.
It's 3:00 p.m. Your head is starting to feel a little foggy and you can't seem to focus. Did you take any breaks other than your lunch break today—if that? If the answer is no, then that's probably the reason why you're feeling so lousy. How are you supposed to get any work done if you're not feeling 100 percent? We asked a few young women in the workforce why it's important to take breaks throughout the work day, and their answers are eye-opening.
If you're working on a project and you hit a road block, get up and take a break—it can help you get your creativity flowing.
"I think one of the best reasons to take breaks while working is becuase, when you do, you come back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated," says Margeaux Biché, a sophomore at Barnard College. "For me, new creative ideas come from this place. Additionally, because I've taken some time to not think about whatever it is I was previously working on, I find that I'm consistently more efficient when I start working again!"
By giving yourself a much needed break, you'll be able to clear your mind and open yourself up to new ideas that you might not have been able to think about while you were focused on your project.
"Taking a break gives your mind time to think of new ideas that you may have not considered, especially if you take the time to get away from the area you were physically working in, like taking a walk or spending time outside," says Alaina Leary, a graduate student at Emerson College.
2. Your body and mind will feel more refreshed
It's not good to sit at your desk all day. The more time you sit, the more negative effects it has on your body. You start to slump, your neck can start to feel stiff, and your eyes will begin to feel strained.
"I take breaks to move my legs and to get my blood flowing," says Mara Hyman, a 2014 University of Southern California graduate who is on the marketing team at CBS Boston. "I don't like sitting at my computer all day because it can affect your posture as well."
Sydnee Lyons, a first year grad student at Florida Atlantic University, brings up another great point—risk of a urinary track infection.
"Sometimes at work, I would be so busy or distracted (and the bathroom would be so very far!) that I'd just hold it," Lyons explains. "I drink a lot of water and pride myself on being really hydrated all the time, so I read [an article about it] and it made me feel like other millenials do the same thing!"
3. Your work day will go quicker
Have you ever sat at your desk for what feels like an hour, only to look at your clock and realize that a mere ten minutes has passed? We've been there. Checking the clock constantly can make the day drag on forever, and taking breaks throughout the day will definitely help it pass a little quicker. If you have trouble remembering to give yourself a breather, try setting an alarm on your phone every couple of hours to remind you to get up and stretch your legs.
There's no better feeling than checking off your whole to-do list and leaving work with a somewhat empty plate. If you sit at your desk all day and refrain from taking breaks, you might not be as productive as you could be. By giving yourself time to refresh, like taking a walk to a co-worker's area or sitting outside, you're giving yourself a chance to re-group and get a better focus for the task at hand.
"I take breaks to re-energize myself," says Leary. "I think breaks are especially important if you're working on a long, in-depth project that requires a lot of focus. Longer projects may take hours and it can be easy to want to just power through them, but you can also get stuck in a rut if you don't take breaks."
Sophia Walker, a junior at Bowdoin College, believes that not taking breaks during the workday can make you feel tired and worn out.
"Without breaks, I can't concentrate and without concentration, I can't produce any quality work," Walker explains. "Additionally, if I don't schedule in breaks and off-time, I will spend all my time working, which isn't good for productivity or general health and happiness."
5. You'll avoid burnout
Just like having a positive work-life balance is important, it's important to have a balance throughout the work day, too. If you try to work your 9 to 5 straight through, chances are you aren't going to have a sharp focus. Not having a sharp focus will lead to distraction and procrastination, and you'll only feel as though you need to work harder and longer to complete your project. If you give yourself a chance to refresh, you'll avoid feeling run down and stressed out. You'll even be more productive during the day, so that you don't feel like you have to bring your work home with you to finish up.
6. You can meet more people
How many of your co-workers can you meet if you sit at your desk the whole day? Not many! Aside from your immediate area and the people in your department, you probably aren't giving yourself a chance to get to know everyone in your building or on your floor.
"During my work breaks, instead of hiding away in a break room with my phone, I try to see what other coworkers are doing, and if there's something we can do together," says Leary. "Go for a short walk to get lunch down the street or step out into the sun. These are all times you can get closer to your colleagues and get to know them better."
