We are grateful to True & Co and The Honey Pot Co. for sponsoring this episode and standing by our mission to inspire people to accept the skin they’re in and step into their whole, most powerful selves. Check them out here https://thehoneypot.co/ and https://trueandco.com/. Learn more about them and why we chose these sponsors below. “My style was this monument to my toxic relationship with the patriarchy and my concept of what women are supposed to look like. When I decided to take a break from dating and sex... It changed my relationship with my body . . . Being partnered can be beautiful, but getting to know yourself is so much better.” Dronme Davis grappled heavily with her self esteem when confronted by a world that told her she wasn’t enough. As a bi-racial, curvy, “too hairy and emotionally unfiltered” tween and teen, Dronme often felt unseen, unheard, misunderstood or unsafe. Whether it be at her mostly white high school, in her conservative town growing up, her Black activist community in college

In this week’s episode of ‘What’s Underneath: Black Voices’ featuring Olu Fann of Earthgang, he shares the conflicts of identity on his journey to stardom. If you agree that facades separate us and being radically honest brings us together, please take a moment to subscribe to our channel and share this video with any friends or family who would love to be inspired to see that putting yourself first is a necessary step on the way to choosing to stand proudly in the skin you are in! ⁠ Don’t forget to click the bell so you’re aware of every time we drop the new episode. New Episodes drop Thursdays! FOLLOW STYLELIKEU: Join the movement on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3sa8Mxw​ Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q32JsZ​ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3bl0LA7​ Newsletter: https://bit.ly/35nTMCC In this week's episode of 'What's Underneath: Black Voices,' rapper Olu of Earthgang opens up about the conflicts he is experiencing with his burgeoning success as a musician, and the hardships that comes with being pulled away from family

Often mistaken for an ex-convict or a drug dealer with his body and face covered in tattoos, activist and artist Yves Mathieu East has a list a mile long of all the ways he gives back to a world that has repeatedly let him down, simply for being who he is. Having been bullied and outcast throughout his life as a closeted gay kid, Yves found his power and calling when he courageously overcame addiction after coming out at 16. Now, he channels his outrage into a tender-hearted and fervent activism, both on the front lines of BLM protests (where in 2020 he traveled to 26 states across the country, was arrested 12 times and jailed 4), and online, where he uses his Instagram to pay homage to everyone marginalized, especially Trans individuals, giving them the respect and dignity in death that they should have received in life. This is the story of a lover who’s spirit will not rest until all who are forgotten (including pitbulls), are cared for and loved. Share Yves’ video with your friends and loved ones and sp

#whatsunderneath #BeaDixon #blackvoices We are grateful to True & Co. for sponsoring this episode and standing by our mission to inspire people to accept the skin they’re in and step into their whole, most powerful selves. Check them out here https://trueandco.com/. Learn more about them and why we chose our sponsor below. From working at Whole Foods, to cleaning homes, to training to be a pharmacist, everything that Bea Dixon has done in her life has led her to becoming the badass female entrepreneur that she now is. Along her journey, a visit from her late grandmother, through a vivid dream, catapulted Bea into her life’s purpose when her grandmother gave her a list of ingredients that she turned into a formula to cure her chronic bacterial vaginosis infection. The recipe gave birth to her company, The Honey Pot Co, which makes efficacious, clean products for vaginas. After experiencing burnout working a 60+ hour job a week while launching her company on the side, and in a relationship that was not serv

#whatsunderneath #blackvoices #richiereseda To support Richie’s work to abolish prisons and patriarchy, please donate to Success Stories here: https://www.successstoriesprogram.org/ Despite growing up in a world that told him from early childhood that he had to conform to the dark clothing colors and violent behavior of traditional masculinity, Richie’s colorful style and powerfully gentle spirit could not be crushed. The odds embedded in systemic racism were stacked against him from early childhood, as he noticed people fearful of him at 10 years old and was arrested for simply being late to class in grade school. Swimming against the tide of white supremacy ultimately led Richie to an arrest for robbing a pharmacy, a crime normally treated to a sentence of 2-6 years, which for him shockingly became an initial 150 years to life. But between the fervent support of the BLM organizing community and Richie’s unwavering faith in his authentic self, 7 harrowing years in the belly of patriarchal prison culture tur

