There’s no denying that it's hard work being an Olympian. We’re all aware of the countless hours of training, plus the physical and mental strength it takes to be one of the chosen few competing for gold at this year’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Aside from the work that it takes to be considered one of the world’s best athletes in your respective sport, there are other hurdles (pun intended) that come with the competition. 

Amy Williams, the 2010 U.K. Olympic champion in skeleton racing, tweeted out a unique question: how can she avoid her makeup freezing during the games? 

Williams isn’t alone in her struggle, with many of the on-air television journalists citing that any water-based makeup and skincare products would freeze onto their face during their time in Pyeongchang. I’m sure there’s enough to focus on during the Olympics itself, without having to worry about your makeup turning to ice. 

Twitter and its hoards of beauty gurus were quick to come to Williams’ rescue, offering some alternative, freeze-proof products that she can use in the harsh climate: 

While the consensus seems to be that the iconic Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36 at Smashbox) is a must-have, many decided to use this as an opportunity to tell Williams that she didn’t need to wear any makeup (which really wasn’t the point?).

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to have a conversation about makeup online without someone chiming in to say that it's not necessary, or that “natural is better”?  

While we’re all entitled to our own opinions, when it comes to what women want to put, or not put, on their faces, it's really no one’s GD business. Women wear makeup to please themselves, not others, and if Williams wants to wear makeup to the Olympics, then let her. 

Lets hope that Williams and her makeup have a wonderful-and-not-frozen time finishing the 2018 Winter Olympics. 

Header Image: Amy Williams / Instagram

Any person who wears makeup has probably received some insult or backhanded compliment about it, but we don't always think about how these comments can be racially charged when they're directed at women of color. Known as microaggressions, it's basically passing subtle, maybe even unintentional, discrimination against members of a marginalized group. FYI, these microagressions occur way too often in the beauty community, as seen when Reddit user eraser_dust started a thread revealing the impact that offensive makeup “advice” has on people of color.

Eraser_dust kicked off the thread by explaining, “I post my makeup on IG, and I have monolids (Asian eyes with no crease), so of course I get racist comments like these. I'm sure every person of colour has gotten racist comments at least once. I'm not talking about these sorts of comments, but rather seemingly 'well-intentioned' comments.”

Some of those “well-intentioned” comments she’s received include offensive rhetoric like, “but why are you trying to hide the fact that you have monolids with makeup? Monolids are beautiful on their own.”

These pseudo-supportive comments might not seem offensive to those who don’t experience these microaggressions. 

However, microaggressions themselves can be a form of racism. Unfortunately, eraser_dust isn’t alone in her experience with these intolerant comments. Lemonbee joined in with her own stories of people policing her makeup. “I'm Hispanic and white and growing up was a struggle because of this. My mom would alternate between telling me my features were beautiful and exotic and telling me to stop doing my makeup certain ways because 'that lipstick makes you look too ethnic' or 'your brows are already too thick, like Frida Kahlo!'”

The people who choose to make these unwarranted comments about another person’s makeup probably think they're helpful, but there’s nothing constructive about saying your makeup looks “too ethnic.” Seriously, wtf is that even supposed to mean?

One Redditor explains how strenuous it is to continually have to explain why these comments are so problematic. “POC here, yes it is a load. To AAAALWAYS need to educate others is TIRING. I do my best on any given day but seriously, just Google it. Google your questions, your ideas,” Blergh_MaGerks writes. After all, it’s nobody’s job to do this research for you. 

Nevertheless, we're here to offer some necessary info to anyone who might be compelled to comment on someone’s “ethnic looking makeup.” First of all, derogatory comments about someone’s makeup isn’t just about the makeup. This injustice runs deeper than any foundation or eyeshadow.

Policing someone’s makeup because it doesn’t fit the current beauty standard is essentially policing their makeup because it doesn’t look "white" enough.

It’s no surprise that conventional beauty standards are biased and Eurocentric. Because the beauty industry primarily uses light-skinned models in its advertisement and product photos, that sets up the narrative that only white bodies are beautiful. Aside from destroying young beauty lovers’ self-worth with this lack of representation in the beauty community, this narrative makes others think that there’s a particular way that ~makeup~ should look too.

Such has been the case for criticalacclaim_, who commented on the thread, saying, “A few days ago I wore blush and my friend 'complimented' me by saying 'Nice it makes you look less brown'". NOPE. 

Beyond advocating to destroy the extraordinarily exclusive system that the beauty industry was built on, we can stop these makeup-related microaggressions by educating ourselves about these issues. And when in doubt, just ask a POC friend what's inappropriate to say, and they'll help you out real fast. 

It's a tale as old as time — boy meets girl. Boy breaks up with girl. Boy pines over girl while she dates other boys. Boy grows. Girl grows. Boy and girl get back together. In this case, I'm talking about Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber.

They sent all of our hearts aflutter last night when it leaked that the two were spending a romantic evening together at the Montage Beverly Hills Hotel. After attending a church service for Ash Wednesday, the two headed to the hotel for a Valentine's Day dinner where they got cuddly AF. 

If you want the ~deets~ a source told E! News, "They were seated inside on a couch, just the two of them. They were both very happy and in a great mood. Selena was very flirty and confident. She had her arms wrapped around Justin's neck and was kissing him and didn't seem to care who was watching. She was caressing his face and ran her hands through his hair. They were talking very closely and laughing as they ordered a few appetizers. They sat side by side and just talked and had a great time."