It's hard to be laser-focused at work all the time, but it's even harder to focus when you don't take a break from what you're doing. Take a walk down the hall, do a loop around the parking lot, or sit in a common area to clear your head. You'll be happy you did!
"Here's something I made this afternoon," Kadonaga wrote in a Facebook post about her genius creation. "Now you too can have the White House press secretary in - or rather, 'among' - the bushes in your yard."
While cardboard and printer ink certainly aren't weather-proof, Kadonaga added that this isn't a problem - in fact, it makes them more life-like.
"And hey, if you’re concerned that when exposed to the outdoors, the image will run... no worries, that’s exactly what Sean Spicer does, so it’s totally authentic!" she added in her FB post. Meanwhile, I can't stop laughing and definitely need a bunch of these for my own personal use ASAP. Luckily, Kadonaga posted the image to Dropbox, meaning we can all now Spicer-ify every piece of shrubbery we see.
John Legend's Darkness and Light Tour is already shaping up to be an adorable family vacation for Chrissy Teigen and baby Luna. Chrissy and Luna are joining him on the road for the entire tour (aww) and their first stop involved a detour to the Miami Seaquarium yesterday.
On Friday, John shared Insta-proof of how cute the family's aquarium visit was yesterday, featuring a seal who is clearly just as eager to be besties with Chrissy as we are.
Despite technically being in Miami for work, John is clearly using every second of free time he gets to spend time with Chrissy and Luna. As usual, Chrissy's all-blue outfit and sock boots are also #StyleGoals, and 12-month-old Luna is looking as adorable as ever.
If their first stop is any indication, we will basically be living for their family vacay shots as they travel around the country for John's tour, which continues through the end of June.
Ever since its Netflix revival was released last fall nine years after the show ended, Gilmore Girls fans have already been asking for more episodes - especially when you consider the massive cliffhanger the show threw us in the last 10 seconds of the final episode. (I'm still not over it TBH.)
Luckily, there may be hope: Lauren Grahman (a.k.a. Lorelai) told fans at the Netflix FYSee panel Thursday night that she'd be down to bring the show back for even more episodes, according to the Hollywood Reporter. When asked by a fan if there were more to come, Graham prefaced her cryptic AF answer by saying that it, "wouldn't be satisfying" - but it's still giving us major hope that those four words aren't where the series ends.
"Would I do it on Netflix again? Sure, but there are people that have better objectivity than I with saying what is best for the show," she said. "You could never please everybody…we would just want to make sure it could be pleasing."
Fair enough, but we still need to know what happens next in Stars Hollow, even if Graham says that the cliffhangers are "good" for fans. (I beg to differ.)
"It feels a little like she left you hanging, but I think it’s for your own good," she later added.
Okay but seriously WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The only way that this could possibly be "for our own good" is if we eventually get some answers - because sorry, but I am not satisfied with that "A Year in the Life" ending.
Kylie Cosmetics may be moving on from lip kits and into the contour kingdom.
Rumors are whirling about a KKW by Kylie Cosmetics contour palette ever since Kim Kardashian's makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic made a mysterious comment on Instagram. Here's what you need to know: when Kim and Kylie first partnered for the KKW by Kylie Cosmetics lipstick set, it came with a note that said "I have a surprise coming soon!" Fast forward to a post by Dedivanovic on April 25, where he talked about using the KKW lipstick. Someone commented "what contour products do you like?" and he said "something secret."
OBVIOUSLY this is a clue from the makeup god that the secret product is an upcoming KKW by Kylie Cosmetics contour palette. At least, that's what fans are speculating online. And it makes total sense since the Kardashian-West clan are perhaps known best for their contouring skills. I mean, those cheek bones are the perfect canvas for all the Kardash magic.
As if that wasn't enough evidence, a swatch photo makes it seem like it will be a cream contour pallette.
I'm so ready for the next KKW by Kylie Cosmetics products—like seriously, please teach me your contouring ways. Considering how subtle the lipsticks are, nude colors in the contour pallette seem to fit the vibe of the queens of cosmetics. Goodbye summer savings! :')
A new app is making sound wave tattoos that you can actually hear. It's a thing, I swear.
