Whether you’re freshly out of a relationship or still putting the pieces together months afterward, running into your ex in public can bring on a slew of emotions. The nostalgia may begin to kick in, or the hurt you may feel may make you want to kick them. There’s no way to predict how you may feel in the moment, but here are five different ways to handle seeing your ex in public post-breakup.

1.  Don’t say anything if you don’t want to

You aren’t obligated to speak if you do not feel comfortable. Not speaking does not make you rude or mean that you are running away from your problems. If you just can’t find the appropriate words to say in your head, don’t say anything.

Vanessa Reyes, a sophomore at Georgia Southern University, thinks not speaking can avoid making an already awkward situation even worse.

“I ran into my ex in the grocery store, and because we made direct eye contact, I smiled and waved,” she said. “Because of the nature of our breakup, I don’t believe I owed him any words, but I wanted him to know I was okay with his existence.”

You know the saying “some things are better left unsaid,” and in this case, that rule could very well apply.

2. Break the ice

This may be easier said than done, especially if the relationship ended very painfully. However, speaking up first can show that you are in control of the situation and are doing well (even if it’s a façade).

If you approach your ex with a hello and they seem eager to engage in conversation, speak but keep the conversation simple. Questions regarding school, work or family are welcome, but don’t pry for information below surface level.

Aurora*, a junior at Kennesaw State University, says being the bigger person might leave you with a feeling of relief.

“Even if you’re still grieving, I think it’s important that they see that you are handling the situation as maturely as possible,” she says. “I bumped into my ex a few times and honestly, my goal was for him to realize he messed up and can’t go back.”

The situation is inevitably awkward already, so if you feel so inclined, face the awkwardness head on.

3. Avoid lingering

Lingering leads to awkwardness. If the conversation has died down, don’t try to save it. Remember that you and your ex broke up for a reason, so there still may be a lot of confusion and animosity between you two that is impossible to address in a few minute time span.

A random run-in is also not the time to find closure. Elizabeth*, a freshman at the University of Alabama, knows how seeing your ex can cause your head to play tricks on you.

“I think the longer you stay around, the quicker feelings of regret or longing will arise again,” she says. “Despite all the progress you’ve made moving on, it may feel like you’re back at square one.”

The entire USA Gymnastics (USAG) board announced that they would be resigning after the U.S. Olympics Committee (USOC), which oversees the United States’ Olympic governing bodies, demanded that the board step down before January 31, or else face termination as the national governing body for the sport, ABC News reports.

The resignation of the board comes after Larry Nassar’s sentencing of 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing the gymnasts that he treated during his time with USAG.

During the trial, USAG drew intense criticism from Olympic gymnasts, particularly Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, for its lax oversight and perpetuating an abusive culture that allowed Nassar to keep abusing these young women and girls, The Washington Post reports.

Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney, who filed a lawsuit against USAG and USOC, said that the allegations against Nassar were never properly investigated, nor was Nassar removed or disciplined. Her attorney told ABC News, “In 2015 when USA Gymnastics admits that they became aware that he had molested girls, they didn't call Child Protective Services. Instead they hired a private investigator and they waited five weeks. ... He was allowed to stay in the treatment room and treated dozens and dozens of little girls over the next year. ... They allowed him to put out a cover story that he was retiring from USA Gymnastics when it wasn't true. They were getting rid of him.”

According to The Post, three USAG board members resigned on Monday, but after Nassar’s sentencing, USOC called for more change and demanded that the entire board resign. Scott Blackmun, USOC Chief Executive Officer, wrote in a letter given to USAG on Thursday, “We are also aware of the recent resignations of USAG board chair Paul Parilla and three other board members. Now that these steps have been completed, USAG must build on them with a categorically fresh start at the board level,” ABC News reports.

In addition to demanding that the USAG board resign or lose its certification as the sport’s governing body, USOC’s letter demanded that USAG put an interim board in place by January 31 and have a permanent board within the next year, ABC News reports. The letter outlined that there would be increased oversight by USOC, including a liaison and a SafeSport and ethics training. According to ABC News, SafeSport is partnered with USOC, and its website states that the organization believes that “all athletes deserve to participate in sports [that] are free from bullying, hazing, sexual misconduct or any form of emotional or physical abuse.”

USOC also said that it would conduct an independent investigation of USAG and USOC for the culpability of its officials, The Post reports.

According to ABC News, USOC said that these changes were not to cover up the Nassar scandal, but simply because the culture needed to change.

“We do not base these requirements on any knowledge that any individual USAG staff or board members had a role in fostering or obscuring Nassar’s actions,” the letter said. “Our position comes from a clear sense that USAG culture needs fundamental rebuilding.”

When the White House’s Office of the Curator emailed the Guggenheim Museum in New York City to request that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump borrow Van Gogh’s “Landscape in Snow” for their private residence at the White House, the Guggenheim’s curator denied the request, CNN reports.

Instead, the curator offered another piece in “loo” of the famous Van Gogh painting: an 18-karat gold toilet.

According to The Washington Post, the Guggenheim curator said that “Landscape in Snow” was on its way to be showcased at the Guggenheim’s museum in Bilbao, Spain, and would return and stay at the museum in New York.

The fully functioning,18-karat gold toilet, titled “America,” was an interactive work featured at the museum, where it was installed in a fifth floor public bathroom for all visitors of the museum to use, CNN reports.

The artwork, created by contemporary artist Maurizio Cattelan, drew headlines when it was first showcased, and Cattelan described his work “as 1 percent art for the 99 percent,” The Post reports. Cattelan said that the idea of how wealth permeates aspects of society was an influence for his piece.

“Whatever you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise,” Cattelan said.

In her email to the White House, Guggenheim curator, Nancy Spector, wrote that the exhibit for “America” was over and that the gold toilet was available “should the President and First Lady have any interest in installing it in the White House,” CNN reports.

Spector wrote that the artist “would like to offer it to the White House for a long-term loan.”

“It is, of course, extremely valuable and somewhat fragile, but we would provide all the instructions for its installation and care,” Spector added.

According to The Post, Spector has made her political beliefs very clear in her blog posts and on social media. “This must be the first day of our revolution to take back our beloved country from hatred, racism, and intolerance. Don’t mourn. Organize,” Spector wrote on Instagram the day after Trump was elected president.

In the email to the White House, Spector included a photograph of the gold toilet for the White House’s “reference.”

“We are sorry not to be able to accommodate your original request, but remain hopeful that this special offer may be of interest,” Spector concluded, according to The Post.

For the babes in relationships, Valentine’s Day is definitely a highlight of the year. When else can you shamelessly celebrate your relationship, buy gifts and get as gooey and romantic as you please? Unfortunately for those in long-distance relationships, sometimes the upcoming holiday can be a little bittersweet—but it doesn’t have to be! We're here to make sure you and your faraway squeeze still have the best V-Day ever with these heartfelt ideas.

1. Get their friends in on It

Catch your bae off guard by roping their friends into helping you carry out the ultimate Valentine’s Day. Send them gifts and handmade Valentine’s Day cards to hide around your SO’s room and give to them throughout the day. Need gift ideas? HC has you covered.

