From Ashley Graham's stunning Sports Illustrated cover to the addition of a variety of body types in Barbie's lineup, it seems that society has finally heard our calls for diversity. We've seen some pretty major strides in the body positivity movement—so how has that actually affected real women? We had 12 college women weigh in on the subject of body positivity, self image and more to see how much impact the movement has had so far.

"The college environment definitely does not promote body positivity. There is so much stigma over how easily one can gain weight in college: 'Beware of the Freshman 15!''She really let herself go.''Dining hall food is terrible for you.''Weekends of drinking and Dominos goes right to your gut.' It all only leads to women being more conscious and stressed over what they eat and how often they exercise, rather than promoting balance between staying healthy and enjoying being young."

-Elisabeth, Saint Michael's College Class of 2019

"It's so inspiring to see women with such different bodies from one another come together and be proud and confident, despite what society tells them they should look like. It helps me with my body image, but at the same time it's so difficult to detach myself from the 'Victoria's Secret Angel ideal.'In a way, the body positivity movement has kind of added to my struggle, because I'm more likely to fluctuate between not caring about things like my weight and eating whatever I want one week, and panicking because I can't fit into my jeans (and the cultural ideal of beauty) the next. I'm still finding a balance, but I think ultimately the body positivity movement can help me get there."

-Iris, UCLA Class of 2016

"The body positivity movement has definitely affected the way I see not only my own body, but the bodies of others. As an average-sized girl with thick thighs and a booty, growing up in the era of the size 00 wasn’t easy. I can’t remember a time where I looked at a magazine or a music video and said 'Wow, she looks just like me.' It was always 'Wow, I will never be that skinny.' It wasn’t until recently when people like the Kardashians, Demi Lovato, Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé started to really embrace their curves and let them be seen. I think that for young girls, especially, growing up in a size zero world is extremely detrimental to their perception of their bodies. I feel grateful that the body positivity movement exists, and think that Ashley Graham being on the cover of Sports Illustrated is a MAJOR moment for us as a society. Though there are people who are saying this moment in loving curves is putting the naturally skinny girls down, to them I would say that is a ridiculously unfair statement. For my entire life, everything—not just one song on the radio—but everything has been about how being skinny is the only way to have success. This movement is unbelievably important to changing the perception of body types in our society, and putting every body type on the same level of opportunity and respect."

-Christina, Fordham University Class of 2018

"I don't think the college environment helps promote body positivity. There's a lot of pressure to work out and 'be fit' but not a lot of encouragement to love the skin you're in or love what you already have. I know a few people who have suffered from body image issues and eating disorders who feel like they have to hit a certain weight goal or have to look a certain way in order to feel accepted and loved by their peers, which is really sad to think about. There's nothing wrong with being a different body type, but these girls feel like they have to meet impossible or impractical standards in order to be 'beautiful' or considered 'popular' or 'normal.'"

-Anonymous, Auburn University Class of 2016

"At my undergrad, we had a lot of resources for eating disorders and body image issues, including counseling, support groups and feminist movements. I felt lucky to go to a very inclusive, feminist campus and felt there wasn't a lot of body pressure. I think a lot of it comes from your friend group and who you spend time with, but overall, even when I've encountered friends with body image issues or eating disorders, they wouldn't wish these problems on anyone else, so there is no pressure to fit in with it. I'm not sure how it is at my graduate school, but it doesn't seem to be an unhealthy culture so far, either."

-Alaina, Emerson College Class of 2017

"The thing about the body positivity movement that has always frustrated me is that sometimes people who are thin are shamed. An example is in Meghan Trainors song 'All About That Bass' where she refers to skinny girls as 'bitches.' Body positivity needs to include all body types, even skinny girls. I've gotten a lot of hate from other girls for being thin. I don't think there's any body type that doesn't get shamed, and we need to remember that and support one another as much as possible."

-Carrie, Sewanee University Class of 2017

"The body positivity movement has definitely allowed me to develop love for myself and my image. Unfortunately, being on campus does not promote body positivity at all. Everywhere you look there are girls talking about their image, guys talking about girls' image, and social media mocking those images. It is hard to constantly remind yourself that healthy is beautiful and not just this idealization of what women 'should' look like. On the bright side, there are resources on campus for women who struggle with body image and eating disorders—BUT those resources are not promoted so they go unnoticed most of the time."

-Caroline, Clemson University Class of 2018

"The body positivity movement encourages me to have self love for my body and love different aspects of myself, especially the aspects I considered flaws. The college environment is not very encouraging though. I think there is a definitely a pressure to fit into a mold when in the media you see women shown in a way that is considered ideal but isn't realistic. On campus, I would say going to the campus health office for help is an option, but there could be more resources for body image issues and eating disorders."

-T, SUNY Old Westbury Class of 2016

"I think that the body positivity movement is a wonderful thing that young people (particularly women, of course) are doing. I see it in online communities like Tumblr. I think that those kinds of posts and blogs are a good and real influence on young women, provided that the message is being shared in a positive and healthy way—meaning that it's not promoting dieting or an environment of competition, but instead that it's about promoting self love and personal confidence and erasing the stigmas and social rules that surround different body types. People gain confidence from seeing positive representation of people who look like themselves, and I think that in the world we live in there is always room for more sources of confidence and acceptance for young people. I don't think there are enough resources or information available to college students regarding issues like eating disorders and body image problems, which are very common things that young women struggle with."

-Eve, Northeastern University Class of 2017

"I've been overweight my whole life. The body positivity movement has made me believe that despite that, I can still be considered pretty. I still struggle with my self-image but I feel as though I'm in an environment that will allow me to learn how to love myself. It is very much a process and one that has its ups and downs. There are always people who aren't okay with my weight and feel that I'll never be attractive. That's okay. Overall I try and surround myself with kind people. I think that we can all be kind to one another and support women no matter what their looks are—they are all more than their appearance."

-Hannah, Framingham State University Class of 2017

"Body image is something that a lot of women struggle with. Personally, I know I struggle with that as well. lt's hard picking out things you love about yourself especially in such a judgmental society. I think that although schools promote body positivity, I don't think it changes how people think about themselves."

-Reina, Johnson & Wales University Class of 2018

"It has definitely affected me in a positive way and that's saying a lot because I've struggled with my self-image since I was 4. Overall, I'd say there's been a real growth not only of body-type acceptance but of living a healthy lifestyle. A lot of people have been asking for healthier food options and the campus has been listening and changing the food options every year. In college, it's really easy to fall into bad cycles and habits, especially since this is the first time many people are on their own. But the environment here has luckily been really supportive in a positive way. Am I completely secure in my self-image and how I see myself? No. But I can definitely say that I am becoming more comfortable with the body I have and learning that there's no one way to be and that's a great thing."

-Sarah, Montclair State University Class of 2017

At 8 p.m. you look at the clock, and you just can’t help it. Your PJs are calling out to you, and in a flash you’re ready for bed and fast asleep. Friends and family know the drill, despite lots of offhand comments about how lame you are for going to bed so early. Don't worry though, we are here to support your sleep choices, and share your struggle of being the friend that goes to bed really early. 