Instead of finding a meaningful image to get on your body, you can get a tat of sound waves that say something special, like your baby's first words or your dog's bark or your SO saying "I love you."
You upload an audio clip and the app translates the audio into an image of a sound wave. Then you get that image tattooed on your body. When you scan the app over your tattoo, it reads aloud what the sound wave says. Basically it's like a secret code tattoo, but looks totally trendy since you're getting inked in the shape of sound waves.
The app, called Skin Motion, is seriously creative for thinking of this technology that reads back important memories and moments in your life. Though I'm not sure I'd trust a tattoo artist to get the sound wave exactly correct—what if I ended up with the wrong message?—Skin Motion remedies that with specially trained tattoo artists who can do these sound wave tats with accuracy.
Personally, I'd rather have the song lyrics tattooed on my body to avoid the hassle of scanning myself like a barcode, but this is an amazing alternative if you want something a little more meta and personal.
Female fitness trainers are taking the Instagram world by storm. Their progress pictures, food posts and workout videos give us some serious motivation to get moving and actually eat healthy. Here are just a few of the things we can learn from 17 of our favorite fitness Instagram accounts.
The Australian fitness guru shows us that no matter what your natural figure is, it’s important to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. Every girl has the ability to become super strong.
She knows that we’re college students and that we don’t always have the means to eat healthy. She makes eating clean in college easy. Who knew you could make sodium-laden ramen into a gourmet, nutritious meal?
Copeland knows that ballerinas are a graceful force of nature. Her athletic build defies typical ballet stereotypes; she is an inspiration to ballet hopefuls across the world.
This dietician knows that smoothie bowls are in vogue—and for good reason! They provide a good source of complex carbohydrates and micronutrients like vitamin C and calcium, and they’re so Insta-worthy!
The Aerie model and body positivity advocate shows us that you don’t have to look like the woman on the cover of the magazines to have a rockin’ bikini body.
The co-founder of the online workout program Fitness Blender (@fitnessblender) emphasizes that reaching your weight loss goals is possible, no matter how long it takes. Slow progress is better than no progress.
This Emirati professional weightlifter (who happens to be sponsored by Nike Women) shows us that power lifting is not just for the boys. She pushes her followers to find their inner strength.
Poppett shows us the importance of stretching after a workout. If you don’t stretch, your muscles tighten up and you have a much greater chance of being sore the next day and even getting injured.
Faya Nillson, the creator of the account, confirms that athleisure is so trendy. Whether you’re headed to the gym or to brunch, the perfect athletic clothes will take you there in style.
Blogilates creator Cassey Ho shows us that we don’t need a gym membership to get our fitness on. All we need is a few Pinterest workouts, YouTube, an awesome playlist and a mat to get a great workout.
The body positivity brand teaches us through quotes that we should love the skin we’re in, no matter what size we are. Self love is the best form of self care.
Hembrow gives us some serious mom-bod inspiration.
These women embody strength, total health, body positivity and happiness. They’re able to express that through their posts, and we love them for it! We hope that you could get some inspiration from 17 of the most empowering women on Instagram. Go ahead, grab your sneakers, have a killer workout and don’t forget to stretch and make a smoothie bowl when you get back.
In our daily lives, we all crave a sense of control. Sometimes, life gets overwhelming and things happen that we didn't previously anticipate. But unlike more impulsive individuals, it's a lot harder for chronic overthinkers to just roll with the punches. Stemming from anxiety and a perceived lack of control, little disturbances or a simple change in plans can drive the chronic overthinkers absolutely mad. Consistent overthinking can lead to a host of problems, anything from sleep deprivation to panic attacks just to name a few. Although there are different levels to overthinking, chronic overthinkers are at the highest level—and this type of behavior does way more harm than good. Here are just some of the struggles every chronic overthinker is bound to face.
1. Texting can never be simple
It's too easy to make something out of nothing. "They didn't respond immediately. That thought bubble has been on my screen for like, 10 minutes. Yep, something's definitely wrong."
2. It's even harder if the person you're texting is your crush
This is simply not possible without the guidance of your friend telling you what to write.