If your SO is more of a hands-on kind of person, get their friends to help you set up a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt. Ask them about your partner's favorite spots (or use the ones you two enjoyed together last time you visited!), scribble or voice-record a few clues and scatter some gifts. Not only will your SO be surprised, but it will almost feel like you were right there with them.

2. Mail a love letter

Take a hint out of Noah Calhoun’s notebook. No, we don’t mean for you to spend your day reading aloud to an elderly invalid; write your SO a letter, and ask them to do the same! Nothing is more romantic than a handwritten love letter, and once you get yours in the mail, the distance between you two might not feel like such a bad thing after all.

Not sure what to write? Don’t hold anything back! List the things you love about them, pen an amorous poem or recall your favorite memories together. This isn’t your everyday letter; Valentine’s Day is your chance to get especially romantic, so channel your inner Shakespeare and get writing. And don’t forget to spritz your letter with your favorite perfume!

3. Set a movie date

For a more low-key Valentine’s date night, choose a movie together, curl up in bed and call each other up. Then, count down to press play at the same time. One of the hardest things about your LDR is undoubtedly missing experiencing things together, so being able to laugh, aww or cry over the phone together on your faux movie date is an easy way to feel close. 

Related: 5 Ways to Transition to a Long Distance Relationship

4. Turn up the heat

Just because there might be a few states between you two doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a steamy Valentine’s Day. Hello—why do you think Skype and Snapchat were invented? Splurge on some lingerie that you feel like a sexpot in, make sure your roommates are out and brush up on your dirty talk.

“Light some candles,” suggests Sarah*, a University of Puget Sound senior whose first sexy Skype experience was with her long-distance boyfriend last Valentine’s Day. “It sounds stupid, but it’s just as important to set the mood for Skype.”

Bonus points if you lead up to the Skype date with some steamy sexts… just as long as you take the necessary precautions when it comes to sexting.

5. Plan a gift swap

In a LDR, sometimes the easiest thing to do is plan to send each other gifts to celebrate the day. But that doesn’t mean you have to be boring about it! Save the boxed chocolates and flowers for couples who can pass them off in person. Instead, do something out of the ordinary. Order your SO a pizza. Send them a singing telegram to embarrass them in class. Ship them a box full of things that remind you of your relationship. Or, if you’re feeling creative, make a rule that only handmade gifts are allowed.

If you want to go the traditional route, that’s okay too. Just make sure to add your own personal touch, like Erin Smith, the campus correspondent for HC Towson, who put a spin on the traditional teddy bear for her long-distance boyfriend.

“Although a teddy bear may not be the greatest gift for a guy, I sprayed it with the perfume I wear all the time so it would smell like me,” she says. “It was so cute to see him sniff it.”

6. Spring on a surprise trip

If reading this list has only made you even more depressed about being in a LDR for the most romantic holiday of the year, it might be time to start planning a visit. But make sure to check with your SO first. Surprises might be fun in the movies, but trust us: you’re better off planning this with your partner, not just for them.

So whether you celebrate the day by sending gifts, sharing memories or simply being comforted by each other’s presence over the phone, don’t let the distance get you down. Not only is a long-distance V-Day a great excuse to flex your creative muscles and reflect on your relationship, but it will also make the day you two finally do get to spend the holiday together that much sweeter. 

*Name has been changed.

Lately, it seems like studying abroad is a rite of passage for many students. Chances are, you know at least one person who went abroad for a semester—but there’s a huge difference between studying abroad for a semester and making it your entire college experience.

We talked to Keara Dekay, senior study abroad advisor at the University of South Carolina, to figure out what you should consider before deciding to pursue your college career abroad. So before jumping the pond, or going down under—or pretty much anywhere, make sure you read these tips!

1. Location

Most people who consider studying abroad have a place in mind, and that’s the first step in the process, but location might be determined by more than just your favorite country. For those who will have strict major requirements, you probably want to choose the schools that work best for your major. In most instances, you’ll probably be okay with majors like business, mass communication or humanities. However, some students interested in STEM fields or who are pre-med might need to be a little more picky. So if you’re studying in Scotland but want to go to a U.S. medical school, make sure that you’ll still meet all the requirements.

Either way, Dekay says you’ll enjoy your experience no matter where you go. “Anywhere you end up is going to be both challenging and incredible, and you will come back to the U.S. with a completely different point of view,” she says. No matter where you go, you’ll be getting an experience that is completely different and worthwhile.

2. Courses, cost and immersion

Every college in the world is different, so sifting through every aspect of a school can be a little difficult. Add in the fact that you’re choosing an international college and it might seem even more challenging to narrow down the necessities. Dekay says the top three things to consider are courses, cost and level of immersion.

Ensuring that the program will keep you up-to-date with your studies, while also keeping you from breaking the bank are key in making the decision, but immersion might not be the first concern that comes to mind. When choosing a country, it’s important to consider how much of a language barrier you want, cost of living, what the surrounding countries are, any cultural differences, and even its political standing. Many international universities are cheaper than private American universities--but the cost of living could make a big difference. You’ll be living in that country for four years, so those more detailed considerations have more weight than if you were only abroad for a semester.

3. Exploring

Keep in mind that one of the great things about being abroad is getting the chance to explore while you’re there. So, even if you don’t end up in the country that you were originally set on, that doesn’t mean you can’t travel there! Plus, since you will be living abroad, you’ll probably end up becoming an expert. You’ll have the opportunity to explore more than just the touristy experiences, so that once-foreign country won’t actually be so foreign anymore.

4. Academics

There are also more minute factors to think about in regards to academics, like grading, credits and difficulty. “Understanding that international universities look very different from American universities [is important], especially when it comes to the level of student services provided,” Dekay says. “Students who attend international universities are expected to be very independent and do not necessarily have access to services that students have come to expect from American institutions (writing centers, tutoring, access to professors, etc.).” Because of this, you need to be willing to be more independent in your studies —although deciding to go to college abroad is a pretty big indicator that you are independent.  

Plus, the grading system that you might be used to won’t necessarily be the same. For example, although U.S. schools use a 0-100 scale represented by letter grades, in France, a 20-point grading scale is used. So make sure that you’re ready for a change in what you’re used to.

Related: The 12 Best Places to Study Abroad

5. The application process

Then comes the actual application. When you’re applying abroad, a killer application is key.

“Academic success, independence and adaptability are probably the three most important traits to display in an application to an international university,” Dekay says. “They want to be sure that you’ll be successful in that type of learning environment, so proving that you understand the challenges presented by enrolling in an international institution is very important.”

However, she also tells us that one of the benefits to an application for a foreign university is that it is generally less detailed. “In many countries, higher education is both guaranteed and low-cost or no-cost to their residents, so there may be fewer requirements in the actual application,” So, although you might want to tailor your application more towards the fact that you’re self-sufficient enough to thrive in a foreign environment, you might not need as much fluff as U.S. schools. However, there are also some schools, mostly American schools located in foreign countries, that use the Common Application, so that’s also important to look into.