1. You get tired ridiculously early–sometimes even at 6 p.m.

Which basically means you’re useless for all nighttime activities. Don’t even get started on how you feel about night classes!

2. You are absolutely incapable of taking an afternoon nap. Either you’ve been cursed by a very powerful wizard or it’s genetically impossible.  

4 p.m. or 8 p.m.–what’s the difference? If you take a nap you might as well sleep the rest of the night.

3. This makes afternoon plans with your friends really hard since they’re all busy napping.

While you’re left in sleepless in bed to watch more Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

4. Making nighttime plans with your friends is even harder.

And it means missing a lot of those crazy “college” type activities.

5. It’s pretty common to go to sleep wrestling with FOMO and thinking about all the fun you might be missing.

That is until you realize that your bed is 1000 times better than going out.

6. In the morning you usually wake up to bunches of text messages asking “where are you?” and “are you seriously asleep already?”

Any solicitation to hang out after 8 p.m. will likely go unanswered. Sorry, not sorry.  

7. You passionately feel that dinner should take place at 5:00, not 7:00.

Eating when the moon is out is essentially sacrilege. Everyone should be sleeping by then.

8. Going out to see a late movie is impossible, because you will inevitably fall asleep as soon as the previews start.

Action movies are accompanied by the exciting sound of your snores.

9. You only manage to make it out to a party or bar about once a month­–if that.

We that sometimes you pretend to fall asleep extra early just to avoid going out.

10. If your friends do manage to drag you out, there’s a horrifying probability that you will pass out on a couch in public.

While normal college students sneak off to a bedroom to hook up, you sneak off to take a quick nap.

11. Most people load up on coffee in the morning, but your caffeine intake happens as soon as it’s dark out.

Oh, is that starlight? Pardon me while I take 15 shots of espresso so that I can make it past sunset.

12. There is no such thing in your vocabulary as an "all-nighter."

Those words incite a well-deserved scoff.

13. Half of your wardrobe consists of pajamas.

When you sleep as long as we do, PJ selection becomes just as important as daytime clothes.

14. The thought of exercising at night makes you want to throw up in your mouth.

If you tried to run on a treadmill, you would just fall down and stay there.

15. In the end, the FOMO, narcolepsy and the inability to last through a movie are all worth it. You love going to sleep, and promote it as the best life choice anyone can make. 

Super Tuesday, in which primary election results came in from 12 more states, just happened. Usually, the winners give us a telltale sign of who will be the nominee for each party. If you missed out on the action, here’s what you need to know about the results:

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Had the Clear Victories

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump definitely had a good showing on Tuesday. Clinton walked away with eight of the 12 victories, and more than 500 delegates. She won Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, according to the The New York Times. “We have come too far to stop now…we have to keep going, keep working, keep breaking those barriers and imagine what we can build together when each and every American has the chance to live up to his or her own God-given potential,” Clinton said to a crowd after her victory, according to BuzzFeed News. 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump picked up wins in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia. BuzzFeed News reported that Trump held a press conference after his win on Super Tuesday, talking about everything from Common Core and international policy. He called for the “Republican party [to] get together and unify,” promising that “nobody can stop us.”

Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio Pulled Some Wins of Their Own

Ted Cruz won in his home state of Texas, along with Alaska and Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio won in Minnesota by 8 percent. These wins added more delegates under these candidates’ belts, but overall didn’t do much to chip away at Trump’s lead. The New York Times reported that on Wednesday morning, Donald was leading in the GOP with 319 delegates, while Cruz had 226 and Rubio had 110 (In order to get the nomination, a candidate need 1,237 delegates). John Kasich did not win any of the Super Tuesday states—although he came close in Vermont—and remains with 25 delegates.

Bernie Sanders Still Has a Chance

Four states felt the “Bern” on Tuesday—Sanders won in Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and, of course, Vermont (He's a Senator there). Currently, Sanders has 427 delegates total, compared to Clinton’s 1,052 (you need 2,383 to win the nomination).

According to BuzzFeed News, Sanders told a crowd in Vermont that he is still competitive since there are still a lot of delegates that can be won.

Ben Carson Will Probably Drop Out

“I do not see a political path forward in light of last evening’s Super Tuesday primary results,” Carson said in a statement, according to the The New York Times. He also announced that he would skip the GOP debate on Thursday evening in Detroit. Ben Carson only has eight of the delegates, trailing Trump by...a lot. Although he has not officially dropped out of the primaries, Carson’s statement is making everyone think he will. His campaign promised more details in a speech on Friday.

The next set of primary elections and caucuses are on Saturday, including Kansas, Kentucky (Republican caucus), Louisiana, Maine (Republican caucus), and Nebraska (Democratic Caucus). While Trump and Clinton may have the leads, the race for the nomination is still close (there’s still time for Never Trump, everyone!) 

The Supreme Court, faced with its first major abortion case in almost a decade, seems split on the issue, which could mean a 4-4 ruling without Justice Antonin Scalia on the court.

The case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, revolves around Texas abortion regulations that could limit the number of abortion clinics in the state from 40 to 10 by requiring clinics to meet expensive requirements, basically turning them into mini-hospitals. While the four liberal justices seemed united against the Texas laws, saying that the regulations are unnecessary and restrict women’s access to safe abortions, the other justices are not so sure on the evidence.

Justice Elena Kagan, one of the liberal justices who wants to strike down the Texas law, said that “900,000 women live further than 150 miles from a provider,” according to CNN Politics. 

Both sides of the case consider Justice Anthony M. Kennedy “pivotal to the outcome,” according to The Washington Post. Justice Kennedy has questioned whether the laws would actually close as many abortion clinics as the evidence says, and has even suggested sending the case back to a lower court. This could delay a finding on the case for as long as a year.

“There are three solid votes to uphold the Texas law, four to strike it down and Justice Kennedy is in the middle,” legal contributor Stephen I. Vladeck told CNN.

This case is one of the most influential ones this year to come to the Supreme Court. According to the The New York Times, there crowds of protesters gathered outside of the Court, representing both pro-choice and pro-life activists. 

The New York Times reported that a decision on the case would likely be reached in June. The decision could set a precedent that would affect women’s access to abortion in every single state, not just in Texas. Women’s health and safe access to abortion is so important—the Supreme Court hopefully won’t make a decision that takes that away. 

Surviving sexual assault comes with many difficult consequences. One thing that’s particularly hard to come to terms with is being able to be intimate with your partner(s) again, whether that means having sex or just being able to hug and kiss. We talked to experts about how to gradually become okay with touching again when you’ve dealt with unwanted contact.

What are the consequences of assault on intimacy?

Although you may still want to be intimate after having been abused, you may not be able to for some time. “There may be a disconnect between the mind and body and how they interact and respond to feelings and physical contact, which may be frustrating and upsetting at times,” says Jennifer Marsh, the vice president of Victim Services at the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). “Intimacy can be challenging, especially when a survivor is still deciding whether or not to tell her new partner about a past assault.”