#blackhistorymonth #whatsunderneath #CeyenneDoroshow #blackvoices We are grateful to True & Co and The Honey Pot Co. for sponsoring this episode and standing by our mission to inspire people to accept the skin they’re in and step into their whole, most powerful selves. Check them out here https://thehoneypot.co/ and https://trueandco.com/. Learn more about them and why we chose these sponsors below. “Having an open heart came from a childhood of wanting to be accepted and wanting to be a part and never being a part,” says Ceyenne Doroshow. Growing up in the 70’s, Ceyennne never played in the dirt or liked sports. She did not resonate with being gay, lesbian or with the word tranvestite. Though she was assigned “boy” at birth, Ceyenne knew that she was a young lady in the vein of her mother and grandmother - proud and stylish women known for fantastical church ensembles - even though they did not initially see Ceyenne for who she was. Refusing to erase herself, Ceyenne left home as a teen. She lived on t

#blackhistorymonth #whatsunderneath #LeonFord #blackvoices Love gave Leon Ford the self-worth to transform and transcend being viciously shot and paralyzed by the police as an innocent 19-year-old. A Sunday afternoon drive home from a relative's house turned into an unimaginable act of violence when white police officers chased down Leon’s car, jumped in the passenger seat, and shot him 5 times completely unwarranted. Years later, Leon has done the unimaginable by molding the worst hate into a message of love. The steps to finding his hero within came after years of processing and acknowledging the very understandable feelings of anger, depression, and terror of being slowed down by his new reality in a wheelchair. What Leon makes crystal clear in his very being is that there’s no label or circumstance that can erase our spirit. Today, Leon is the most humble and impactful of activists. Through his meditation, therapy, and travel, he has mastered the art of acceptance and understanding of others, including w

#whatsunderneath #blackhistorymonth #kierseyclemons We are grateful to True & Co and The Honey Pot Co. for sponsoring this episode and standing by our belief in the power of accepting the skin you're in and stepping into your whole, most powerful self. Check them out here https://thehoneypot.co/ and https://trueandco.com/ and learn more about our sponsors and why we chose them below! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Whether it’s wearing things that represent all of the people she loves, or an acting career that has her diving headfirst into her biggest fears, striving to express her true self is how actress Kiersey Clemons has found her inner magic. Despite a successful career in Hollywood, which might appear to render her without a care in the world, Kiersey has been confronted with the embedded layers of racism in Hollywood. Being typecast as the token Black girl with big hair and b

How Single Mom & Entrepreneur Kelci Potter Has Transformed Her Pain Into Gold #stylelikeu #closetsstylelikeu #kelcipotter Fairy tales are not fluff - they are myths of truth, courage, and the bravery to be yourself under all odds. In this episode of Closets: Covid Edition, Kelci Potter shows us how she literally transformed familial trauma and the pressures of single motherhood into jewels when she started molding gold and the love of its imperfections into her one-of-a-kind designs. From breaking free of people who wanted her to conform to be someone else to breaking free of her eating disorder, Kelci relies on an inner compass that has always propelled her away from the fragments of the past and into a whole future. Kelci’s gift to the world shines as bright as the gold she now wears on her body: by healing herself, she can freely give light and permission to others to heal from their wounds. Her journey of finding home and feeling alone is something many of us will feel connected to, given we are all n

Through Conflict Comes Creativity: Kim Hill | Closets Covid Edition #stylelikeu #closetsstylelikeu #kimhill The shameful parts of history will not repeat themselves if it’s up to Kim Hill, a founding member of the Black Eyed Peas. Despite a younger self who dreamed of being a music star, Kim walked away from the top when faced with systemic racism and misogyny in the music business. Holding her own in a long line of strong women from her heritage, she could not sell her soul, no matter the cost. So when the pandemic hit, Kim took from the lessons of her grandmother and great grandmother, who lived through the deadly Spanish Flu. She swiftly turned her penchant for design, as seen in her Liberace meets Grace Jones style, into the most popular masks in her neighborhood, all while transforming her urban backyard in Newark into a small farm with the most fashionable chickens around. But what defines Kim the most is her devotion to her son Cassius, whose lucky stars are all around him with a single mom who unders