6. Distance from home

Remember that studying abroad means you are way more than a few hours away from home. Coming home due to homesickness isn’t an option, and you might have to sacrifice a few holidays too. Although it seems like college in itself is a big step towards being independent, chances are there will be some days that you wish you could just go home and snug up in your own bed. Plus, anytime you come down with a cold, you’ll be on your own.

Additionally, don’t forget that being abroad can also mean time differences. If you're studying in Australia, for example, you’ll be on the complete opposite time schedule of the U.S., which can make it difficult to talk to family and friends. Plus, you’ll probably have to figure out a different cell phone contract too, because international calling and texting isn’t typically covered. So yes, although distance does make the heart grow fonder, it can also grow lonely if you aren’t prepared.

There are plenty of details to ponder when deciding to study abroad, but taking the leap and going for a different college experience can pay off big-time. With these pointers in mind, you’ll be sure to make an educated decision.

This 104-year-old says the secret to her long life is Diet Coke. [Babble]

Women feel welcome to code here. [Boston Herald]

The best exercise for sculpting your shoulders. [Women's Health]

250 students at the University of Missouri are "sugar babies." [Bravo]

Melania Trump keeps her distance from Donald in the wake of his latest scandal. [AOL]

The father of medical marijuana has died. [Yahoo!]

Whole30 approved Super Bowl snacks. [Health]

How quick are you to fall in love? [The Guardian]

Women are planning to run for office in record numbers. [NBC News]

How to pay for college when your parents can't afford the expected family contribution. [Student Loan Hero]

Every year on February 14, couples plan a romantic day to shower their significant others with love. As far as date ideas, a lot of couples stick to the same routine—dinner and a movie. But who wants to do that every year? It can get a little stale. Instead of calling your favorite restaurant and making a reservation this Valentine's, try out these other fun ideas!

1. Go on a grown-up scavenger hunt

Dates can get nerve-wracking, especially if you're in the early stages of a relationship. Instead of heading to dinner and a movie—where things can feel a little awkward—try planning a fun scavenger hunt!

"I love the idea of a bookstore scavenger hunt," says Ashley Coker, a student from Bryan College. "You go to the bookstore of your choice with a list of tasks to accomplish. You each find a recipe you want to try, a children's book you used to love, or a place you want to visit."

A bookstore scavenger hunt is a great way to learn about each other's interests and can be a fun way to break the ice! You just don't get that sort of one-on-one time during a movie.

2. Get physical

Just because it's Valentine's Day doesn't mean that you can't get your fitness on! If both of you are exercise buffs (and even if you're not), do something that gets your adrenaline pumping. Bounce around at a trampoline park, get involved in a Valentine's-themed 5K, or hit up an indoor rock climbing wall.

If it's a snowy Valentine's, take advantage of the winter weather, suggests Kayla Lewkowicz, a Colby College graduate. "I think something active like snowshoeing, skiing, or an old-fashioned snowball fight [could be fun, too]," she says.

Related: 4 Ways You're Scaring Off Your Crush (& What to Do Instead)

3. Make it an arcade night

Arcades aren't just for kids anymore. Adult arcades, like YESTERcades and Dave & Busters, are great date night venues. You can grab a quick bite to eat and spend the evening enjoying all kinds of fun games and rides. Make it competitive and see who can win the most tickets. If your date wins you a prize, hello, major #relationshipgoals.

Heading to an arcade is a great way to channel your inner child, but so is staying in and bringing back a childhood favorite activity. "I'm all about building a fort in your apartment and being a kid again," says Kayla. Now that sounds like fun.

4. Head to an exciting part of town

Exploring a new city can be an exciting and memorable experience. If you're venturing out with your significant other on Valentine's Day, walking around a fun city or town center can be all that more romantic.

"I love the idea of spending the weekend in the city," says Brianna Susnak, a student at Indiana University. "You could spend Valentine's Day in the city with your SO doing fun things, like trying different coffees/foods, going out for drinks, or exploring."

5. Go on a paint and wine date

Paint and wine nights are becoming increasingly popular, and while it may seem like a fun girls' night idea (which it is!), it can also be a great Valentine's Day go-to. Who doesn't want to spend a relaxing night, sipping wine and creating a masterpiece together? It's a great opportunity to learn more about each other, and you both get to bring home a souvenir from the night. You can even trade paintings with your SO, so they have something to remember the date by!

Related: 7 Reasons Guys Actually Want to Be in a Relationship

6. Pretend it's your first date

An interesting way to spice up any kind of night out is to do a little role-playing and pretend that's it's your first date!

"My girlfriend and I [went on a date] where we pretended it was our first date," says Alaina Leary, a social media assistant for the We Need Diverse Books organization. "We went out as if we were new to each other and didn't know each other very well. It was honestly really interesting and kind of fun!"

Pretending it's your first date, or even re-enacting your actual first date, can be nostalgic and romantic.

7. Go dancing

It doesn't matter if you're a novice or a pro—find a place to take dancing lessons! You'll learn a new skill, more about your SO, and you might even make some new couple friends! Plus, you can break out those moves whenever you're at a wedding, formal, or backyard BBQ.

Whether you plan a fun day out or decide to spend a romantic evening in your pajamas, Valentine's Day is all about letting your significant other know how much you care about them. Now, excuse us while we build our pillow forts. Happy Valentine's Day!

ICYMI, ABC is soon releasing a new addition to its TGIT lineup that ought to fill the Scandal-shaped hole in our hearts. Given the lengthy run of powerhouse series Grey's Anatomy and its past spinoff success with Private Practice, it's only natural that TV mogul Shonda Rhimes chose to create another spinoff with a Grey's character at the helm. This time, Jason George's Ben Warren will leave the hospital to pursue a new career as a firefighter, and we finally know the name of the series about himself and other firefighters at a station near Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. 

Cosmopolitan reports that cast and crew of Station 19 announced the title this past week, ahead of the show's official trailer debut during next week's episode of Grey's Anatomy. Shonda Rhimes serves as executive producer of the series, while Grey's Anatomy executive producer Stacy McKee will be the Station 19 showrunner. We may have been worried about what this new series meant for Ben and Bailey's relationship, but what with the fire station's distance to the hospital confirmed, I think we can expect plenty of potential crossover moments!

While the production team took awhile to settle on a title, they have revealed some details about the new characters joining Ben in the 10-episode spinoff. Back in October, The Hollywood Reporter announced the complete cast, revealing actress Jaina Lee Ortiz as the female lead Andy Herrera. The character of Andy is the daughter of the firehouse captain, keeping busy as a firefighter who is also romantically torn between her coworker Jack and her high school sweetheart Ryan. Surrounding Ben and Andy are a squad of firefighters including ladies' man Dean (Okieriete Onaodowan), former Olympic athlete Maya (Danielle Savre), prankster Victoria (Barrett Doss) and more. 

Grey's Anatomy fans may worry about fewer Ben and Bailey moments thanks to Ben's new career path, but I'm definitely intrigued by this new lineup of characters. Plus, with so many medical dramas out there, who else is excited for a show centered on a different profession? 

Station 19 premieres on March 22 in a two-hour episode at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. 