Having a significant other at the time of your assault could help your recovery a good amount, but it doesn’t make intimacy any easier after the fact. “I was in a relationship already when I was raped, so I guess I consider myself lucky in that regard,” says Alaina Leary, a first-year graduate student at Emerson College. “When I was recovering from what happened, my girlfriend was very considerate and never asked me about sex and intimacy. She let me decide when and how I was ready to re-enter that part of my life, if I was at all.”

Although being abused or raped is a scarring experience for everyone, “it's important to remember there's no one way to react or respond to an experience of sexual assault,” says Laura Palumbo, the communications director for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). “Sexual assault impacts survivors in a variety of ways, and a person's experience shouldn't be judged or labeled based on how they respond. The research supports this by showing a spectrum of ways individuals deal with the distress of assault physically, psychologically and emotionally.”

In other words, one person may be able to engage in intimacy sooner than another. Palumbo lists some of the consequences of assault on intimacy, stressing that they are in no way universal:

• Lack of sexual desire
• Pain associated with sex
• Lack of orgasm
• For some survivors, increase in sexual behavior
• Increased recklessness
• Decreased condom use
• Increased alcohol and substance use

Related: 5 Conversations You Need to Have Before Sex

What resources are available to you?

If you’ve suffered assault, counseling is the most recommended option. Beyond overall recovery, this process can help you regain the ability to be intimate. “Local sexual assault service providers offer a variety of counseling options that can help a woman talk through the steps to developing healthy intimate relationships,” Marsh says. “To be connected to the service provider near you, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE.”

Palumbo adds that “community rape crisis centers have someone available to speak with 24/7, no matter when the sexual violence occurred. Your college campus may also offer services for students such as counseling, support groups and sexual health resources.”

Many rape and assault survivors find talking about their experience extremely difficult, but therapy is truly the fastest and safest way to recover. “I saw a therapist to cope with the aftermath of it because I ended up having anxiety and panic attacks,” Krys Douglas, a junior at Georgia State University, explains. Although you can’t forget what happened to you, you can get much better and get your life back, like Krys did. Besides therapy, remember that your friends and family are there for you, and will listen without judgment.

Can intimacy ever be the same for an assault survivor?

Rape or abuse survivors sometimes feel like they will never be able to have intimate contact again, but this is far from the truth. “There is absolutely the ability to return to having healthy sexual relationships,” Marsh says. “An assault may be something that always is a part of a woman's life but it does not have to define her or her future relationships.”

Of course a survivor can have normal relationships, but getting there is a process that takes longer for some than others—and that’s okay! “For many this process takes support, treatment and time,” Palumbo says.

It took Krys a few years to recover well enough to have sex. “I suffered a sexual assault in high school and although when it happened I was already planning to be abstinent, I had no desire to have sex after that,” Krys says. “I was able to still date people afterwards and have crushes but sex was far from my mind.”

How can you dissipate any fear or distrust of your partner(s)?

A survivor must understand that she can reclaim her body and her power with any partner she has post-assault. “It is important for a woman to know that this is something that she has complete control over—who can touch her, where and when, are all decisions that she can make and discuss with a partner she trusts,” Marsh says.

For Palumbo, “reclaiming sexuality is really about understanding your needs, wants, limits and boundaries. Everyone deserves the right to define their sexual identity on their own terms while respecting the rights of others.”

So how can you feel okay with intimacy, no matter who it’s with? “Open communication is vital,” Palumbo says. “A survivor may or may not choose to share her experience with a sexual partner, but she always has the right to set her own limits and express her own wants.”

We can’t stress the importance of choosing someone who respects you and your needs enough. “After I was raped, there were times when I didn't want to be hugged, kissed or touched in any way, sexual or otherwise,” Alaina says. “I needed my girlfriend to understand that, and she did—and we went through it together. I talked to her about what I was dealing with and she really listened to me.” You should never engage with anyone who doesn’t listen to you in this way. Communication is key, and it is not one-sided.

If you’re not ready to show physical affection, make sure any partner you have knows and respects this. “I would advise anyone who experiences this to take their time and only do what they're comfortable with,” Krys says. “You never really fully get over the trauma of it but I found a way to gain strength from it so I can speak about it and have no issue or feel any shame.” Krys was eventually able to lose her virginity during her sophomore year of college; she took the time she needed and came out stronger.

Even when you do have sex again, you may never be okay with certain behaviors. “For example, I could never be with a sexual partner who wanted to fake ‘choke’ me in bed.” Alaina says. “My attacker choked me during and before the rape and it would trigger me too much.”

You must figure out what you are comfortable with and never let anyone talk you into doing anything else. “I'm still comfortable with being dominated as long as it's consensual—what matters is keeping that open communication, so my girlfriend knows it's what I want her to do,” Alaina adds. Remember that you can always, always, always say “no” to anything.

Assault is a painful, scarring experience and can have many consequences on your relationships. But if you seek out help, listen to your own needs and communicate with your partners, you can and will reclaim your mental and sexual health.

After painstakingly crafting your cover letter and tweaking your resume, you’ve finally applied to a position at your dream company. You know it’s important to make sure your application doesn’t get sucked into the black hole of resumes, so you start thinking of ways to stand out.

Hopefully, you’ve also taken the time to connect with people through college and on into your job search. Now, it’s time to utilize those connections. Your resume is more likely to be picked up if you have someone at your target company who can vouch for you. Here’s how to leverage your network to help increase your chances of getting your dream job:

1. Choose someone who can make an introduction

When asking someone to put in a good word for you, you want to make sure that the person you choose is directly connected to whoever is going to make the final decision: the hiring manager.

“I recommend first reaching out to the connection you have the strongest relationship with at a company,” says Tom Dezell, author of Networking for the Novice, Nervous or Naïve Job Seeker.

People who know you well will be more able and likely to recommend you, because he or she has firsthand knowledge of your skills and abilities. However, you want to be sure this person is able to get that knowledge where it really counts. Your best friend may work at your dream company, but if she doesn’t know the hiring manager, she may not be the best person to be bringing you up.

“You need to get to someone that has influence that can help you find the hiring manager or contact someone in HR,” says Neal Schaffer, global social media speaker and author of Windmill Networking: Understanding, Leveraging and Maximizing LinkedIn.

If you have a pretty good friend or even an acquaintance whom you talk to only every now and then, but he or she knows the hiring manager personally or can put you in touch with someone who does, then this is the connection you want to go with.

What if you don’t contact this person often? Schaffer says not to let this deter you. “Even if it’s a weak relationship, that should be no excuse not to contact them,” he explains. Schaffer says that it’s perfectly okay to ask for help from someone who doesn’t really know you at all.

This is especially true for collegiettes who are using LinkedIn to its full advantage. In some cases, you might not know anyone at your target company, but Schaffer says this shouldn’t stop you from trying for an “in.” The important thing is not necessarily the strength of your connection to them, but how strong his or her connection is to the hiring manager and HR. Even if you don’t know the person, it’s important to reach out.

But how are you going to get a complete stranger to vouch for you? To do that, you’ll need to become less of a stranger by establishing a common ground.

2. Highlight your connection

Whether it’s a friend or an acquaintance—or someone you don’t really know at all—you don’t want anyone to feel overwhelmed or burdened with your request. You want to make it easy for him or her to help you. This is especially true for acquaintances, who may not know you that well, and those who don’t know you at all: These connections may need a bit more from you before they have the ability—or reason—to put in a good word. One way to achieve this is to find a common ground between the two of you.