OK — the description and video are admittedly creepy — but you get the picture. They're Jelena! They're cute!

The two have been spotted together numerous times throughout the past few months (after Selena's split from The Weeknd), practically pulling a Miley/Liam.

Only time will tell what the future holds for these two, but for now, we'll swoon over their adorable reconciliation!

It looks like congratulations are in order for Amy Schumer and Chris Fisher!

The comedian and chef were secretly hitched on Tuesday in Malibu, California. Schumer had just confirmed their relationship this past weekend by posting a photo of her kissing Fisher at Ellen DeGeneres' birthday party. 

Now, they're hitched!

She posted a follow-up note to the first post that said two things: she's not pregnant (no shotgun wedding here!), and she did not want gifts, but for those considering it, they could instead donate to Everytown for Gun Safety. The call for donations came after Wednesday's school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Schumer then began posting more photos, and so did some of the wedding attendees. Jennifer Lawrence, Chelsea Handler, Jennifer Aniston, Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, David Spade, Judd Apatow, Bridget Everett and Jake Gyllenhaal were just a few of the celebrities in attendance. 

Oh, and did I mention John Early officiated the wedding in drag?

Mazel Tov to the happy couple!

The killer Kardashian-West couple is back it again! Back in late January, Kanye revealed Season 6 of his Yeezy Collection, causing an uproar on social media and among the fashion crowd.

The iconic line featured basic everyday essentials such as hoodies and sneakers. The rapper, along with the Season 6 models, took to Instagram to promote the line — however, there was one detail that left consumers a tad confused: all of the models looked like his wife, Kim Kardashian.

Things got even crazier when one of the models — the iconic and former employer of Kardashian, Paris Hilton — claimed she had no idea that she would be transformed into Kardashian’s identical twin in the shoot.

“They didn't tell me the concept. I just knew I was wearing the clothes." Hilton said in an interview with Cosmopolitan. “When they finished and I looked in the mirror I was laughing. I literally looked like Kim’s twin, so I sent her a picture and we were both laughing about it. She’s like, 'You look so hot. I love the wig on you.'"

The Instagram photo of Hilton basically makes her look like the fourth Kardashian, with Hilton wearing the same bleach blonde hair, rocking the same crop top and sweats.

It’s no secret that West admires his wife to no end, as he even returned to Instagram just to wish her a special Valentine’s Day. So, why wouldn’t he dedicate his entire clothing line, and models, to her?

But, Hilton doesn’t mind. In fact, she might just keep the Kim K twin look. "I’m going to order some custom [wigs] because they’re really cool," she toldCosmopolitan. "I love her. We’ve been friends since we were little girls."

Turns out some friendships really do last a lifetime… and a Yeezy Season 6 debut.

Chloe Kim just wowed us all by winning the gold medal in PyeongChang for the Olympic halfpipe. Obvi this is something that very few 17-year-olds can accomplish, but don’t be fooled. Kim is just like every other teenager (just add a gold medal).

Apparently, the only thing keeping her from crying after winning the gold medal was her eyeliner. She told the Today show, "I was trying so hard to hold the tears back because I was like 'I can’t cry right now. I can’t do this. I worked so hard on my eyeliner.'"

If we were winning gold medals in the Olympics (we can dream right?) that would probably be our reaction too. Like, who would want to have mascara running down their eyes on national TV? Totally understandable.

Not only does Lush make amazing, ethically-sourced and made products, but the company is also vocal on various political and social issues. Lush has a history of making products whose proceeds go directly to various charities or campaigns. Now, they are launching a campaign called #TransRightsAreHumanRights, which is specifically to educate customers about the trans community and how to be an ally.

The campaign is being launched today with the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity and the National Center for Transgender Equality, with an overall goal to raise $450,000. The company is selling the Inner Truth Bath Melt in which all of the purchase price will go to organizations that advocate for trans rights. They have also created an online resource for allies and the trans community as well as pocket manuals that will be given to customers in North American stores.

The company states, "There is still so much work to be done, we hope our campaign will spark conversations and educate all of us how to become better allies to the transgender and non-binary community. It is up to all of us to raise awareness on the discriminations and dangers transgender people, including our employees, face every day."

Another day, another celebrity breakup to crush our hearts and question our belief in love. After seven years together and two years of marriage, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have announced that they separated at the end of last year.

According to a statement provided to People by Jennifer Aniston's team, the couple wanted to get ahead of the rumor mill and address speculation about their relationship status, which many had been questioning after Theroux was noticeably absent from Aniston's 49th birthday celebration this past Sunday.

"In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation," their joint statement reads. "This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."

"Normally we would do this privately, but given that the gossip industry cannot resist an opportunity to speculate and invent, we wanted to convey the truth directly," the statement continues. :Whatever else is printed about us that is not directly from us, is someone else’s fictional narrative. Above all, we are determined to maintain the deep respect and love that we have for one another."

Considering it was not even a year ago that Theroux's adorable words about his wife and their super private, secret wedding ceremony officially made him our new standard for boyfriend goals, the couple's decision to split is heartbreaking — and we definitely didn't see it coming. Despite our devastation, it sounds like even though the romantic spark is no longer there, we can at least take comfort in the fact that they're trying to save their friendship and remain respectful of one another.