In an interview for British TV, President Donald Trump admitted that he wouldn't call himself a feminist, according to news host Piers Morgan. With their conversation scheduled to air on British network ITV on Sunday night, Morgan shared details of Trump's confession on Twitter. Morgan's Daily Mail column detailing the interview revealed that the two met for the discussion at the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

In his Saturday tweet revealing what Trump said, Morgan quoted the president as saying, "No, I wouldn't say I'm a feminist. I mean, I think that would be, maybe, going too far. I'm for women, I'm for men, I'm for everyone."

Morgan, who won Trump's show Celebrity Apprentice in 2008, addressed the irony of Trump's comments in his column, mentioning that he asked Trump how he felt about "women who think he is the worst kind of sexist, misogynist pig." Not exactly answering the question, Trump replied, "Well, I am for them and I think a lot of them understand that."

Other highlights of the interview included Trump saying that women like that "there's nobody better than [Trump] on the military" and that he believes "they want to be safe at home, in many different respects." Adding onto Morgan's relay of Trump's feminism comments, the president reportedly said, "I think people have to go out, they have to go out and really do it, and they have to win. And women are doing great, and I'm happy about that."

While Trump has denied recent sexual misconduct allegations against him, the timing of his remarks isn't the greatest, what with the nation caught up in the #MeToo and Time's Up movements. Although, as many people online will point out, his truth about not being a feminist isn't exactly groundbreaking. 

Morgan's interview with Trump airs in full on Sunday night in the UK. 

There are some aspects of hooking up that make everyone feel insecure, regardless of your level of experience. While these insecurities tend to lessen the longer you’re with someone, if you’re having sex with a partner for the first time, it’s totally normal to feel self-conscious. Pretty much everyone is insecure about these six things when it comes to sex, and here’s what you can do about it.

1. Will my partner still find me attractive when I’m naked?

Feeling uncomfortable with the way you look is a common insecurity that women experience when they’re having sex. According to a national survey, 52 percent of women have “avoided or postponed sex, even when they were in the mood, because they were too self-conscious about their looks.” No matter how happy you are in your own skin, when that’s all you’re wearing, self-conscious thoughts have a way of creeping up on you.

"I worry about hair down there," says Ingrid, a junior at Auburn University. "Does he think it’s gross if I let it grow out? I honestly think it looks better without being shaved—razor bumps are not cute to me! But society acts like we should all be perfectly shaved creatures all of the time." Try not to let those insecurities ruin your experience. Feeling awkward about your body can cause you to overthink things, which means you aren’t totally focused on what’s happening. Do your best to let it go and enjoy yourself, and your partner will too. Focus on foreplay to get you in the mood, play sexy music or adjust the lighting to a more comfortable level. There are a number of strategies for having more satisfying sex, so don’t be afraid to experiment in order to find what works best for you.

2. What if I’m less (or more) experienced than my partner?

Not everyone has the same level of sexual experience, and that can be a big worry when it comes to hooking up. If you’re less experienced than your partner, you may feel inadequate in bed. If you’re more experienced, maybe you feel like you’re being judged.

“I’m definitely most insecure when it comes to skill level, of all things,” says Gabby*, a junior at Gettysburg College. “My boyfriend’s older, so he’s got more experience and I put way too much thought into not looking too naïve.” This is definitely a valid concern! If your thoughts are elsewhere, though, how can you focus on the matter at hand? Try talking to your partner beforehand about how experienced you both are. This might help ease your anxieties. If so, go for it! Just understand that he or she wants to be with you, and your level of experience shouldn’t affect that fact.

3. Is he or she having a good time?

As caring women, we are constantly worrying about other people. Unfortunately, this even extends to sex. Rather than focusing on ourselves (which would be totally okay, by the way), we want to make sure our partners are having fun. It’s fine to keep this in mind, but concern about how you’re performing shouldn’t take over.

For Katie, a junior at SUNY Oswego, making sure that she is “good” at sex makes her feel insecure. “My partner has expressed similar insecurities about sex to me,” she says. “To overcome them, we just talk to each other. Because we are so comfortable around one another and trust each other, it is easy to express our concerns and insecurities.”

If your partner is having a good time, you’ll probably be able to tell. And if the first time you have sex with that person isn’t completely spectacular, don’t be upset. That is totally normal, and it just means you’ll have to keep practicing (wink, wink). Consider asking your partner after sex if there’s anything you can do better next time. Feel free to let them know what you liked and didn’t like on their end as well. Open communication about what went well—and what could be improved upon—will ensure that everyone is having a good time.

Related: How to Tell If You’re Having Good Sex

4. Did my partner notice that weird noise?

Awkward moments are almost unavoidable while hooking up. If you notice a funny sound or a position doesn’t work out quite the way it should, don’t panic.

For Tiara, a junior at Central Washington University, sound during sex makes her feel insecure. “I think people get too caught up in trying to be sexy and in control to acknowledge the inevitable sounds of two bodies smacking together,” she says. “In my experience it makes both parties far more comfortable to laugh at the situation and move on rather than act embarrassed and uncomfortable.” Her advice is spot on. Laugh it off and keep going—don’t dwell on something as small as a weird noise.

5. Am I taking too long to finish?

Because women often take longer to orgasm than men, we don’t always get to. Insecurities about finishing are definitely real, but just because you might need more time, that doesn’t mean your partner should forget about you! Try to stay in the moment and let your thoughts come and go. As we all know, it’s much easier to orgasm when you’re not thinking about it.

If your male partner comes before you, he should still make sure you reach orgasm. Encourage him to use his hands or mouth if you’re still feeling turned on after he’s done. Ideally, he’ll do so without being asked.

6. What do I do now?

Tiara, like many collegiettes, also experiences insecurities about what to do after sex. “Sometimes if it’s the first time you hooked up or a random hook up, it’s difficult to tell what the other person wants you to do regardless of if you’re at their place or yours—cuddle, talk, order pizza, etc.,” she says. “It says more about the hook-up culture, but depending on the situation I never know if I should throw on my clothes and leave or stay over and expect coffee in the morning.”

It may feel awkward, but it’s okay to ask! Saying something as simple as, “What do you want to do now?” can help ease any tension in the air. If you’re not into it, you don’t have to feel pressured to stay. Ideally you’d cuddle, talk and order pizza, but obviously that doesn’t always happen.

Insecurities during sex are totally normal, but that doesn’t mean they’re fun. Try to let self-conscious thoughts go, or talk to your partner about what you’re feeling. Most of the time, they have no idea what’s going through your head, and vice versa. Chances are, you’re both feeling insecure! Don’t let insecurities while hooking up stop you from enjoying yourself. Just remember, we’ve all been there.

*Name has been changed

Valentine's Day is so close!!! Whether you're going on a fancy date with your SO or painting the town with your gal pals, few things are more fun than creating the perfect V-Day look. Why not take inspiration from these YouTubers? I know I will.

1. Pink is a lifestyle

This look is not for the timid—proclaim your love for all things Barbie pink loud and proud with this tutorial.

2. All eyes on you

Kim Thai pairs a bold sparkly eye with a neutral lip for the perfect V-Day combo.

3. Came to slay

If turning heads is your game, play by Shayla's rules.

4. Dollface

Queen Jaclyn Hill opts for a softer pink look that screams "day of love."