“Try to make a connection with this person, through whatever filter you have, when you reach out to them, so that they’ll want to help you,” Schaffer says. That “filter” can be that you went to the same school, were in the same sorority or even are from the same state.

If you don’t have something obvious in common, use your research skills to dig deeper. Google your connection or scour their LinkedIn profile to see if he or she has an interest in sports and follows a team you love. Or perhaps he or she mentions in one of his or her online profiles a professor with whom you’ve taken a class. Once you’ve figured out something the two of you share, mention this when reaching out to your connection. Try something like, “I know we went to the same school, and I saw on your profile that you worked closely with Professor So-and-so. I’ve just taken a class of hers, and it was really eye-opening!”

It may feel awkward at first, but the important thing is to remember that you’re trying to establish common ground between you and your connection. Doing so will make your connection feel more comfortable about helping you, as you’re no longer a complete stranger. “Once you create that affinity, it becomes much easier to ask for something,” Schaffer explains. Find something that the two of you share, and be sure to point this out when making your request.

3. Find the best method for getting an “in”

All companies have different processes for hiring, and if you are going to ask a connection for a good word, then you want to be sure he or she is following standard procedure in doing so.

“A good opening question is to ask about how the company hiring process works, since based on that you may learn what would be the best service your connection can do for you,” says Dezell. “At some places the personal introduction may be best, at others the referral.”

A referral is when your connection gives you the name and contact information of the hiring manager; you contact the hiring manager directly, mentioning that your connection referred you to him or her. With a personal introduction, your connection will actually reach out on your behalf to introduce you to the hiring manager, whether that’s through an email, a phone call, or an in-person meeting with all three of you present.

Schaffer argues that in most cases the personal introduction is the way to go, but Dezell says it’s important to ask before you make your request, because different places may have different methods for handling them. For example, if you’re looking to go into government work, Dezell points out that the hiring process is closely monitored to provide equal opportunity for all candidates. “There are no referral incentives, so email correspondence can create a record of favoritism toward a particular candidate,” he says. In such cases, a referral or personal introduction over the phone might be best.

A connection will be more likely to handle your request if he or she can avoid trouble in doing so by making sure to follow procedure. What’s more, Dezell points out that some companies offer bonuses for referring candidates who go on to be hired. If your connection also gains something from helping you, they may be more willing to do so. To find out what the company recruitment process is like, ask the following: “Does your company have any special requirements for referrals or introductions?”

4. Be specific with your request

You’ve found the right connection, established a common ground and decided what type of request would be most appropriate for this company. Now it’s time to get specific about what it is that you need.

“The contact you want a referral or introduction to is the hiring manager in the department you hope to work at the company,” says Dezell. “Always ask the connection, no matter how strong, who that individual is.”

Once you know who the hiring manager is, be very specific in your request to get a good word in. For acquaintances, start your request with something like, “I’d really appreciate it if you could introduce me to the hiring manager, and if you need to know more about me before you do that, please let me know.” Offer to send your resume and a short bio so your acquaintance can have a better idea of who you are and what you’re looking for.

If you know your connection well—maybe she’s a close friend from school—your request can be a bit more relaxed: “I know you’re good friends with the boss at HR. Do you think you could pass my name along to them, and put in a good word?”

5. Give them an “out”

The last thing you want to do is pressure your connection, or make him or her feel as if he or she has no choice but to help you. Your connection may have just started working at the company and doesn’t have very much influence, or perhaps he or she doesn’t know the hiring manager so well and would like to avoid coming across as pushy.

“Put yourself in their shoes,” Schaffer says. “They’re going to go out of their way to help you. Sometimes they’re putting their own professional reputation on the line by asking for an introduction for you.”

Asking someone to put in a good word can be a risky favor, and you want your connection to be able to respectfully decline your request if he or she doesn’t feel comfortable. Schaffer says that one quick sentence near the end of your request is a polite way to let your connection bow out.

Try something like, “Hey, I understand if this is too much, but I’d really appreciate a minute of your time to do this.” Dezell also suggests the following: “Any assistance or helpful information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.”

You want to make sure your connection is comfortable with helping you. Having an “out” lets him or her know that you know his or her time is valuable, or that you understand he or she might not know the hiring manager too well. Schaffer says that this one technique will make your requests a lot more successful.

6. Be sure to say thank you

If your connection agrees to help you out, always remember to say thank you! No matter what happens, make sure to thank your connection for his or her support.

“Very few people actually send a thank you email after they get a connection, or after they get introduced,” says Schaffer. “You want to use this to strengthen your relationship with this person.”

You can send a quick email or a thank you note that says something along the lines of the following: “Thank you so much for referring/introducing me to [hiring manager’s name]! I really appreciate your assistance, as well as your confidence in me. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on my progress!” If your connection is a good friend, call him or her up, or invite him or her out to coffee or lunch as a face-to-face sign of your appreciation.

If you do end up getting the job, Schaffer and Dezell both say that a small monetary gift—like a Starbucks gift card—is a good way to thank your connection. And don’t worry too much about whether to snail mail or email your token of thanks. “The method of delivery is not as important as actually doing it, and doing it in a timely fashion,” Schaffer says. Pick one that works for you and make sure to get it done!

Again, you want to take this time to not only say thank you, but to strengthen this connection for the future. “If they introduce you once to someone of influence, who knows when they’ll make another introduction for you?” says Schaffer.

Your network is a vital aspect of the job hunt. Even if your first connection says no, don’t stop the search. Keep your chin up and keep looking until you find someone who is willing to help. And if he or she asks you to put in a good word in the future, be sure to return the favor!

When it’s award show season, you can almost guarantee there will be some amazing celeb reunions that will pretty much break the Internet. So when we found out both Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams were attending this year's Academy Awards, we hoped the Notebook stars would cross paths, bringing us all to tears once again with their undying love for one another. Well, that didn’t happen, and it was very upsetting to say the least. 

Believe it or not, it’s been 11 years since Gosling and McAdams straight-up created relationship goals in The Notebook. They also dated for four years following the movie but split in 2008. So, you could say a reunion between the two is long overdue, though not exactly likely since they've both moved on.

Twitter users were not happy that the Oscars couldn't make the moment happen. At least Seventeen was able to capture the pair in the same frame at one point during the broadcast.

We expect a lot better the next time this is a possibility, okay? 

There’s a huge misconception that you can’t be both religious and queer—that all religions are against LGBTQ+ people, period. So what happens if you’re raised in a religious or spiritual family and you believe in those values, but then come to terms with the fact that you’re queer?

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: of course you can be religious and queer. It may be a difficult road, depending on the belief system you were raised in, but you just need to follow your heart and do what’s right for you.

Can I be both religious and queer?

Many LGBTQ+-identified people have a moment of realization after they come to terms with their queer identity, and wonder, “Can I still belong to my religion? Does my religion believe that my sexuality is inherently wrong?” It’s normal to have these questions, especially if the belief system you were raised in teaches that same-sex relationships and non-normative gender identities are wrong.