It also doesn't hurt (as many quickly pointed out), that there's another silver lining to the whole thing — and it's the fact that there may still yet be hope for one of the most iconic couples of the early '00s. Yes, it's the first time that Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt have both been single in, well, years. And it didn't take long for the Internet to put two and two together.

Of course, it's all just speculation at this point — but then again, Aniston and Pitt were reportedly exchanging a few friendly texts early last year following Pitt's divorce from Angelina Jolie, so we're not about to rule anything out yet.

Okay, new relationship goals: find you an S.O. who you know (and knows you) so well that you literally plan the exact same wedding proposal for each other, on the exact same day — which is exactly what happened to now-engaged lesbian couple Tori Monaco and Berkley Cade.

According to BuzzFeed News, Cade, who is stationed in the Air Force in Texas, started shopping a few months ago for rings to propose to Monaco, a University of Texas-Austin senior and her girlfriend of one year. She then started discussing ways to propose with her mom, Kristy (as one does), and they decided it would be perfect for her to propose to Monaco while the couple was visiting Cade's family in Washington, during a game of Pictionary.

Things took an adorable turn when Monaco *also* called Kristy to say that she had bought Cade a ring and was also planning to propose DURING THEIR TRIP TO WASHINGTON. Let's just get it out of the way now: these two were clearly meant to be.

Of course, Kristy did what any amazing mom would and helped set up both proposals for the same place at the same time. (All while Monaco and Cade had absolutely no idea of what was going on.)

"[Kristy] said she was planning a fun game night already, so I could do it then so Berk wouldn't be suspicious," Monaco told BuzzFeed. "I said great, I could incorporate it into charades, and she said how about Pictionary!"

The result? There basically aren't words to describe the extent to which this proposal is #CoupleGoals, so you'll just have to watch their proposal for yourself — which quickly went viral on Twitter for obvious reasons.

"When she began drawing the picture and had her hands shaking and was taking so long to draw the prompt, I had my heart pounding thinking she must know I am going to propose," Monaco told BuzzFeed. "There is no way she is proposing too. And when I got down on one knee and proposed and she was struck mute, I figured I would give a speech and she would say yes, but instead she pulls out her own ring. I [was] laughing at the coincidence, crying tears of happiness, and unbelievably shocked that something so perfect was happening to me."

The couple already has their wedding date set for September 27, 2019. Congratulations!

Believe us when we say your four years in high school fly by. But in those four years, you learn so much — how to pick classes, take standardized tests like the SATs and ACTs, get somewhat of an idea of what you’re passionate about, write college essays, decide where you’re going to spend the next four years of your life and more.

But there’s one resource you may not have fully used to your advantage — your teacher. Your high school teachers have a plethora of knowledge that you can acquire beyond what’s going to be on your next test. Here are eight things you should learn from your high school teachers while you still can.

1. Form relationships with your teachers

This goes a long way, both in high school and college. Forming relationships with teachers in high school can help you soon-to-be collegiettes find people to write your college recommendations, read over essays, etc. This transfers over to college because you will also need professors to write recommendations for scholarships, put down as references when applying for jobs, and more.

Juliette Sebock, a junior at Gettysburg College, encourages high school students to become close with their teachers. “I tell everyone I know at the high school age that the best thing you can do is become close to a teacher — better yet, multiple," she says. "There's nothing wrong with being a 'teacher's pet!' I was really close to a teacher in high school and I attribute a huge portion of my college acceptance to that teacher; not only did he write my rec for the actual application, but he wrote one for the program that led me to my dream school in the first place!"

Holly Rhue, a senior at George Mason University, agrees and adds, “Pre-collegiettes should definitely learn how to communicate and form relationships with their teachers. Once you get to college, it's so important to go to your professors' office hours and communicate with them regularly. If you let them learn your strengths, they can open so many doors for you!”

Start learning to form these relationships in high school, and you’ll be ahead of the game in college.

2. Ask your teachers for academic help

It might seem embarrassing to be that one student who needs extra help in class, but it’ll totally be worth it in the long run. Utilize after-school tutoring hours and review sessions. These opportunities provide reinforcement for what’s taught in the classroom and will only be beneficial. The same opportunities will appear in college, except your college professors most likely won’t hold you accountable for getting extra help. If you're able to seek help for schoolwork in high school, chances are that it’ll be just as easy to do it in college.

Courtney Mercado, a senior from the University of Southern California, shares her experience with getting academic help in high school and how that helped her transition into college. “In high school, I was able to build relationships with my teachers where I could ask them for academic help without feeling subconscious, and later on I was able to even ask them for college and career advice," she says. "I was able to build up these connections by sitting in the front of the classroom and staying after school for extra help. Accepting that I couldn't always figure things out on my own helped me transition into college. I was able to transfer this mentality over to college by sitting in the front of class, going to office hours, and scheduling appointments with my professors.”

Getting academic help when you need it is important to succeeding in college. Your professors have a lot of insight on their subject matter. Just like in high school, professors are there to help and are usually welcoming to the students that visit them in their office.

3. Learn to accept feedback from your teachers 

There’s a reason why you had to write multiple drafts of your senior year research essay. High school is a time to prepare you for intensive writing in college, except you may not have as many chances to fix your errors and mistakes.