You don’t see ‘all this’ on TV too often, and Astra is here to change that. In this episode of Closets: Covid Edition, Astra aka Funky Chunkyy, shows us that beauty is never shrinking one ounce of who you are for another person’s comfort. Her glowing presence shatters the societal illusion that fat girls should feel unhappy and ashamed of their bodies. Giving you every bit of how “extra” she feels in herself, Astra rocks sequin pants, polka dot hat and her mother fucking fat girl T shirt of her own design (more of her own Fat Girl line TC), not to mention how big and cute she feels in a ‘fatkini.’ So if you want to feel inspired, entertained, and uplifted, watch how Astra reveals who she is, without any sugar coating. For more of Astra, you can follower her @funkychunkyy on instagram. If this story is transformative on your own journey towards acceptance, please consider becoming a member of StyleLikeU on Patreon so that we can build a world where everyone feels comfortable and safe in their skin. To join

Walking out the door everyday has meant facing racism, homophobia, and transphobia on a regular basis for Arrows. As a black queer trans person, Arrows has been on a mission to become secure in his own identity and it took quarantining for him to get there. Being forced to stay inside for Arrows has been an unexpected reprieve from an almost frantic filling of space with intimate relationships and chasing the illusive beautiful people party or brand deal. What grew out of that break is an unwavering belief in their authentic self with no holds barred, where he has met the hero within. Now at a newfound peace with their masculinity, which includes a beard from their polycystic ovarian syndrome to having fun exploring gender with their style, and much more, Arrows gives us a glimpse into what the world could look like if we all took the opportunity to pursue freedom across all bounds of life. If this story is transformative on your own journey towards acceptance, please consider becoming a member of StyleLike

Artist, Musician, and Designer Zumi Rosow shares her unrelenting desire to express herself fully, the pain of her mother’s recent passing and the reality of facing Covid-19 as a touring musician. Zumi recounts how putting herself out there fearlessly throughout her life can also help other people be their unique self and by being yourself you’re actually changing the paradigm. Her disinterest in “normality” has paved the way to her becoming a trailblazer, bejeweled with authenticity through both thick and thin. Most prominently shown through her appearance and choice of dress, Zumi’s contagious confidence inspires us all to utilize our unique experiences and perspectives to beat true to each of our own drums. We can’t help but be captivated by her authentic grace through the highs and lows of her journey and we hope her bold perspective on fearless expression is an inspiration to you too. If this story is transformative on your own journey towards acceptance, please consider becoming a member of StyleLike

In an industry filled with misogyny and victim silencing, actress Dignity (formerly Calu) Rivero shares the all-too-common realities she experienced in her early career, pre- #metoomovement. She highlights, from firsthand experience, just how detrimental silent culture can become, how the media skews what really happens when someone with influence abuses their power, what her relationship with her body is like now, and why she changed her name to Dignity. She teaches us to unlearn the “norm” of keeping the peace, and to instead utilize our natural-born human right and Personal Power: speaking your Truth. Dignity shares with us her path of discovering her dignity, the power of using your voice to speak out, and how much we can accomplish together when we do so. If this story is transformative on your own journey towards acceptance, please consider becoming a member of StyleLikeU on Patreon so that we can build a world where everyone feels comfortable and safe in their skin. To join the movement, head over t

#blacklivesmatter #tellblackstories #iamwhatsunderneath We made this video in 2017 to bring together voices of those who have shared personal experiences with racism and white privilege during their What’s Underneath interviews. We are reposting it again now because we believe the messages in this video are as urgent and critical as ever. We believe that racial justice cannot be served without a ceaseless commitment- specifically on behalf of white people- to honesty, accountability and action towards dismantling the white supremacy woven into the institutions of this country and each of our lives. White Fragility, or our discomfort with discussing race and our own privilege, keeps systemic racism intact and leaves the responsibility of confronting it on the shoulders of people of color. While it is painful to look at the harm we have caused and continue to cause people of color, however unintentionally, it is not nearly as devastating as the micro-aggressions, macro-aggressions and violence that people o