It’s perfectly healthy to take some time to reconsider your beliefs, and decide whether or not you want to stick with the religion you were raised in. It’s also completely possible to stay in the same church and practice the same beliefs if that’s what feels right for you.

Alyse Knorr, an editor for The Parents Project, attended a non-denominational church while she was growing up in Georgia. “I thought my church was the way all churches were,” she says. “I felt kind of alienated. I thought there was no room for gay people at all in Christianity.”

It's easy to feel that way at first, but even if your church isn't accepting, there are others that are. “I definitely consider myself a gay Christian and I've reclaimed that label,” Knorr says. She started attending an all-queer Bible study, and also went to the Metropolitan Community Church in Fairfield, Virginia, where LGBTQ+ identities were more than welcome. She says the church stayed away from gendered language, such as referring to God as a man, and allowed all families to come and feel welcome.

Dana Piccoli, a pop culture critic and entertainment writer for AfterEllen, also agrees that if queer people want to remain in touch with religious beliefs but don’t feel welcome at their current church, they can always seek out inclusive communities. “Do some research and you will find queer-friendly churches, synagogues, mosques and temples,” Piccoli suggests. “Finding like-minded people of faith is another way to experience your spirituality.”

If you’re interested in finding more inclusive ways of thinking about religion, you can start by reading some feminist Bible companions, or Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality by Jack Rogers. You can also use GayChurch.org to find an LGBTQ+-inclusive church in your local area and attend a service to see if you like it.

It can be very hard to break down what you’ve been taught about religion, especially if you grew up within a church system that was unaccepting of queer people. It can feel as though your entire world has changed—and in many ways, it has, but not necessarily in a bad way. “Feeling like I literally had no one I could turn to, not to mention I was going to burn alive in the pits of hell, was such an inner battle,” explains Erin Faith Wilson, a writer for The Advocate, about her experience coming to terms with her sexuality.

If you've grown up with these beliefs and these are beliefs that a majority of your religious community shares, this can make the process of coming to terms with yourself even harder. Heather Hogan, the senior editor at Autostraddle, says that it can be a daunting task because you’re reconsidering beliefs that you may have held your entire life. “I think people, for the most part, are scared to start unraveling what they've been taught, religion-wise,” Hogan says. “If your religious leaders believe so strongly and they're so wrong, what else are they wrong about? What can you even believe? It can lead to a real crisis of faith.”

The important thing to remember is that you’re not wrong for existing and being queer. As confusing as it can be to reconsider what you know about your religious beliefs and the spiritual community you’re a part of, you’re also very brave for being true to yourself.

Do I have to leave my religion or spirituality behind now?

If you realize that your church doesn’t support queer identities, you might feel uncomfortable attending services and community events. You might not feel wanted or accepted. But there are ways to manage being in situations where LGBTQ+ identities aren’t accepted—and if church is important to you, it’s definitely possible to continue attending even if your church doesn’t accept your sexuality or gender identity.

It can be hard to put yourself in situations where you know others are opposed to your sexuality, so it can help to be prepared first. If you can't seek out an accepting ally to come with you for the situation, you can mentally prepare by talking to positive allies before going in alone. Hogan says, “I think you have to mentally counteract that by also surrounding yourself with knowledge and people who know the truth and can reaffirm to you what's real, even if the only safe space for you to do that is online.”

Online communities can be a safe haven for queer people who are faced with the daunting task of surrounding themselves with an unaccepting environment. You can meet other people who are going through the same experience as you are, even if you can’t find someone in that situation in person. You could join The Gay Christian Network, the Jewish LGBT Network, the Imaan (Muslim LGBTQ+ support group), the Gay Buddhist Sangha, or search online for forums that cater to your specific faith. 

If you're having trouble finding a queer-friendly forum aimed at your religion, or you'd rather just join an overall LGBTQ+ safe space, you can seek out a general LGBTQ+ forum aimed at people similar to you and then start a thread about religion. There's the Empty Closets forum, the Queer Youth Network forum, the LGBT Community Forum, and many others. 

Alice*, a junior at DePaul University who is a lesbian, says that she doesn’t feel uncomfortable at her Catholic school or church. “Going to the church the school is affiliated with feels just as comfortable as walking around the school: open, accepting and welcoming,” she says.

Just because a church or community is religious doesn’t necessarily mean that queer people aren’t accepted. It’s worth asking around to see how your identity would be received before making the decision about staying with the church or seeking out alternative religious communities.

Can I come out to my religious community?

If you know that members of your faith, including family and friends, believe that same-sex marriage and non-normative gender identities are a sin, it can be a struggle to come out to them. Ultimately, it’s your decision whether or not to come out, and how to do it. “You have to sort of gauge what's true for you,” says Lianna Carrera, a lesbian comedian from Los Angeles.

Carrera suggests listening to those in your life who may not be supportive, in the same way you’d want them to listen to you. It can be a struggle, because your first response may be, “But they don’t accept me! I don’t want to understand why they feel that way.” But it’s a two-way street, and in order to get acceptance and understanding, you should also be willing to give it.

“Try to get to a point where you're not learning on the defense,” Carrera says. You might be racking your brain for things to say when an unaccepting community member tells you that queer identities are wrong, but Carrera says you should resist this urge. Instead of fighting back, she suggests responding to their prideful remarks with peace and silence.

If you’re planning to come out, you can also consider setting people up for how to react. Knorr explains it this way: if you sit your family down and tell them with a grave tone that you’ve got something to tell them that they’re not going to like, you’re setting them up to feel that way.

Instead, you might try an opposite approach. Before you come out, tell the person that you’ve got something personal you’d like to tell them, and that you trust them and really want to share this. Still, "you have to manage your expectations," Knorr warns. "You have to be open and prepared for anything."

This might even mean that people you expect to react badly might not. Hogan suggests giving the person you’re coming out to a chance to react on their own before assuming the worst. “Honor them by giving them the intellectual and emotional benefit of the doubt, and give them a chance to love the truth," Hogan says.

Although this doesn't guarantee that the person you're coming out to will react the way you want them to, it does keep you from over-thinking the situation and getting anxious before you've even given them the opportunity to accept you.

Can I keep people in my life who don’t accept my identity?

The short answer: absolutely. While this is definitely a personal decision, and it's based on so many complicated factors, it is possible to keep those in your life who don't accept your sexuality—especially family members. You have to keep in mind other factors when making this decision. You might ask yourself, "Does this person love me, but just doesn't accept LGBTQ+ identities? Is there a way that I can be comfortable with the fact that they don't accept this part of me, but still love me? Will they be respectful about the fact that I'm queer and not make me feel ashamed and afraid?"

It's really important to consider whether or not the relationship with this person will become toxic because of your identity. Some people who are against queer identities will make you feel as though you don't deserve the same equal rights and respect as others, and that's not okay. The bottom line is that if someone isn't treating you fairly, you deserve to speak your mind and leave behind that relationship if you need to.