Jessica Nolte, a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University, emphasizes that it’s important to learn how to take criticism from high school teachers. “Sometimes what's perceived as negative feedback hurts, and it can be really hard not to take it personally, but most teachers are trying to help," Jessica says. "I've also found college professors to be overall more critical. Learning to take criticism and improve your work in high school will help a lot in college because while your peers are blaming the professors for being too critical you'll be using their feedback to make yourself a better student and professional in your industry.”

Use the feedback that your teachers give you throughout your multiple drafts to devise a polished, well-written final draft. If you need further clarification on their feedback, then ask. Your teachers are there to help you become the best version of yourself.

4. Watch how your teachers present information to the class

You might be thinking Huh? How is this going to prepare me for college?Well, if you haven’t already done this in high school, you’re going to be giving a lot of presentations in college. Whether you’re presenting a project, case study or thesis, sooner or later you will be at the front of the classroom explaining your thoughts and ideas to your peers.

If you have stage fright or get nervous talking in front of crowds, examine how your teacher explains lessons to the class, and don’t be afraid to ask for help with your own presentation skills. Teachers are pretty much paid to be presenters of information, and you could probably learn a thing or two from them on how to captivate an audience.

5. Master how to take notes

Going hand in hand with watching how your teacher presents information to the class is learning how to take notes. College professors do not typically give handouts or study guides, so taking good notes is crucial.

Lauren Hughes, a junior at James Madison University, advises pre-collegiettes to get their high school teachers' feedback on their notes. "One thing I really wish I learned from my high school teachers was how to take thorough notes on class lectures and readings," she says. "I think it would be a good idea for pre-collegiettes to have their teachers review their notes to get their input on ways to improve them." Learning how to take good notes in high school will make it easier for you to retain information and study in college.

6. Observe how your teachers are setting examples

Teachers are expected to be good examples for students. For example, at the very least, your teachers must dress business casual — if not business professional. Pick up some style tips from your high school teachers, because it will help you in the near future.

Once you get to college, you’ll be more than likely to have to dress up for an interview, internship, job, or networking event. The difference in college is that no one is necessarily going to tell you if that dress is too casual or your pants suit is too long — you’re already expected to know these things.

Related: 4 Things Admissions Officers Are Looking for in Your Interview 

7. Notice how your teachers handle unexpected issues

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and teachers sure do know this — the whole class fails a test, one student especially acts up in class, and so much more. But, we can’t let unexpected events get in the way of reaching our goals.

Daenna Echipare, a junior at Towson University, shares some great advice from one of her high school teachers. “My anatomy teacher once said, ‘If you commit 100% to everything you do, and look past the possible failure, you'll be amazed at what you can do every day,’”  Daenna says. We could not agree more with her anatomy teacher.

Ladies, don’t sweat the small things. Use these bumps in the road as lessons learned and motivation to do better.

8. Grasp the idea of cooperative learning

High school teachers see it all the time — the student who gets a high grade gets made fun of for being a nerd, the student staying after school gets teased for needing extra help and the list goes on. But how does these actions help high school students once they get to college, or even graduate from college? News flash: It won’t.

Jess Gomez, a fourth year student at the University of Virginia, gave her input on this type of situation. “You learn that making fun of that ‘other girl/guy’ isn't really going to get you anywhere," she says. "It won't make you smarter than them, it won't make you more successful than them, and it definitely won't make you better than them.”

High school teachers typically have a classroom of diverse students and have to learn how to work with all of them, so learn to be part of the solution. Instead of trying to tear someone down or put your effort into being better than them, learn how to work with people as they are. Learn what their skills are and encourage them to use those skills to help others. Learn how to lift each other up. Let’s be women empowering other women (and men).

In the end, you’ll learn more than just how to use SOH CAH TOA or when Columbus sailed the ocean blue from your high school teachers. High school is a vital time that prepares you for the real world — college and beyond. Utilize the knowledge and resources given to you by your high school teacher. It’ll make the transition into college a whole lot easier.

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.)

Senate Fails to Pass Plan to Protect Dreamers

On Thursday, the Senate voted on four different plans that would protect undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, (a.k.a. the Dreamers) from deportation — and voted against every single one. As BuzzFeed News reports, this was likely senators' last chance to pass anything that would fix DACA and prevent Dreamers from being deported, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated that he will not allow further voting on the matter after this week, and the DACA will expire on March 5. 

However, two court injunctions currently prevent DACA recipients from being deported for now, so it's unlikely that the Trump administration would be able to begin deporting Dreamers immediately on DACA's expiration date.

Florida Shooting Suspect Confesses to Shooting and Killing 17 People

Nikolas Cruz, the suspect in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in which 17 people were killed, confessed to the shooting shortly after being taken into custody on Wednesday, the New York Times reports. Cruz was reportedly a former student at the high school who had recently been expelled, and multiple students are beginning to come forward with disturbing stories about Cruz, including one in which he posted that he wanted to become "a professional school shooter" on a classmate's YouTube video. Cruz has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

McDonald's Plans to Remove Cheeseburgers and Chocolate Milk from Happy Meal Offerings

On Thursday, McDonald's announced that by June, its "Happy Meal" options will only feature combinations of 600 calories or less, as part of the company's focus on cutting calories, sodium, saturated fat and sugar from the meals, which are generally aimed at children. As such, Micky Ds plans to take the cheeseburger option away from the Happy Meal altogether, and temporarily remove chocolate milk until the recipe is reformulated with less sugar. The company will also add bottled water as a beverage option and downsize the fries to a kid-friendly portion.