5. You're a peach

What a better day than February 14 to put those Sweet Peach and Royal Peach palettes to good use?

6. Wined & dined

That deep red lip! Those sultry eyes!

7. One-liner

This burgundy lip is EVERYTHING.

Name: Gus Kenworthy 
Age: 26
Job Title and Description: Professional Freestyle Skier
Website: GusKenworthy.com 
Twitter Handle: @GusKenworthy
Instagram Handle: @GusKenworthy

What does your current role entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?  

GK: When I’m training, I’ll wake up at 7 a.m., eat breakfast and then ski from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then I’ll head to the gym for a cool down, have a meal, do some work on my computer and catch up with family and friends. A typical, non-training day for me revolves around food! I wake up, have coffee and a protein shake, and then at some point in the day go to the gym for an hour or two depending on the workout. Then, of course, I need more food to refuel and then I’ll relax a bit. 

What is the best part of your job? 

GK: The best part of my job is the people I’ve met along the way. I’m very lucky that I can travel around world with some of my best friends. Even if skiing isn’t a lifelong career, the connections and friends I’ve made along the way are lifelong. 

What was your first entry-level job and how did you get it?

GK: My very first job was working at an ice cream shop in high school for two years. I just went in and asked if they were hiring. I would work after soccer practice during the school week, and then on weekends and over the summer. I then signed my first pro contract at 16, and started traveling for training and events and sponsors from there. 

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable? 

GK: My mom always taught me to follow my dreams and be the best I can be. She also reminded me to never get caught up worrying about what other people think of me. Anyone who loves me does so unconditionally. That’s why I’m so happy that my mom and I are part of P&G’s Love Over Bias campaign, which is all about seeing people through a mom’s eyes and not judging based on what they look like or what backgrounds they come from.

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

GK: I’ve made many mistakes along the way, whether it was training, runs at competitions, mistakes in relationships. But none of them are things I would change because every mistake is a learning opportunity. The only mistake is repeating the mistake and not learning or growing from it.

How do you find and maintain confidence in the competitive atmosphere you work in?

GK: When competitions are going well, it’s very easy to have confidence and use that as momentum going into the next one. When they aren’t going well, it’s harder to find that confidence, but those are the moments where you pick yourself up and remember what you are trying to achieve and use that as motivation. 

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

GK: The most surreal moments of my career have been opportunities that I’ve gotten because of my skiing and getting a medal at the Olympics, like hosting the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square.

What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

GK: I would encourage anyone to follow their dreams and make sure whatever they are dreaming of doing is for the right reasons. If you’re having fun and trying to be the best you can be, you’ll find success. Also, sometimes this is hard to believe, but it does get better and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. When you can come to terms with yourself, embrace yourself and love yourself, it makes it easier for others to do the same.

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

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

Marco Rubio Fires His Chief of Staff Over Claims of 'Improper Conduct'

The Huffington Post reports that Republican senator Marco Rubio of Florida has fired his chief of staff over claims of "improper conduct." Rubio revealed that he discovered the allegations regarding his chief of staff's subordinate on Friday afternoon and flew from his home state of Florida to Washington to fire his employee, identified by many news outlets as Clint Reed. 

"I had sufficient evidence to conclude that while employed by this office, my Chief of Staff had violated office policies regarding proper relations between a supervisor and their subordinates. I further concluded that this led to actions which in my judgment amounted to threats to withhold employment benefits." 

Reed has reportedly only been Rubio's chief of staff for about a year, but he has worked with Rubio on the senator's 2016 campaign. 

Amtrak Engineers & Conductors Didn't Feel Prepared Before Deadly Train Crash

CNN revealed that before the Amtrak 501 train ended in a deadly crash on Dec. 18 in Washington State, engineers and conductors were concerned that they received "totally inadequate" training to prepare them for a new route. The crash occurred on the first run of a new Seattle-to-Portland route, and while Amtrak staffers normally train on new routes so they're aware of significant points of the ride, Amtrak 501 engineers reportedly felt that they didn't have enough practice runs to prepare for the route's specifics. One engineer shared with investigators that although he had seven to 10 training trips on the new route, he was only in charge of the train's controls for three one-way routes. The crash was partially due to the engineer missing at least two signs on the route telling him to slow down as he approached a turn with the maximum speed of 30 mph. 

Krispy Kreme Will Launch a Lemon Glazed Donut 

A week-long voting competition deciding the next Krispy Kreme donut flavor has resulted in this spring's launch of a lemon glazed flavor. The flavor beat out other options of caramel, blueberry and maple in a pool of nearly two million votes. The new feature of the traditional glazed donut follows previous attempts to shake up the chain's menu, including the limited release of pumpkin and gingerbread flavors during the recent holiday season. While the exact date of the lemon donut's availability is unknown, I think it's safe to say that these will definitely be worth the wait. 

What to look out for...

Jan. 29 is National Puzzle Day, which is a perfect excuse to find fun brain games to keep your head busy. By now, a lot of us may have hit a bump in the road when it comes to our productivity, so finding a challenging crossword puzzle or Sudoku challenge to do in your downtime may be worth it!

Despite women being underrepresented in this year's Grammy Award nominations — and only a small portion of them winning — it was female voices that stole the show and amplified the important message of the Time's Up movement. 

One of the most empowering moments of the show was undoubtedly Kesha's performance of "Praying" alongside Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Julia Michaels, Bebe Rexha and Andra Day.

Before they took the stage, Janelle Monae delivered an awe-inspiring speech. 

"Tonight, I am proud to stand in solidarity as not just an artist but a young woman with my fellow sisters in this room who make up the music industry," Monae started. "Artists, writers, assistants, publicists, CEOs, producers, engineers, and women from all sectors of the business."

"We are also daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, and human beings. We come in peace, but we mean business," Monae said. And to those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: Time's up. We say time's up for pay inequality, time's up for discrimination, time's up for harassment of any kind, and time's up for the abuse of power."

"Because, you see, it's not just going on in Hollywood, it's not just going on in Washington — it's right here in our industry as well. And just as we have the power to shake culture, we also have the power to undo the culture that does not serve us well," Monae said. "So let's work together, women and men, as a united music industry, committed to creating more safe work environments, equal pay and access for all women."

The speech was the perfect introduction for Kesha, who accused her former producer Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald of sexual, verbal and emotional abuse and then entered into a lengthy legal battle. 

Kesha even being on the Grammy's stage was a big moment for her return to music. Her teary-eyed performance was particularly moving, though. 

The choice of all-white for the group was a nod to the decision for celebrities to wear white roses in support of #MeToo and Time's Up. 

There's unfiltered — and then there's Cardi B. 

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards had a lot of great moments, but the show and its red carpet would've been a lot more boring if the "Bodak Yellow" rapper hadn't been in attendance. 

She got ~real~ about her pre-show nerves

Giuliana Rancic's face and response — "OK."— were priceless.

Her "Finesse" performance with Bruno Mars

The performance mimicked the 90s themed music video. She killed it, obviously. 

She gushed about her fiancé, Offset

Cardi B feeling insecure about her relationship? Nah.