3. Figuring out what you wanted to major in was no easy feat
You expect me to have my life figured out? I'm still deliberating over what I want to have for breakfast tomorrow morning.
4. A trip to the ice cream shop is always more stressful than it needs to be
Blackberry, cherry, rocky road. The flavors and combinations are endless. What if you pick wrong? This is panic-inducing.
5. It goes without saying you're incredibly indecisive
It's hard enough coming to any sort of a final decision. So, you tend to take it very personally when any decision you make doesn't turn out well. It's all too easy to blame yourself.
6. When deciding on a place to eat, friends know to never ask you to make the final decision
Unless they're alright waiting an hour for you to stop going back and forth and just make a decision. Let's be honest, that won't happen.
7. You can easily worry about absolutely nothing
It's one of your main specialties.
8. You spend so much time trying to think of everything you could possible need before leaving the house that you end up very late
You try so hard to be on time. And then of course you still forget something important.
9. You're basically the next Mary Poppins
You think of every possible situation, so you always end up overstuffing your handbag. It's akin to Mary Poppins' very own, bottomless pit bag...which makes it impossible to find anything when you actually need it.
10. Multiple choice exams are the bane of your existence
Way too easy to second guess yourself. Too. Many. Options.
11. You're no stranger to late-night anxiety
No phone, no activities, no distractions. Just you, your bed and your thoughts.
12. With that, comes constant sleep-deprivation
You have this annoying inability to shut your brain up.
13. You think more than you actually do
You have a tendency to get lost in your own thoughts and as a result, you don't take as much action as you'd like.
14. You can't make most decisions without a list first
Pro and Con lists are a lifesaver. But that also means you spend way more time deliberating over something that others simply don't worry as much about.
15. You dream of one day making an impulsive decision
Sadly, you know that won't happen. Unlike your more spontaneous friends, there isn't an impulsive bone in your body.
At the end of the day, you're forever convinced everything has a hidden meaning. Although you're not a quick decision maker or super spontaneous, your friends and family still love you. Plus, who else could they count on to stalk and decode every Facebook post ever posted, or everything their significant other says and does? Well, they may not always be right but you certainly have a lot of theories.
For many college women, the start of summer means the start of a new internship. This is an exciting opportunity to learn about your dream career, and you’re probably nervous about making a great impression on your superiors. Well, a sharp outfit is the perfect way to impress, and an all-black ensemble is always stylish and classy—no matter what industry you're going into. Here are five power outfits that are all black and all style. They’re sure to make you look like a total pro at office attire, and with only a few signature pieces, you’ll be set to rock your summer internship in style!
A stuffy suit is pretty unappealing any time of year, but especially in the summer when you’re just trying to stay cool in your hot cubicle. Instead of investing in a dull pantsuit, try mixing and matching all black separates for a look that’s still office-appropriate, but much more comfortable—and stylish! A pair of well-fitted black pants will be a staple garment to wear all summer long. Top them with a loose, feminine tee for a bit of flair and lots of comfort.
Here’s proof that black doesn’t have to mean boring. This look is all about shape and texture, with a hip-hugging pencil skirt and flirty ruffles. What an all-black look lacks in color, you can totally make up for in interesting, unique pieces. Here, your typical pencil skirt is taken up a notch with a flattering, high waist and tasteful slit. The softness and loose style of the top also helps balance the shapeliness of the skirt. You’ll still be office-appropriate, but with the added benefit of being able to hit the town at 5 p.m. without a wardrobe change!
Not all offices are the same when it comes to clothing, and these days, you’ll find a lot more places that favor comfort over formality. Especially if you’re in a creative field or have to be on your feet a lot of the day, you won’t want to be constrained by a tight suit. As always, the little black dress can save the day! A loose-fitted jersey dress that hits just above the knee is still suitable for your 9-to-5, but will give you a bit more room to breathe if you plan on running around most of the day. You should always avoid flip-flops in the office—the noise alone will drive your co-workers crazy—but strappy sandals or flats are perfect for a summer job. If you need another layer, try a modern take on the kimono, which is elegant and trendy.