What to look out for...

Black Panther, a.k.a. what may be the longest-awaited Marvel movie yet, hits theaters today — and in case you haven't heard already, here's why that's such a big deal. 

To the people who believe that couples formed on The Bachelor are destined for nothing other than a break-up, prepare to be proved wrong again. Carly Waddell and Evan Bass, who met and fell in love on season three of Bachelor in Paradise, have just welcomed a baby daughter!

Isabella Evelyn Bass was born just yesterday (February 15) at 1:58 p.m., according to PEOPLE, and weighs six pounds, eight ounces.

The couple has been documenting Waddell’s pregnancy journey on social media, including posting baby shower pictures back in January. And they’re not afraid to hide their emotions, either: Bass said he “cried a lot during the birth!” which is pretty heartwarming, if you ask me.

Bass has three other children (sons Nathan, Liam, and Ensley), but this is his first daughter and Waddell’s first child. Bass and Waddell's love story began in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which seems to be a pretty special place for them: they got married there (their wedding was also televised in season four of Bachelor in Paradise), and found out that Waddell was pregnant there, too!

Congratulations to the happy family and welcome to the world, baby Isabella!

Since the beginning of 2018, there have been 30 mass shootings in the United States. In 2017, there were 307 mass shootings, according to Gun Violence Archive. To put that number into perspective, there were nearly as many mass shootings in 2017 as there were days. 

Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit organization that tracks incidents of gun violence, defines a mass shooting as an incident where four or more people die (the shooter is not included in that calculation).

The growing epidemic of mass shootings has become a recent catalyst for the debate around gun violence and gun control policy. However, to understand why gun violence occurs, we first have to uncover how guns get into the hands of everyday civilians — and to do that, we have to understand the NRA.

Making Their Mark: The Formation of the NRA and Marksmanship

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was founded in 1871 by Union veterans Colonel William C. Church and General George Wingate. The sole purpose for the formation of the organization was to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis.” To do this, the NRA cites that an important facet of their creation was the development of a practice ground for gun enthusiasts to practice safely.

According to the NRA, “With financial help from New York State, a site on Long Island, the Creed Farm, was purchased for the purpose of building a rifle range. Named Creedmoor, the range opened a year later, and it was there that the first annual matches were held.”  Political debate stirred after this purchase, and to quiet those in opposition, the NRA moved to Sea Girt, New Jersey. These matches grew in popularity and to keep up with demand, the NRA began construction on a new facility on the shores of Lake Erie and drew crowds of spectators and rifle enthusiasts from near and far.  The NRA used these matches and the growing popularity of marksmanship as a selling point to praise the efforts and sanctity of the Second Amendment.

However, concerns about the safety and lack of transparency from the NRA regarding gun ownership regulations, soon began. In response to these attacks, the NRA formed the Institute for Legislative Action in 1975, with the sole purpose of educating all Americans with data and facts that they hoped would back up their reasoning for encouraging gun ownership. These efforts would eventually become lobbying. 

The Gun Lobby and Their Bullet Proof Vest

The gun lobby at its core is comprised of two parties — those in favor of stricter regulations and those in favor of less. If you’re having trouble determining what party the NRA calls home, please reference the paragraph above. 

The NRA lobbies for less restrictions and does so with a single-track mind. Their tactics are brazen and bold.  At an NRA annual meeting in 2002, executive vice president of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre said, “We must declare that there are no shades of gray in American freedom. It’s black and white, all or nothing.”

The NRA has since used this message to rally and motivate supporters of the organization, and use the fear of disarmament if necessary. 

The most recent estimate from the Pew Research Center states that U.S. civilians own 270 to 310 million firearms, with 35 percent to 42 percent of households in the country having at least one gun. 

The NRA rooted themselves on the principle that the Second Amendment should be protected at all costs, and in order to do so, they stand on the platform that gun ownership is the only way to uphold this right.  

So what restrictions are currently in place?

To answer that question, you have to go state by state. Generally speaking the restrictions that are put in place by states are less restrictive than federal regulations which include taxing firearms, regulating interstate commerce purchase of guns and mandating the legal age of purchasing a gun at 21 years old. And most importantly and most debated in recent memory: the issue of background checks.

The federal regulations currently in place require a prospective gun owner to complete a Firearms Transaction Record. Once they complete this, the National Crime Information Center, the Interstate Identification Index and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System index are accessed and, in as little as a few minutes, a prospective buyer can purchase a gun. 

So who cannot purchase a gun under federal regulations?

• Someone who has been convicted of, or is under indictment for, a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year
• A fugitive from justice
• An unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance
• Someone underage
• Someone who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution
• Someone unlawfully in the United States or has been admitted to the U.S. under a nonimmigrant visa
• Someone who has been dishonorably discharged from the military
• Someone who has renounced his or her U.S. citizenship
• Someone who is subject to a court order restraining him or her from harassing, stalking or threatening an intimate partner, his or her child or a child of a partner, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child
• Someone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor offense of domestic violence

While the federal government is able to regulate gun ownership, the real power lies in the states, and the politicians who represent them.  Which would explain why the NRA hasdonated funds to congressional politicians. $4.23 million since 1998 to be exact. 