“It makes me feel good,” Cardi B said to E!. “Even when we’re in an argument... I’m like does he really love me? He got me a half-million dollar ring, yeah he does."

Goals.

Her reaction to how President Trump spends his time

One Grammys bit had various people (including Hillary Clinton!) read excerpts from Michael Wolff's tell-all book about President Donald Trump. Cardi B was...well, shocked.

Never change, Cardi B.

And that’s not to say that most episodes of Grey’s Anatomyare not unbelievably real, because that’s the farthest thing from the truth. For as many times as I’ve thought, “This is ridiculous,” there have been twice as many instances where I’ve still been thinking about storylines days, even years, later. Grey’s tackles even the harshest storylines with grace, from the everyday neglectful parent to the mass shooting, from a lost little girl to the alcoholic chief of surgery, from the struggle of pregnancy and adoption to the sudden loss of a coworker to rapists brought to justice, so much so that even the deaths of minor, first-time patients often leave me in tears.

Jo, Jenny & Dr. Paul Stadler

This past season we’ve seen touches of the #MeToo and more recent Time’s Up movements in Jo’s storyline, which finally came to a head in this week’s “Personal Jesus." We’ve known for a while now that Jo has a dark past, growing up in the foster system and living in her car in high school, and discovered in the season 12 finale that Jo was actually the name she adopted to hide from her abusive husband.

We first met Jo’s husband, Dr. Paul Stadler, when Alex stalked him at a conference near the end of season 13, but it wasn’t until last week’s “1-800-799-7233” that the pair came back into contact, and that we finally learned the full extent of her abuse.

Knowing Alex’s history, and having seen the look on his face last week when Jo said that she wished Stadler was dead, Meredith was certain that the pair was behind Stadler’s hit and run accident at the beginning of this week’s episode, but when the group saw Jenny, Stadler’s fiancé, speaking with police across the hall they realized that she must have been behind it.

Alex tried to convince Jo to stay away from Jenny, not wanting it to seem like they had conspired together, but when Jenny found them later, promising she hadn’t told the police and thanking her for doing it, Jo realized that they were both in the clear, calling whoever was responsible an avenging angel.

Jenny apologized to Jo, forgave her immediately, but Jenny persisted, admitting to Jo, “I really thought I was better than you. I believed everything he told me about you. God, I’m smart! I’m a scientist. I’m a feminist. I never thought I would end up in something like this."

She explained how slowly it had happened, how she lost friends one by one until Stadler was all that was left, and how she started to believe him when he said she was crazy.

"...he can zero in on an insecurity and make a whole argument turn on a dime, and now it’s my fault. It’s my fault again, I’m always the one that’s wrong. When he started hitting me it was just barely a surprise, and he told me it was my fault and I actually believed him. Until you talked to me yesterday, I really believed him. How did I believe him?”

“Because he was good to you in the beginning," Jo told her. "…Jenny we’re not stupid, we don’t fall for someone who beat us. We fell for someone who made us laugh, and feel wanted, and loved, and seen. …the good outweighed the bad, until it didn’t.”

In those two, incredibly raw minutes Jo and Jenny answered the questions that thousands of women ask themselves, that the public asks the women that have found the strength to remove themselves from those situations: "How could you let this happen? How did it get this far? Why didn't you leave him sooner?" Because they're smart, too. They break you down and target your insecurities until you think they're right.

After Stadler woke up, Jenny and Jo walked in together and he once again tried to make Jo out to be the bad guy. He wasn’t surprised that she was trying to "poison" Jenny while he wasn't there to defend himself. Even in one of his weakest moments, in front of witnesses, he still thought he could control them. When he told Jenny to get his stuff so they could leave, she finally stood her ground. 

He thought he had her when he started talking about their life and their wedding, and she told him he should probably call his office and let them know he’d be gone for a few days. He smiled, nodding his head, before she added, “or like ten to twenty years.”

She had him hook line and sinker, and it was such sweet satisfaction to see the look on his face. Jenny promised to take every time he ever hurt her to the police, and when she asked Jo if she’d testify she agreed without hesitation. He called her crazy, trying to use his position and credibility against her, but she, Jo and Meredith all told him she wasn’t. I know I preach girl power a lot these days, but seriously? 

Stick it to the man, ladies. 

Stadler continued to act as though he was the victim, but when he realized she was serious he switched gears, immediately becoming threatening. Some serious dumb luck was on their side as he tripped on his way out of bed, slamming his head against the bed frame and the floor. Dr. Stadler gave himself a second concussion, causing a brain bleed leading to brain death.

Oh, how the mighty fall.

When Jo had the realization that what became of him would be up to her, she broke out into hysterical laughter, apologizing as she struggled to stop before finally breaking down. She and Jenny discussed the options together, the latter asking what would happen if they left him plugged in. Jo explained how he would die, and Jenny said she had wanted him to rot in jail.

“I wanted to stand up and tell the whole world what he did. I wanted to stand up in court and humiliate him the way he humiliated me.” Jo knew what would make up for it, though.

They sat in the gallery as Alex and Meredith harvested his organs.

Jenny asked if Jo thought he was evil. “I mean, I’m a scientist and I think I’m an atheist, but there’s a little part of me wondering if a girl in Billings is getting an evil kidney.”

Jo said she didn’t believe that anyone was just evil.

“Paul was awful in his life, but now in death he gets to do all this good. So there’s light in darkness, and they both coexist. Sometimes it’s really beautiful.”

Police Brutality

But while Paul Stadler was being brought to unusual justice, a 12-year-old black child named Eric Sterling was brought into the ER with a gunshot wound to the neck, cop cars flanking his ambulance. In another timely reflection of far too many police murders, the show took on the Black Lives Matter movement in the same hour. 

Police shot Eric as he was trying to climb through the window of his own house after he forgot his key. Despite protests from Ben, Bailey and Avery, the police refused to back off, and they won't even remove Eric’s cuffs because “they have orders and are doing their jobs, and the suspect is under arrest.”

Eric seemed okay all things considered; Jackson couldn’t find any bullet fragments bedside, but the doctors debated getting a CT due to his age and size and the high level of radiation, with the other option operating blindly. Just before they took him to CT, his family rushed in, revealing that he forgot his keys a lot. He promised his mom that he went to the neighbor’s house before climbing in, like she told him to, but they had not been home.

Eric said he was reaching for his phone to call her, and that’s when they shot him. His parents started to fight with the cops, who wanted to see their IDs and have a discussion, but Avery stepped in, telling the officer that the parents would speak to them when they were ready, ensuring that they could have time with their son before surgery, the first of many times Avery shut everything wrong with his awful situation down.

“Our tax dollars hard at work,” he said of the officer standing watch, protecting them from a 12-year-old who was strapped down to a CT. When April said he was just doing his job, Avery said, “That’s what they always say. What about the cop that shot the little boy. Was he just doing his job?”

April tried to defend them, comparing it to her time in a war zone, and then acknowledging that this had happened in an upper-class neighborhood.

“Those can be the worst neighborhoods for us,” Avery said, “Just being there is suspicious. Just constantly stopped for fitting the description.” He recounted a time he was carrying speakers for a friend when cops slammed him into their car and cuffed him a block from his own house, guns drawn. Even now there is such a stigma surrounding that fact, and when April pointed out that she had never known that, he said, “It doesn’t really come up until it does.”