However, most LGBTQ+-identified people have at least one person in their life who isn’t 100 percent on board with queer identities. Sometimes this person is older or has a strong faith-based belief system that doesn't support queer identities. Although it can feel extremely personal and upsetting at first to realize that someone you care about doesn't accept queer identities, you might not want to lose them completely. If it's the only way to stay in one another's live, it’s perfectly fine to have mutual respect about the fact that you disagree. 

“I don't care what they think about it—I'm living my life and they're living theirs,” says Knorr about her family members who don’t agree with her sexuality. “You can't control what they're going to think, but you can expect them to treat you with respect, and dignity and love.”

As long as the people in your life aren’t treating you badly, it’s okay to disagree on the subject of queer identities. “I still love them and respect their opinions, just as they have loved me and respected me,” says Wilson about her unaccepting relatives. “Do I wish they were supportive of me? Of course! But if I carry around the hate that they encourage, I am no better than they are.”

Just because someone isn’t originally accepting also doesn’t mean they won’t come around. There are there people who never reach a point of accepting LGBTQ+ family members, but so many people also find a way to unlearn what they’ve been taught about queer identities, and come to accept and understand.

“Truth shines really brightly,” Carerra says. “Truth attracts people. It might be a slow battle, but it'll attract them back into your life eventually.”

It can be hard taking what you’ve known your entire life and rethinking it, but you’re not alone; Queer people have been attending church services and practicing religion for all of history. Try to seek out like-minded people, online or in person, to connect with in case you’re faced with situations where you’re in an uninclusive community. Most importantly, make decisions that feel right for you. If you’re not in a religious community that makes you feel safe and comfortable, you have the option of taking time to yourself to figure out what it is you want from your spirituality and then seeking that. It’s your decision, and only you know what will make you happy.

It is common knowledge that a fair share of celebrities undergo plastic surgery, and the Internet can be quick to criticize those who do. Iggy Azalea, for one, has been open about her procedures, especially in a recent issue of Elle Canada. In the magazine, the singer—who's had breast enhancement surgery and a nose job—compels readers to be more accepting of plastic surgery. 

"Everyone tells you that you should love your body the way it is," she explains. "But then it is bad to say that you want to change something about yourself not because you want to look like someone else, just because you want to? What's wrong with that?"

Indeed, there is nothing wrong with wanting to change the way you look—if you want to do it for yourself. You shouldn’t let anyone stand in the way of your decision to do so. After all, it is your body to do with what you please. Ultimately, we shouldn't shame other women for their choices, no matter the choice.

"There's nothing black and white about beauty or plastic surgery," Azalea clarifies. "There are no guarantees that it will fix how you feel about yourself. All of those women [who criticize someone for having surgery]—if they had $10 million in their account tomorrow, I'd dare them not to change one thing about themselves or at least think about it…And there's nothing wrong with that."

As a celebrity, the pressure to look a certain way and embrace your body can be very trying, but we commend Azalea for standing by her life choices with great pride and strength.

Had enough of the Twitter Kanye-isms? Good, because neither have we. At the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party last weekend, host and YouTuber Tyler Oakley asked celebrities on the red carpet to do their best dramatic readings of some our favorite Kanye tweets.

You know, like this one:

Or, more recently: 

And yes, it was just as hilarious as you’d expect, keeping in mind that it’s a real challenge making these sound more dramatic than they already are. Some of our favorite re-enactors were Priyanka Chopra, Maria Menounos and Whoopi Goldberg. Can these ladies be nominated for their Kanye-esque performances? Well deserved!

And if you’re wondering what Kanye’s leading lady has to say about his Twitter fame (or notoriety), she’s behind him one thousand percent. Kim posted on her website recently: “WANTING Everyone to be as honest as Kanye. WATCHING Kanye shoot his new video. READING Kanye's tweets." 

Honesty, insanity… call it what you will but it sure is entertaining. Go ahead, watch that video again!

Fashion Week is among the most glamorous of events, right? Well, not if you're Kendall Jenner. Vogue went behind the scenes with the model of the moment to see what it's really like to walk down the runways of the industry's most celebrated designers—and it involves plenty of dress-up sessions, high-profile BFFs and yes, a lot of carbs.

Named one of TIME Magazine’s most influential teens of 2015, our favorite member of the Kardashian/Jenner clan gets real about the not-so-glamorous aspects of her job, like shaving her legs in the backseat of a car for example. “You don’t really got time for things during fashion week,” she laughs. But that doesn’t mean the star doesn’t have time for lingerie hangouts with the other half of KenGi, and it sure as hell doesn’t mean she doesn’t have time for another indulgent mid-morning snack—a McDonald’s breakfast sandwich hand-delivered by older sister, Kim Kardashian (even though she does have to eat naked). 

Proving once again she’s just like the rest of us (you know, if we spent most of our days parading around in our underwear and had the most-liked Instagram picture of all time), Jenner ends her fun-filled but hectic day by applying a green facemask and brushing her teeth. Then, in true MTV Cribs style, she kicks us (and the camera team) out… but in a loving, playful way that only makes us more convinced that she is the ultimate girl pal.

Flirty boys, tanned skin, no responsibilities, a chance to finally sit back and relax: spring break is exactly what you’ve been waiting for after a strenuous semester! With spring break right around the corner, you’re probably anxious to leave your schoolwork behind for a little bit of fun in the sun, and, more importantly, an unrestricted sleep schedule. You’re probably also anxious to leave behind the myriad of guys at your school who just really aren’t doing anything for you anymore.

You’re most likely at the point in the semester where meeting some new dudes would do you some good, and spring break may be the perfect time to search for some worthy prospects. The only problem is, you may not know where to look or how to approach them!

Have no fear, because Her Campus is here to help! Whether you’re taking an exotic trip with your best friends or you’re simply venturing back home for the week, here’s how you can make a spring break fling happen for you.

If You’re Going Home

If you’re going home for spring break this year, your romantic prospects may be looking a little bleak. Unless you want to hook up with an ex or have a casual fling with the guy who sat behind you in math for three years in high school, it probably seems that you’ll have to spend your spring break flying solo.

But this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. There are probably tons of cute guys from your hometown who’ll be home for spring break – you’ve just never met them!

Where to Look

Going home for spring break has the potential for a casual fling, or even just some new male friendships, as long as you make the effort. While it may be tempting to spend your entire break raiding your fully stocked fridge, if you really put yourself out there and try something new, the potential for meeting some cute guys skyrockets.

If you’re super athletic but haven’t seen any worthy guys at your local gym, use spring break to try some new activities. See if there’s a fun exercise class or race happening nearby or even give rock climbing a try.

“I’d always wanted to do a mud run, so when I heard there was one in my hometown over spring break last year, I immediately signed up,” says Caitlin, a sophomore at Gonzaga University. “There were a ton of hot guys there, and I even kept pace with this one really cute guy named Matt the whole time. We started talking a little bit before the race started, and he was really easy to talk to. I definitely had to run a little faster to keep up with him, but it was worth it because he gave me his number once we were done!”

If athletics aren’t really your thing, then there are plenty of other places you can go to meet some at-home hotties. Take a trip to your local community pool with your friends or hit up the beach if you happen to live within driving distance. Just because you’re not in an exotic location doesn’t mean that you can’t have a little fun!