So, who is donating to the NRA?

In short, gun owners and gun companies that want to keep pro-gun politicians in office are primarily donating. As Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center told Business Insider, "Today's NRA is a virtual subsidiary of the gun industry. While the NRA portrays itself as protecting the 'freedom' of individual gun owners, it's actually working to protect the freedom of the gun industry to manufacture and sell virtually any weapon or accessory." 

The large donations the NRA is able to hand out to politicians who will support their beliefs and their stance on gun laws comes strictly from American’s who believe in protecting their guns at any cost. The group's strategy of suggesting politicians who support stricter gun regulations will also take away their guns, has certainly aided in an increase in funds to the organization.

How Politics Got A Hand on the Trigger 

The political landscape has long been a cat and a mouse game. One party gains control and spends their entire term trying to repeal whatever the other party put in place before them. 

The Republicans have been known as the pro-gun party, while the Democrats are known to side with stricter regulations that inevitably reduce the number of guns.  So, how has the NRA and their stance on relaxed gun regulations managed to escape the house majority-Democratic griphold? Money and status.

In short, politicians accept donations from the NRA and in return enforce and support the NRA’s beliefs and stance on relaxed gun regulations. The New York Times reports that senator John McCain of Arizona has accepted $7,740,521 from the NRA since he began his political career. Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina has accepted, $6,986,620 and house member French Hill of Arkansas has accepted, $1,089,477 from the NRA to support his campaign efforts. The top 10 senators that received donations from the NRA are Republicans and of the top 100 House members that received donations, 95 are Republicans.

Organizations are allowed to make donations to political candidates as long as they abide by federal regulations — so the aforementioned donations are all entirely legal. However, Lee Drutman, author of The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Politicized and Politics became More Corporate, said “The way you rise up in Republican politics is by supporting gun rights issues, and you do that because there a lot of Republican voters in the coalition who care very deeply about gun rights.”

But, obviously, this conversation isn't anything new: Politicians have long been debating and legislating over this issue — though there isn't a whole lot of new data to work with.

In 1996, a provision called the Dickey Amendment was inserted as a rider to the annual spending bill. The provision mandated, "none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control." 

The amendment was named after Republican member of the US House of Representatives, Jay Dickey and was introduced after a 1993 study by Arthur Kellermann, who found that guns in the home were associated to a higher risk of homicide in the same household. The NRA lobbied against this study and three years later the Dickey Amendment was enacted that left many researchers afraid to include gun-related issues in their research for fear that they'd lose their federal funding. Although Dickey later said he regretted how the amendment discouraged so much gun research, it's still in effect today (and has been passed as a rider amendment each year since.)

Looking Down the Barrel & To The Future 

In 2017, 555 people died as the result of a mass shooting The NRA and those in support of the NRA have had a very simple response— they are sending their thoughts and prayers (which has become a controversial platitude itself in gun control discourse). Their argument, just like their stance, is simple —restricting guns is restricting Americans from their Second Amendment right, which they're committed to fighting.

The debate of gun control and how much control should be leveraged is as heated as ever. But it is evident that NRA members and those in favor of less gun control are fighting every single day for their cause, while many of those in favor of stricter regulations are only taking charge when a mass shooting occurs. And while those mass shootings are seemingly occurring at a quicker rate than ever before, if you’re on the side of common sense gun control (which studies show include most Americans), your voice is being dimmed by the consistent work of your opponents.

Igor Volsky, the vice president at the Center for American Progress and the deputy director for the Center for American Progress Action Fund offers simple yet effective advice: "Act. Call your senators and call your congressmen and women and let them know where you stand on this issue."

The NRA was created to encourage and educate American's about the sport of marksmanship. It has since gone on to donate millions of dollars to politicians who will support pro-gun policies and the less restrictive laws that accompany those beliefs. This has directly given more American's access to guns than ever before — which leads us to a complicated, heated debate over gun rights as 2017 holds the record for the deadliest year for mass shootings in modern U.S. history.

If you'd like to get more involved in this issue, you can always call your senators or call your representatives to make sure your voice is heard. 

For more news and politics coverage from Her Campus, be sure to follow @HerCampus on Twitter.

Have you always wanted to raid Kim Kardashian's closet? Well now you can, all the while raising money for a good cause! 

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star is auctioning off her clothes and accessories on eBay where 10% of the proceeds will benefit Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

Fans can visit Kim's eBay page and purchase more than 200 items from Kim's closet. The items include a Roberto Cavalli black tie jeweled blazer jacket, Alexander McQueen white buckle and lace ankle boot heels, a pink Tom Ford turtleneck and Louis Vuitton checkered luggage. Since some of the clothes are labeled as "pre-owned," there may even be a chance Kim actually wore these items herself.

Kim's family has also contributed their own items, so shoppers can also buy a pair of Buscemi Black 100MM Baby Shoes in size 6 to 12 months.

With bids starting at just $0.99, you could snag one of Kim's pieces for your own closet!

Kim opened up about her participation with the hospital to Variety:"My father passed away from cancer," Kim told the magazine. "I remember what it was like when my dad was going through it. You see the kids that are so strong. They feel so helpless. You want to do anything to help them."

Feb. 25 is the last day shoppers can bid on these items.