The CT showed that the bullet had missed Eric's major vessels and would only need IV antibiotics. Bailey sighed in relief, because it could have been so much worse.

“But they took his childhood today,” Avery said. “He’s never going to be the same.”

Unfortunately, that statement was truer than anybody would have thought. Eric's corroded artery later ruptured due to the stress of the incident. The police were waiting outside for him while he talked to Eric's parents. After having gone back and forth all day, they tried to defend themselves. “It was a high-pressure situation and the officer made a judgment call.”

Avery still wouldn't have any of it, though, speaking the truest words of the episode: “No, there’s no judgment in that call, there was just a reaction. You see skin color, we all do, but the reaction that you give to a white kid versus a brown kid in that split second, that’s the measurable fixable difference. Bias is human. You have guns, you’re using guns, so yours is lethal. ...lucky for us, bias is fixable. ...You can fix it, or you can keep pretending that it doesn’t exist at all. ...This kid is dead, for what? So many people that look just like him are dying...”

Just when I thought the episode couldn't get anymore powerful than it was, Bailey and Ben coached Tuck through an interaction with police, showing him how to place his hands and making sure he knew to give his full name and declare himself unarmed.

“Be polite and respectful,” they said. “Don’t fight back. Always tell them what you’re doing before you do it. …Remember, your only goal is to get home safely. …if your white friends are saying things and mouthing off, know that you cannot. You can’t go climbing through windows, play with toy guns, throw rocks, and you cannot ever run away from them, no matter how afraid you are. …everything we’re saying to you, we’re saying because we want you to come home again. We want you to grow up to be anything and everything that you wanna be. …you are amazing. You are perfect, and we want you to stay that way.” 

It's time for more shows to take this lead. It's time for us to normalize talking about domestic violence and deadly racism, even more than we already have. It's time for things to change. 

This past December marked the 62nd anniversary of the beginning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, catalyzed by the day Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the colored section of a city bus to a white passenger. The boycott, a critical component of the civil rights movement, lasted for just over a year and ultimately lead to segregation in the public transportation system being deemed unconstitutional.

Every year, schools teach how Rosa's refusal to stand up began the boycott, but we never really learned how. 

That is, until now.

Behind the Movement covers the three days between Rosa's arrest and the launch of the boycott, telling the untold story of how everyday people chose this incident as the last straw, and decided the time was right to stand up for their civil rights and demand equal treatment. 

I had the pleasure of talking with star Meta Golding, who plays Rosa Parks, about her role, the civil rights movement, working with Isaiah Washington and more.

One synopsis of the film specifically calls this production out as a fast-paced, "unique" retelling. Can you tell us a bit about the film in general, as well as what makes this one so different from previous retellings?

Meta Golding: First of all, and surprisingly for a film about a historical icon of the level of Rosa Parks, there has actually only been one other film. There was one (The Rosa Parks Story) made about 20 years ago with Angela Bassett, which I didn’t watch because I didn’t want to be a copycat.

This takes place the first three days, starting with the day Rosa decides not to give up her seat through the time it took her and the other Montgomery activists to organize and convince thousands of people to boycott. This was in 1955 in the segregated south, so even though it was a tipping point in the civil rights movement, there was a lot of resistance because of the terrorism against black people at the time. They weren’t just putting their livelihoods at risk, but their lives. That’s one element, the other is the personal journey that Rosa took in becoming the face of the boycott. What I didn’t know was that she had already been a seasoned activist, but once she became the face of the boycott, her and her family’s lives all became extraordinarily vulnerable, and there’s that struggle that we really get to experience.

I love Her Campus, and part of this is that this is a woman’s story. Sexism does not discriminate, and even though the civil rights movement is such a huge part of our history, the female stories haven’t been told. As women, we really need to tell these stories. Obviously Martin Luther King Jr. made a huge impact, and there were a lot of other leaders in this, but Rosa Parks was a very strategic choice to become the face of the boycott, and we never really heard her story or the sacrifices that she made. Throughout the movement, and even before emancipation, women played huge rolls that we’ve never heard about. There’s no spotlight on them, and this is a "Her Story."

It’s funny that you mention that, I was just talking to a friend about this and she mentioned Claudette Colvin, who I had never heard of before.

MG: Rosa is not the first woman to refuse to get out of her seat, and Rosa didn’t get out of her seat specifically to start the boycott; she was fed up and just refused to get up, but the NAACP and other organizations were specifically looking to target the transportation system. There were many women before Rosa, but for whatever reason they were deemed unfit to be the face. For the NAACP to convince people to join the boycott, they had to pick someone that people trusted, someone who wasn’t too young, and Rosa held a steady job, she was soft spoken and church going - her image was exaggerated to not just convince white people, but for the movement to have a figure that was not threatening. It was very strategic, and Rosa was not at all the first person, she was just the first person to be picked to be the face. Beside Claudette (a teenager at the time who reportedly fell pregnant with a married man's child), there was another, whose name escapes me, whose husband was a drunk. Y’know, if there were character issues or limited financial resources… organizing cost money. You needed bail money, transportation money, needed to pay for gas and to print flyers, and they felt like they only had one chance. When they were going to boycott it needed to be effective. A non-effective boycott would dissuade people from boycotting in the future.          

In today’s turbulent social climate, I think it’s become more important than ever to remind people of stories like this one, and what spawned because of it and others like it. Did this come into play at all when you were making the decision to sign on to the project?

MG: Well yes! Definitely, of course. Because this last year, with this new administration, has been such a difficult time for a lot of people. All of the sexist and racist comments coming out of it have disheartened people, but it has them engaged, too. In my community everyone is always talking about politics, and people are more active. These are the OGs of activism! So yes, as a woman, a million percent.

What else drew you to the role?

MG: The script was really beautiful, and I loved that it was a concise telling. (At first) I was like, is it a biopic? Are we going through her entire life? I do think Rosa Parks had an amazing life, and there are many aspects worth being told, but I really liked how concise this was. There are a lot of questions about her – you know they say it all happened because she was tired, but what actually happened in these days?

I was also a fan of our director, Aric Avelino, a beautiful film maker. And I also got to work with some of my heroes! Isaiah, Loretta, Roger... I have been so inspired by them that the opportunity to star in a movie with them? I was not going to turn that up, and it was really amazing to work with them.

This seems like a far cry from projects like The Hunger Games or a soap opera – what was it like working on a true story as compared to your previous roles?

MG: Well, interesting. Okay, so what was interesting was that The Hunger Games was a very political story, so even though it was a completely different genre, completely different everything, it is a series about resistance. So there were similarities. But interesting you ask me that because I didn’t have how Daniel Day-Lewis has a year to prepare, I only had a couple of weeks. It was like a mad rush, because you’re stepping into an icon’s shoes. I was looking at audio, video, anything I could get my hands on. In the consciousness, it’s not like playing Martin Luther King Jr. where everyone knows that iconic voice and timbre, or like Jackie Kennedy. It kind of relaxed me, and I was able to learn her accent, but then kind of channel her and not worry about getting a clone of what I thought was Rosa Parks. I could come up with an interpretation of her organically; I didn’t have to imitate who I thought that she was. I know she was a prolific writer from reading her books, and reading other things that people wrote about her, but I didn’t have to get it exactly right because in our public consciousness we don’t know her specific tone of voice.