Let’s face it, city life is expensive and, on an intern’s budget, the thought of paying for housing that’s convenient for your downtown job is daunting. Unfortunately, commuting is one of those real-life necessities you may have to deal with, at least until you land your dream. For a work wardrobe that’s equally stylish and commuter-friendly, look for pieces that won’t wrinkle while you’re on the train or bus. A pair of black jogger pants in a crepe (or polyester) fabric are both comfortable and resilient, and you can often find a pair with an elastic waistband, perfect for a long commute. A boxy, V-neck tank is also a great option for keeping you cool and composed while dealing with unpredictable public transportation. Of course, no commuter can live without a great pair of flats and a tote bag for carrying everything she needs throughout the day. Shoes are a great way to bring a pop of color to your black outfit, so look for a pair in a bright hue or playful print.
Thousands of eager college students apply for internships in the competitive fashion industry, and if you’re one of the lucky few to land the job, you’re probably equally nervous and excited. Not to mention, there’s a lot of pressure to look on-point each day. Luckily, an all-black outfit is always a chic option for fashion girls. An internship in fashion also gives you an opportunity to take more outfit risks than in other jobs, so relax and have fun with it! A black jumpsuit is one of those pieces that is so versatile and stylish that you’ll want to wear it all year long. It’s easy to throw on in the morning when you’re scrambling to get ready, but instantly makes you look put together. Add a chic blazer with leather and zipper details for some interest and a little more coverage, and invest in a cute cross-body bag that you can easily carry around with you on all those showroom visits!
Dressing for work can seem like a big shock when you’ve been living in yoga pants and jeans all semester, but with a few simple style hacks, you’ll be the office fashionista in no time. And when you feel like you have nothing to wear, all-black is the way to go.
To be quite honest, I don't think I will ever get sick of Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer. In fact, she might even be better at playing Spicer than Spicer is.
In last night's episode of Saturday Night Live, McCarthy outdid herself as she played a conflicted Spicer who knows that the end of his run as Press Secretary is coming soon. At one point, he even drove his podium to New York City in order to find Trump and stop him. Now, that is prime TV. Since I don't want to give away too many spoilers, just watch the hilarious skit for yourself below.
Every year on this day, millions of people around the world gather together on social media to gush about what amazing mothers they have. You do it, I do it, we all do it! And that includes celebrities. From Lucy Hale to Gigi Hadid, here are how all your favorite celebs celebrated the best day of the year.
In my mind, Cole Sprouse will forever be a small child who gets in trouble on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. But to the rest of the world, he is an actor, model, and even photographer.
According to Cosmopolitan, Sprouse shot a spread for the Sunday Times cover starring Kendall Jenner and the photos are actually stunning. In the photos, Kendall is wearing a bohemium flowy shirt and her hair is cut short and wavy. The shoot, set in Malibu, basically screams "California."
The notion of “hooking up” has become just as prevalent as the selfie in millennial culture, and even more so when you find yourself on a college campus. Don’t get me wrong—it’s understandable why this is such a popular trend. You’re confined on a couple square miles of campus that is brimming with healthy, young people who are thriving off of new found freedom and raging hormones—it makes sense why hooking up seems to be everyone’s favorite pastime.
When the majority of your brunch time gossip is invariably dominated by the details of your friends’ exultant conquests from the night before, it is easy to feel left out or weird about the fact that it is never you who is sharing your own stories. Feeling this way is totally normal. Thinking that you are significantly different from everyone around you can make anyone feel awful, but guess what—not following suit with the craze of hookup culture is perfectly okay. In fact, according to hookingupsmart.com, 89 percent of college students actually hate the idea of hookup culture.
First things first, not EVERYONE is hooking up! It might seem like everyone you meet has a new acquisition every night, but trust me, it isn’t true. Only 15 percent of college students have hooked up 10 times or more during their entire college experience and only 10 percenthave four hookups a year.
Despite these minuscule numbers, a study on hookup culture conducted byABC News states that 91 percent of college women believe that hookup culture defines their college campus.
With a quick look at the actual facts revolving around this cultural fever, you can clearly see that you are not alone in your lack of participation in the hookup mania.
The risks
When collegiettes were asked the reasons that they don’t enjoy hookup culture, the first response that I received was, “My slam gave me herpes.”