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Amazon Studios confirmed on Thursday that Jeffrey Tambor will not be invited back to the next season of Transparent. Amazon began an investigation into Tambor back in November after his former assistant Van Barnes accused him of sexual assault. Not long after, Transparent star Trace Lysette spoke out about her own allegation of sexual assault by Tambor, which was added to Amazon's investigation. While Tambor has not been criminally charged for sexual assault, and has not admitted to either allegation, it's official that the show will go on without him. 

Tambor was quick to respond to the firing.

"I am profoundly disappointed in Amazon’s handling of these false accusations against me," he said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly on Thursday. "I am even more disappointed in [Transparent creator] Jill Soloway’s unfair characterization of me as someone who would ever cause harm to any of my fellow castmates. In our four-year history of working together on this incredible show, these accusations have NEVER been revealed or discussed directly with me or anyone at Amazon. Therefore, I can only surmise that the investigation against me was deeply flawed and biased toward the toxic politicized atmosphere that afflicted our set."

Tambor added, "As I have consistently stated, I deeply regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone and I will continue to vehemently defend myself. I also deeply regret that this ground-breaking show, which changed so many lives, is now in jeopardy. That, to me, is the biggest heartbreak."

One of the show's writers, Our Lady J, also spoke out about the decision. "Any abuse of power is inexcusable, but hearing the stories of Van and Trace have particularly shattered me. I honor the strength and courage that it must have taken for them to tell their truth. We cannot let trans content be taken down by a single cis man."

Barnes and Lysette are both trans women, and Transparent largely focused on Tambor's character in the show, who's also transgender. 

Barnes'complaint against Tambor alleged that he acted inappropriately towards her over social media. However, due to a non-disclosure agreement, Barnes has not put out any other details about the incident or been able to comment on Lysette's allegations.

Lysette alleged that Tambor physically assaulted her by standing on her so she couldn't leave while he grinded against her. According to Lysette, this assault came after Tambor announced upon seeing her in costume "I want to attack you sexually."

Tambor has gone back and forth since November about whether he expected to return to Transparent. He went from saying that he did not expect to be invited back to the show to saying that he would not be quitting.

The actor's initial statement about the allegations read in part, "I’ve already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive, but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue."

Hopefully the groundbreaking show will be able to find its groove and continue to be a success without Tambor.

Some conversations are more difficult than others to have with your boss, but they’re almost always worth having. If you’re new to the job or to the working world in general, it’s a good idea to set aside some time to discuss the expectations of your job with your boss. Knowing what’s expected of you is an important element of success at every stage of your career path, even as early as the interview phase. With help from a few career experts, we’ve put together some advice to guide you through the process.

During the interview

A good way to ease your anxiety about interviewing for a new job is to remind yourself that the interview is a two-way process. You are interviewing them—the interviewers being representative of the company in this case—just as much as they are interviewing you. That being said, it’s important to ask the right questions about what you’ll be expected to do if you land the job. Surely, the posted ad for the position would have listed a few general job duties, but this is an opportunity for you to get some specifics that might be helpful in your decision-making process.

Liseanne Gillham, marketing director of Wirkn, a mobile recruiting platform for college students and recent graduates, says, “A great conversation opener is to just express your enthusiasm for the job and your desire to be successful.” Later, you might ask things like, “How many projects will I be working on monthly?” “How will my progress be judged or evaluated?” “This position requires frequent travel—what provisions are made to help employees cope with this (financially or otherwise)?” or “What can I do in this position to be of most value to the company?”

A good interview should feel less like an interrogation and more like a conversation, so don’t be afraid to offer these or other questions of your own when the time is right. The benefits will be two-fold; not only will you gain insight into your future job responsibilities, but it will also prove to your interviewers that you want to excel.

Your first day on the job

Your first day on the job will be a whirlwind no doubt, but one of your first stops will likely be the human resources department. Though not functioning in any way as your boss, HR personnel can still help you understand the expectations of your new position. They can provide you with a written, documented list of job duties and expectations as well as company rules and policies that support these. Review these documents carefully as they will include important information like the mandated workload per week (sometimes, there are minimum and maximum hourly restrictions) as well as policies concerning dress codes, late arrivals, early departures, sick days, paid vacation time and even company email etiquette. Your meeting with HR on your first day at work can be extraordinarily helpful as you begin to navigate the system.  

After much of the administrative work is underway, you will probably meet one-on-one with your new boss at some point during the day, especially if he or she was not present at your interview. He or she will welcome you to the team and brief you on what you will be doing. If you are unclear about something in particular at this point (for example, you might be wondering what your role will be in the weekly meetings he or she mentioned), it is okay to ask for more details. Gillham says, “Remember that he or she has a vested interest in making sure that you are successful. Be direct. Ask for tips for success and what exactly he or she is looking for from you.” No one will fault you for asking questions on the first day; you will only be better prepared on the second.

Once you’ve started the job

After you’ve made it through the onboarding process, there will be several other opportunities to discuss the expectations of your job with your boss. For example, this might take place at your 30-day, 60-day or 90-day employee evaluations as you continue to adjust. But, if you find yourself struggling to perform satisfactorily or, alternatively, you find yourself overburdened with excessive tasks, don’t hesitate to schedule a progress meeting with your boss. Let them know kindly that you have some concerns you’d like to address and would love to sit down with them at their earliest convenience.