There are bound to be other people from your high school who are home for break as well, and there may even be a party or two to go to. If you have a mini high school reunion with all your friends who are home for break, there’s a good chance that they’ll bring some of their new college friends with them.

“Last spring break I went to a party with a bunch of my old friends from high school and one of my best guy friends brought his roommate home with him,” says Natalie, a sophomore at the University of Oregon. “I had seen Facebook pictures of him before and I thought he was super cute. I really wanted to talk to him, so I pulled my friend aside and asked if he’d casually introduce us. We ended up talking for a good majority of the party!”

How to Approach Him

Spring break is way too short to wait for the guy to approach you, so don’t be afraid to make the first move! Ask your friend to introduce you to her good-looking friend from college, or single out a cute guy and ask him to spot you while you climb the rock wall at your gym. You never know what kind of cute boys will be waiting for you when you decide to try something new!

It’s not a bad idea to figure out which of your friends are going to be home for the break. It’s an even better idea to find out which ones are bringing home cute friends with them. Your friends will definitely be your best assets when it comes to making a spring break fling happen, so don’t hesitate to ask them! If you let a friend know you might be interested in her cute friend, she’ll definitely pass along the message.

The best part about an at-home spring break fling is that if you two really hit it off, there’s a good chance you can turn your fling into the real thing once you go back home for the summer!

If You’re Going on a Trip

So you and your best girlfriends decided to take the plunge and hit up one of the popular spring break destinations for some weeklong fun. When you pick a well-known spring break location, there’s bound to be tons of guys who are looking to have a good time, so finding a cute guy to flirt with should be a piece of cake!

Where to Look

The beach is one of the best places to search if your spring break destination happens to be warm and tropical; there will definitely be tons of guys to talk to! Whether you’re tanning during the day, going to a bonfire at night or taking a long stroll through the sand, there will always be something going on and plenty of new people to socialize with.

“I went on a trip to Cancun with all my friends last spring break, and there were a ton of people partying on the beach at all times,” says Hannah, a junior at University of Washington. “We would all wake up, immediately throw on our bathing suits, head down to the beach and usually stay there all day. That was definitely the place where everyone wanted to be. It was really fun!”

If you need a break from the beach, you can also look for local events happening in your area, like concerts or carnivals that you can attend. With all your girlfriends in tow, you’re bound to find a group of cute guys who would be willing to tag along to an outdoor concert or accompany you on a fun day trip to a local tourist attraction. TripSmarter.Com is a great place to search for spring break concerts and activities as well as good restaurants and local hot spots!

Be on the lookout for attractive guys who are staying in your hotel as well. The place you’re staying at will probably be swarming with college kids who are all looking to have a good time, just like you. If you meet a totally attractive guy in the elevator on the way down to the lobby, don’t be afraid to ask him if he knows of anything cool going on later that night. He may have the inside scoop on which club is having the best dance party that night, and he might even invite you and your friends to accompany him and his friends!

Maybe warm beaches aren’t really your scene, so you’re heading to a prime ski destination, like Vail or Salt Lake City, for your weeklong break. Sunscreen and beach volleyball won’t exactly work in this location when trying to get the attention of a good-looking dude, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend your break skiing the slopes solo. Whether it’s a group of college snowboarders or a hot ski instructor you talk to, there’s plenty of potential for some flirty fun.

If you’re hitting the slopes, you may be able to find a cute guy to help you navigate the bunny hill or give you a hand when you totally eat it on your snowboard.

How to Approach Him

While the atmosphere will most likely be incredibly social, you may still need an excuse to approach a guy. Ask him to join your beach volleyball game or see if he can put some sunscreen on that one spot on your back that you can never seem to reach. When you’re on a spring break trip, you don’t even really need a legitimate excuse to approach a guy, but it’s always nice to have one just in case!

“There were a ton of college students there [Cancun],” Hannah says. “It was pretty easy to meet guys. Everyone was very social and just looking to have a good time, so you really didn’t need an excuse to approach anyone. The guys were just looking to hook up and the girls were just looking to flirt. Everyone knows the drill, so there’s really no awkward introductions.”

If you’re somewhere where the weather is a little more on the chilly side, then you and your friends can invite a group of guys to take a late-night dip in the hotel’s hot tub with you, or scope out which ski instructor is the cutest and sign up for a lesson! Don’t be afraid to be a little flirtier than normal, because once the week is over you’ll probably never see these guys again!

“I go skiing and snowboarding at Schweitzer [in Idaho] all the time with my friends, and there’s always a ton of hot snowboarders there,” says Katie, a sophomore at Gonzaga University. “Last time I went, there was this guy who was doing some really cool moves that I hadn’t learned yet, so I just went up and asked him if he’d teach them to me. He was more than happy to show me because I think it just gave him an excuse to show off. We had a lot to talk about, though, because we both love to snowboard so much!”

If your skiing/snowboarding technique isn’t quite Winter Olympics status, don’t let that deter you from striking up a conversation with a Shaun White wannabe. Maybe he won’t be able to teach you any insane snowboarding tricks, but you can always ask him to help you with the essentials, like how to stop or how to move five feet without face-planting in the snow.

Whether you’re at home or at an exotic location this spring break, there’s a ton of potential to meet some total hotties. Time to put yourself out there and perfect those flirting skills – make this spring break one that you’ll never forget! 

Netflix and Instagram. Doesn't it make your heart beat faster just seeing those two words side by side? And getting paid to use both services? That might sound way too good to be true, but it's actually not.

If you're one of those people who spends half their weekend setting up perfect shots for the 'gram and the other half in bed with Orange Is the New Black, then get ready for the best job proposal EVER. Netflix and Instagram have partnered and are looking to hire someone to "Netflix and Gram" their way through actual locations where Netflix shows were filmed in Europe and the Middle East.

The job description welcomes all "Grammasters," aka wizards of Instagram, and promises to send successful applicants on a two-week journey, all travel expenses paid. Even better? You get a $4,000 paycheck to boot. One caveat—You have to be 21 or older, so if you can't drink legally, you can't be a Grammaster. Sad-face emoji.

Apply by hashtagging your favorite 3 Instagram photos with #grammasters3 by March 6. Find out more about this unbelievable opportunity on Netflix's website. 

The fashion industry has long faced criticism for its lack of diversity in just about every aspect. But this year, we've seen some positive changes—and thankfully, the momentum is still going strong. The Fashion Spot recently released the results of an analysis of New York Fashion Week's Fall shows this February, and this year's show was the most diverse yet.

White models still made up the majority at 68.1 percent, but the 31.9 percent of nonwhite models is the event's highest percentage yet. In comparison, the Spring 2016 shows only saw 28.4 percent of models of color. This season, Chromat, Brandon Maxwell and Sophie Theallet had some of the most diverse shows. Kanye's Yeezy Season 3 featured only nonwhite models; 87 percent of Zac Posen's show was made up of diverse models.

Of course, there's still room for progress; but finally, we're actually getting somewhere.