When you find yourself mid-hookup at a party with some random hottie you just met, it isn’t exactly the best time to run down to the clinic and both get tested for STDs.
Just to give you a little insight about how many people are running around with STDs, according to stdcheck.com, the number of infectious cases of syphilis has increased by 79 percent in recent years and the number of gonorrhea cases has increased by 30 percent.
Even without the worry of possible STD contraction, what about the risk of pregnancy? It’s easy to slip up on your birth control methods and even when using birth control effectively, mistakes can still happen.
Whether they are open about it or not, many collegiettes are hoping that their hookup will result in a relationship.
“After about one semester in college, I found that my frequent hookups were leaving me devastated,” says Casey*, a sophomore at the University of Florida. “I kept thinking that something would develop between me and the next hookup, but I was always left disappointed and even more heartbroken.”
Constantly getting your hopes up and having them shattered each time you meet a new potential partner can wreak emotional havoc on anyone. Many women further explain that the constant feeling of rejection was another negative side effect.
“I started feeling like there was something wrong with me when the guys that I hooked up with never wanted anything more,” says Tracy*, a junior at New York University.
Psychotherapist Mary Waldon says that hookup culture can have “a significant impact on issues of self-worth.” She explains that “unless there is a true desire for no emotional connection and a true lack of unspoken expectations, there are bound to be emotional issues.” Waldon also stresses the fact that this does not apply solely to women. Men also feel emotional anguish in similar ways and the idea that young men have no emotional ties is an “overgrown stereotype,” Waldon says.
With that being said, some women are entirely capable of hooking up and not wanting anything more. However, for those of us who find ourselves on the higher end of the emotional spectrum, random hookups aren’t exactly the best idea.
Unwanted sexual interaction
The pressure to participate in the hookup trend can easily get to you. Feeling a need to fit in with what everyone else is doing is a normal human desire.
The problem here is that changing your mind can sometimes be more difficult than you think. It is easy to walk into a party and start dancing with the first good-looking body that you see and tell yourself, “Okay, I’m going to hook up with them, I can do this, it is totally normal,” regardless of the fact that it might be the last thing you want to do.
With your friends giving you a thumbs up and an approving wink from across the room, you can surely convince yourself that hooking up with this total stranger is a great idea. Everyone else is doing it, right?
By the time that you end up alone with this stranger and realize that you are incredibly uncomfortable with the situation, it can be hard to stop. Either you feel like you “have” to go through with the hookup just to be normal, or this stranger could go through with it, despite your rejection. It is important to remember that no matter how much you feel like you “have” to go through with a hookup, you NEVER have to do ANYTHING that you do not want to do.
To many, the idea of the hookup culture has recently become synonymous with that of “rape culture” for exactly this reason. Whether you feel pressure from your peers or pressure from the person themselves, no one should feel a need to engage in any type of sexual interaction that makes them uncomfortable.
Mary Waldon explains that “lack of consent should eliminate any act of sexual interaction and that the hookup culture can definitely complicate that.” She further explains that “there is a complication that is created when hooking up without a relationship or the intention to be in one that muddies the waters when it comes to the issue of consent.”
Karen*, a sophomore at North Carolina State University, says, “I had always felt left out since I never engage in random hookups. One night I decided to try it out anyway and I have never felt more uncomfortable in my life. I didn’t want to do it, but I felt like I had to in order to really get the college experience.”
Hookups do not define you
Whether you have had zero or thirty hookups this year, your hookups do not define you. Hookup culture makes collegiettes believe that the more hookups you have, the prettier you are or the cooler you are. This could not be further from the truth.
Your college experience is going to be whatever you make of it and whatever you want to get out of it. Whether you want to characterize your experience by the number of hookups you got after each night out or the number of As you got, it is whatever makes you happy that matters and defines you.
Participation in hookup culture is totally okay for some people. Many collegiettes thrive in this type of practice and enjoy being able to hook up with people they have no attachment to, and that’s great. However, it is also perfectly acceptable to be a little bit more reserved in your sexual acquisitions and avoid this cultural phenomenon. Your sex life is your sex life, and it is important to remember that doing what makes you happy and comfortable is the most important thing.