Behind the Movement premieres during Black History Month — can you talk a bit about what the timing of this project means to you, and for viewers?

MG: Black History Month is a month to recognize all of the wonderful contributions that black people have added to our country, so I think it’s wonderful that this month TV One decided to put a spotlight on Rosa Parks. I think that in today’s culture not only is Rosa Parks a great black icon, but she is a great American heroine. I think it’s just wonderful.

So you’re a bit of a yoga buff – is that how you would find yourself winding down after some of the more intense days on set?

MG: I tried! I have to say that while I was shooting there wasn’t much exercise happening because we were on such a tight schedule. Usually I’d have to come home and just focus on the next day, and what I’d do in my hotel was just run up and down the steps when I got the chance. I’d try to tell myself to calm down and do yoga, but then I’d think to myself that Rosa Parks was not doing yoga. I also tried to teach myself to sew, because she was a seamstress. It didn’t work out very well, but there was an attempt.

You mentioned before that you were on a tight schedule, how quickly did you shoot this?

MG: We started right around the time the project was announced in October and we shot it in 14 days. Let me tell you something, because it was very difficult. We didn’t have the budget that say Spielberg has. It was a teeny tiny budget and a jam-packed schedule, and it was a period piece so everyone had to be in costume ,and extras had to have their hair cut a certain way, but they got the caliber of actor that has come into this project because they wanted to tell this story. This was not about money, this was because we all believed in the importance of telling this story. I’ve never been on a set where the extras would weep, and even the actors that had smaller rolls were all top of the line people, and they all came in in a really heartfelt way. There was so much heart in this film, and it was palpable. I’ve been on many sets and never felt this level of energy or seen this kind of work ethic, because everyone knows that – like Zero Dark Thirty, this is about Osama Bin Laden, and even though it’s fiction - we know the tremendous impact film has on creating our collective history.

Lastly, because he’s been in two of my favorite shows, what was it like working with Isaiah Washington?

MG: He is brilliant — a brilliant actor and a brilliant person. I had never worked with him, or even met him before. He just brought so much passion as E. D. Nixon, another unsung hero in the civil rights movement, and he really advocated for his character. And really all of us! He was full of passion, and had so many stories he would tell me. He’s worked with filmmakers like Spike Lee and Soderbergh, he was like an encyclopedia of knowledge and information to be around. He was so intense, I really think he is one of America’s best actors. I think that of all of them, P.S.

Behind the Movement premieres on TV One Sunday, February 11 at 7 pm ET. 

Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, was not a fan Sunday night’s Grammy skit involving Hillary Clinton—so much so that she took to Twitter to voice her opinion, CNN reports.

The skit featured Grammy’s host James Corden and artists like John Legend, Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B and DJ Khaled alongside Clinton in a pre-taped segment. The segment was a spoof on a spoken-word audition with a very clear political agenda. Each celebrity read an excerpt from Michael Wolff’s controversial book Fire and Fury, with Clinton making the final cut at the end.

"He had a longtime fear of being poisoned, one reason why he liked to eat at McDonald’s—nobody knew he was coming and the food was safely pre-made," read Clinton.

While the politically charged skit is not surprising in light of celebrity involvement in politics, that doesn't mean it was completely well received. Haley and others close to President Trump bashed the skit, denouncing the Grammy’s choice to include it.

"Don’t ruin great music with trash," tweeted Haley on Sunday evening, attracting a lot of media attention.

Her fury didn’t end there, however. The tweet in full reads, "I have always loved the Grammys but to have artists read the Fire and Fury book killed it. Don’t ruin great music with trash. Some of us love music without the politics thrown in it."

President Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., echoed Haley's thoughts in his own tweet.

"Getting to read a #fakenews book excerpt at the Grammys seems like a great consolation prize for losing the presidency. #GrammyAwards," wrote Trump Jr.

Haley and Trump Jr.’s tweets against the book don’t come as a surprise after weeks of the Trump Administration’s talk against it. Haley herself has even addressed a rumor alleging an affair between herself and President Trump, calling it "absolutely not true" in a podcast for Politico.

As to whether or not the skit was appropriate to include in this year's Grammy Awards, you can judge for yourself by watching the segment in full below. 

Bruno Mars certainly woke up with no jammies today as he likely partied all the way through the night after absolutely destroying the Grammys last night.

As the night's big winner, Bruno picked up six awards including Album and Record of the Year for "24K Magic" and Song of the Year for "That's What I Like," both colossal smash hits for the Puerto Rican artist. 

While accepting his award for Album of the Year, Mars gave a shout-out to all of the other artists that came before him and inspired him to get to the point where he is today. He acknowledged that without the likes of Baby Face, Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis or Teddy Riley, he wouldn't be on that stage.

He continued, "Those songs were written with nothing but joy and for one reason and one reason only and that’s love and that’s all I wanted to bring with this album was love." The Recording Academy seemed to notice as they reciprocated that love with the night's biggest awards!

But that wasn't all he had for the Grammy Awards. The singer also took to the stage for a 90s throwback to In Living Color when he performed "Finesse (Remix)" with rap sensation Cardi B. It was a swirl of colors, dance movies and brevity that set the stage on fire. It was full of the joy he so seriously envisioned for this album and his live performances. It's what sets Bruno Mars apart from his contemporaries.

However, the wins were slightly marred as many believe that the awards were geared heavily towards men and gave very little credit to the women of all genres for their contributions to music over the last year. Though it's a major win for Bruno Mars, it is worth noting that not only were so few women nominated in major categories, women only won six out of the 84 trophies last night.

We'll see what next year holds for us!

In case you live under a rock or don't have a Twitter or Facebook account, last night was the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. 

There were too many celebrities to name, incredible performances and jokes from the show's host James Corden. But one of the biggest surprises was how long into the telecast it took for things to turn political. For much of the first two hours, there was nary a specific mention of the current administration.

That changed during a bit that had celebrities read excerpts from the tell-all book about President Trump, and when Camila Cabello took center stage to introduce U2.

She began, "Tonight, in this room full of dreamers, we remember that this country was built by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream." 

"I’m here on this stage tonight because, just like the Dreamers, my parents brought me to this country with nothing in their pockets but hope," Cabello said. “They showed me what it means to work twice as hard and never give up. And honestly no part of my journey is different from theirs. I’m a proud Cuban-Mexican immigrant born in eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City and all I know is, just like dreams, these kids can’t be forgotten and are worth fighting for."

Cabello continued, explaining she was honored to introduce U2. The band performed on the Hudson River with the Statue of Liberty in the background. 

U2 is known for their advocacy on a variety of causes, including AIDS, access to clean water — and now, keeping "Dreamers," (undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US as children) in the country. It seemed fitting that a girl of Mexican and Cuban heritage that came her herself as an immigrant would introduce their powerful performance.