It's amazing how big a part coffee plays in our lives. When it's hell week and we're desperately pulling all-nighters, coffee keeps us going. When it's 9 a.m. and we're just starting a day of interning at the office, coffee's our best friend. But what if I told you that your life no longer needs to revolve around cups of caffeine, because now you can get a bracelet that will allow you to absorb caffeine straight through your skin? That's a lot less Starbucks in your life, a lot less time waiting in lines, and a lot more money in your bank account. 

Joule Caffeine Bracelet is indeed a real product, according to Cosmopolitan, and its founders have already raised over $66,000 on Indiegogo with the promise of selling something "better than coffee." The founders promise that their product will guarantee "no crashes, no long lines at the coffee shop, no stained teeth and no calories."

How does the bracelet work? Like nicotine patches, the bracelet contains a transdermal patch that will deliver caffeine straight through the skin into the bloodstream. Each dose/patch contains an equivalent amount of caffeine to a medium-sized cup of coffee and lasts for four hours, a pretty good amount of time to get you through your morning lecture. The patch will moderate the amount of caffeine being put into the bloodstream, so you can get an evenly distributed dosage and avoid crashing.

The price boils down to about $29 for a bracelet and a month's supply of patches if you contribute to the Indiegogo campaign right now. But there is no release date set for this miracle product—Maybe 2016 is the year we finally satisfy our caffeine fix through wrist accessories!

The official trailer for the long-awaited, all-female Ghostbusters reboot has finally been released and all we can say is that this movie looks lit af. 

Anyone who's seen Bridesmaids should know by now that any movie that Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy star in together is bound to be a hit. And, when you throw in the unbreakable chemistry between current SNL cast members Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones you're guaranteed to be watching comedic gold. 

The trailer reintroduces a few themes from the original movie such as loads of slime and the Ecto-1, but still manages to add in some modern twists. 

"We wanted to plant a flag early," Paul Feig, the film's director, told USA Today. "It's a whole different team. But it's kind of fun leading off with something iconic from the original."

Ghostbusters premieres in theaters this summer on July 15.

As if the backlash that ASOS received for their irresponsible decision to sell a shirt with the word "slave" on it wasn't enough of an example of what's not okay to put on the fashion market, Dolce & Gabbana managed to set us back once again with the release of a new pair of shoes that they've named "slave sandals." 

The sandals, trimmed with pom-poms and leather, are a part of the Italian fashion giant's Spring 2016 collection and they're available for pre-order at a whopping cost of $2,395. According to Footwear News, D&G created this season's collection while keeping their Italian heritage in mind. 

"The collection was inspired by their Italian heritage through the eyes of tourists and jet-set locations like Rome, Venice and Capri," reads an article on their site. "Apparel throughout the collection was embellished with sayings such as 'Italia is Love.'"

The site also claims that "slave sandal" is a term used to describe the silhouette and make of the shoe, but the term is now dated and has been replaced by "gladiator sandals."

Naturally, this isn't the first time the fashion house has been at the center of racial controversy. In 2012, the designers sent a model down the runway wearing earrings featuring Blackamoors, aka the stereotypical image of a black African.

Though the shoes are listed as slave sandals on the Dolce & Gabbana website, other retailers have chosen to be a little more respecful with their wording. Saks Fifth Avenue has the shoe listed as "Pom-Pom Leather Lace-Up Sandals" while Moda Operandi calls the style "Pom Pom Wrap Around Sandal."

The moment we've all been waiting for is here—we finally have our first look at Finding Dory!

It's no secret that we all loved Dory in Finding Nemo, so it only makes sense that the sequel looks just as cute. Ellen DeGeneres premiered the first full-length trailer during her show on Wednesday, and it's sure to make you squeal in delight.

The movie follows Dory (and the crew!) as she remembers she has a family—and sets out to look for them. The trailer even shows some new characters in the mix... including a childhood friend of Dory's, who, naturally, she's forgotten.

Check out the adorable trailer below:

Last Thursday, a woman breastfed her 6-month-old daughter in the middle of the crowd at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Cleveland, Ohio. She did her motherly duty and told women’s oppression to shove it at the same time.

Elle Bradford, mother of newfound celebrity Harper, said on her Facebook page, “So my boobs went viral today but it’s okay because it was for Bernie Sanders.” She then called for other breastfeeding moms to join her in the latest coalition of Bernie supporters, dubbing their movement #boobsforBernie.

While Bradford has gotten plenty of hate mail, she wrote on Facebook that she has received "a lot more love mail." Consider this article an addition to the latter pile, Elle! This kind of dedication is next-level.

Sanders and his wife, Jane, reportedly approached Bradford after his speech took place “to thank her for being a mother," according to NewsNet5. Bradford’s commitment to her politics is undoubtedly impressive, as is her rejection of societal norms that suggest she shouldn’t be breastfeeding in public.

Elle Bradford, we salute you. Also, Harper is adorable!

As a fashion major, I face the constant struggle of hearing comments every day from my peers about how it isn't a “real major.” Here are five of the craziest myths that I've encountered throughout the past two years of college. 

1. Fashion majors play dress up all day long.

I hear this so much from classmates, family and friends. I'm not sure why most people tend to think that all fashion majors do is hang around the nearest mall all day and play dress up, but that is farthest from the truth.

Contrary to what most people think, our classes are super hands-on. Meaning that we have to put in tons of extra time out of the classroom.

For example, I had Apparel I last summer. This was basically teaching us the fundamentals of sewing and, as the class grew on, the coursework got much harder. We would have to make a couple garments a week. 

In order to get this done, I had to spend hours in the sewing lab, not something someone usually wants to do during their summer break. Being a fashion major means you are a hardworking individual and have a determination and passion for fashion, because this competitive industry isn't easy. 

2. Fashion majors are always dressed up. 

Another myth. Just like everyone else, we have 8 a.m. classes and late night study sessions until 3 a.m. So just like you, we would rather have those extra five minutes of sleep over everything. The only difference is that we know how to look a bit more glamorous in our sweatpants and messy buns. 

3. Fashion majors take easy classes, meaning we should all have straight As & a 4.0 GPA. 

I absolutely hate hearing this from people. "Oh you're a fashion major, so you should have all A's and a 4.0 GPA. Your classes are easy, just drawing clothes and dressing up."

 Yes, someone actually said that to me once.

We take classes that you wouldn't expect for fashion majors. This semester, I am taking accounting. Yes, this is mandatory for my major and yes it is kicking my butt at the moment. 

4. Fashion major make all their clothes. 

When I tell people that I am a fashion major, their first instinct is to say, "So you want to be a designer? You must know how to make all your clothes." When in reality, I can't draw or sew to the standards that I would like.

I am more of a merchandiser/stylist. There are so many more careers in the fashion industry besides just designing, such as styling, marketing, fashion photography, modeling and more.

5. Fashion majors won't be able to find a job after graduation. 

"That's actually a major?""Why would you choose that? You'll never be able to find a job after graduation.""Have fun working at WalMart for the rest of you life with that major."

Yes, these are actual comments I have received from people after finding out my major. Just like any major, there will probably be difficulty getting a job after graduation. The fashion industry is a pretty competitive industry, but I will for sure find a job if I put in the hard work because this is what I am passionate about 110 percent.