Perhaps, since you've joined the company, your duties—and simultaneously, your boss’s expectations—have shifted. This is normal, but it is never a bad idea to have it documented. When you meet with your boss, start by reviewing his or her initial expectations; note which have been altered or eliminated and add any new items to the list. Next, work together to assess how successful you have been in meeting these expectations and to devise any necessary strategies for improvement. Ensure that you are both on the same page about job expectations moving forward before ending the meeting.

Linda Swindling, author of The Manager's High-Performance Handbook, reminds us that you have to ask for what you want or need; nothing will be handed to you. If you have a concern or a request, speak up. But, she says, you should also be prepared to hear “no.” “Just like other people, sometimes bosses need to percolate on a new idea, like a raise." She explains, "You have been thinking about asking for several months but your request is brand new information to them. Occasionally you’ll encounter a boss who offers but doesn’t or can’t deliver. By asking, at least you know where you stand.”

Related: How To Land Your First Job in a Field You Have No Experience In

We’d love to tell you that discussing job expectations with your boss is a one-time thing, but that’s just not true. Circumstances change and so do people, so it’s imperative to check in frequently as both are likely to affect your working conditions from time to time.  Never get so comfortable that you are incapable of change or, worse, that you fail to recognize a poor job fit.

Chelsea Handler announced earlier this week via social media that she will be creating her own line of weed. Her reasoning? To survive the Trump presidency and to educate people about the possibly safe and pleasurable ways in which marijuana can be used.

Handler said in an Instagram story that marijuana is the "only f*cking thing that's kept [her] sane" since President Trump was elected. 

She even visited a marijuana farm earlier this week to learn about the experience of growing it. 

“I want everyone to know that I’m going to a weed farm today. Yep. I’m gonna go pick a grow,” Handler said. “It’s called a grow for those of you who are not in the know.”

Handler is certainly not the first celebrity to start a weed line — Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg both have their own.

On Wednesday, Zendaya, sat front row at the Michael Kors Collection Fall 2018 Runway Show as part of New York Fashion Week. On her left sat Blake Lively, who was also seated next to Emily Blunt.

A video of the three went viral on Twitter after some people claimed that as Lively and Blunt were laughing together, Zendaya appears annoyed and scowling, giving the two some major side-eye.

That definitely wasn't the case, though — and Zendaya said the record straight.

Either way, this picture of Zendaya laughing with the two goes to show that all is well. 

It’s the opening weekend for Black Panther, and all the hype around this badass Marvel superhero is well-deserved. If (for whatever reason) you aren’t planning to see T’Challa, the Black Panther, who is also a scientist and the King of the African Nation Wakanda, on the big screen this weekend, then this parody video of Jaden Smith’s “Icon” will definitely change your mind. After all, we didn’t know we needed the Black Panther to parody Jaden Smith’s iconic song until now.

On Feb. 12, Nerdist graced us with the Black Panther’s rendition of Smith’s music video. Well, the parody doesn’t actually feature Chadwick Boseman, the actor who plays Black Panther — but it is an extraordinary ode to the superhero who has been revolutionizing the Marvel Universe long before he (finally) got his own solo film. (Surely T’Challa let Nerdist’s Jared Nathan borrow his vibranium suit for this vid.)

Although the music video doesn’t star Boseman, it is teeming with references to the Black Panther’s badassery, as well as some of the powerful women that are featured in the film, specifically Princess Shuri. After all, Shuri is the princess we should all aspire to be.

Regardless, it’s clear how Nerdist got the idea to create this spoof of Smith’s video, seeing as nearly everyone recognizes T’Challa as an icon.

Is there a limit to how many times we can see Black Panther in theaters? (Asking for a friend.)

The Black Panther’s version of “Icon” even switches Smith’s verse, “I am just an icon living,” to, “I am just a young king living,” just proving how much of an icon T’Challa is.

Nevertheless, we aren’t the only ones who appreciate Nerdist’s music video, seeing as one Twitter user even compared it to Will Smith’s hilarious version of his son’s song.

Though one Twitter user had the best response to Nerdist’s video:

Because sometime emojis are the best way to respond to a masterpiece. Still, we can’t help but think of who will parody Smith’s music video next. (Though we definitely know that the superhero, Icon, was born to star in his own rendition of the music video.)

If you still aren’t convinced of all the hype surrounding Black Panther’s debut film, then just compare Nerdist’s parody video to Smith’s OG production:

Black Panther is in theaters now.

Drake dropped the highly-anticipated music video for "God's Plan" on Friday and boy was he generous. The beginning of the video explains that Drake decided to give away the entire music video budget, which came to a whopping $996,631.90. 

Miami was blessed with Drake's presence earlier in February at a high school, where he donated $25,000 and chilled on a crane for students to see. Then, at the University of Miami, he gifted one lucky student with a $50,000 scholarship and performed for a swarm of students on campus. He also hit other local spots, like a supermarket where he paid for everyone's groceries and a fire department where he donated $20,000. He also handed out random wads of cash to unsuspecting families.

Oh, and did I mention some people got cars, shopping sprees and the chance to meet Drake? Not a bad time to be in Miami. Of course the music video also made time for some dancing, this time featuring Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Maybe my favorite shot is the baby holding the fat stack of bills. 

The video was special for Drake too. He said on Instagram that it was "the most important thing" he's ever done in his career. 

To sum it up: lots of checks, lots of love, lots of Drake. Sounds pretty perfect.