In this special episode, we interviewed 28-year-old identical twins, Nola and Nadine Hanson. Nadine is a cis-gender woman and Nola is gender nonconforming. From a young age, Nola never felt at home in their body, and was told by society that opting to cut their hair short and wear “boys” clothing was not ok. They were forced to repress their true identity to make others feel safe and comfortable. Nadine, being so close to Nola through their profound connection, felt Nola’s pain. Just as Nola was not allowed to feel comfortable in their body, Nadine didn’t feel comfortable in hers, leading to years and years of disordered eating. As Nola has come to own their identity and power, Nadine, too, has been able to heal her own issues around her body. They have both been freed from the box others put them in, and although they are starting to not look so identical, they feel right at home. Thank you to Lunette, the convenient, ecological and economical menstrual cup, for making this video possible! https://store.lu

57-year-old Mariel Hemingway, an Academy Award-nominated actress, mother, and author, can still climb mountains, literally and figuratively. Growing up tall and blonde in a famous family plagued by mental health issues and very public suicides, she found comfort in controlling every aspect of her life, especially her body and food. After compulsively seeking help through different gurus and spiritual practices, the freeing moment came when she suddenly realized that she was her own teacher and ok to be happy, even if it meant leaving others behind. Big thanks to ThirdLove, the inclusive bra company, for helping to make this episode possible. #stylelikeu #whatsunderneath #eatingdisorder #suicide #family #control #lackofcontrol #marielhemingway #spiritualawakening #siblings #sisters #mentalhealth #ernesthemingway If this story is transformative on your own journey towards acceptance, please consider becoming a member of StyleLikeU on Patreon so that we can build a world where everyone feels comfortable a

Uzumaki Cepeda is not defined by the sexual abuse she experienced as a child. Instead, she channels her trauma into creating literal safe spaces and installations dedicated to helping heal herself and others. Growing up in a Dominican community, Uzumaki had to unlearn whitewashing and programming around what makes a woman beautiful. Through stripping to survive, she found a renewed sense of empowerment and love for her body. But when stripping took up too much of her time, she left that life and risked it all to follow her instincts and become an artist. You can follow Uzumaki and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/uzumaki.gallery/ *Please note, This video contains sensitive material about sexual abuse that some may find triggering.* Big thanks to ThirdLove, the inclusive bra company, for making this video possible. https://www.thirdlove.com/ #stylelikeu #whatsunderneath #healingtrauma#artist #abusesurvivor #trauma #healing #empowerment #artinstallations #dominican #brownwomen #speakingup #metoo #f

At age 64, Caprece Jackson uses her style as armor and her wigs as helmets in a war to open doors that have been closed to her because of the color of her skin. Everyday, she is on the frontlines fighting against oppression, and hopes to become a portal for other women of color to be free to just “be.” In this powerful episode, Caprece discusses reconnecting to her natural hair and takes a cathartic step towards self-acceptance by taking off her go-to wig, which has provided her entry to jobs and status, for the first time in public. Find Caprece here: https://www.instagram.com/capreceannjackson/ #stylelikeu #whatsunderneath #naturalhair #racism #womenofcolor #wigs #peopleofcolor #oppression #fashion #style #stylelikeu #whatsunderneath #blackgirlmagic #blackpower #selfworth#silverhair Thank you to Lunette, the convenient, ecological and economical menstrual cup, for making this video possible! https://store.lunette.com/ If this story is transformative on your own journey towards acceptance, please cons

Sophia Hadjipanteli used to hide her bushy unibrow behind sunglasses when she walked down the street, but now she holds her head high as people stare. Incessantly bullied as a kid for her eclectic style, Sophia found comfort in the strength of her Greek immigrant father who had risked losing everything in the pursuit of living freely in America. Comfortable when it comes to feeling like an outsider, Sophia is finding success as a model disrupting beauty standards with her pronounced unibrow and urging the fashion industry to diversify representation from an authentic place. Find Sophia here: https://www.instagram.com/sophiahadjipanteli/ Thank you to Lunette, the convenient, ecological and economical menstrual cup, for making this video possible! https://store.lunette.com/ #whatsunderneath #stylelikeu #bodyhair #unibrow #selfacceptance #fashion #fashionindustry #model #eyebrows #brows #hairy #hairywomen #beauty #beautyindustry If this story is transformative on your own journey towards acceptance, please

At age 34, Beth Fairchild was told she only had 2 years to live. Through this diagnosis, she realized that her conventional beauty had never defined her. Letting go of identifying with being 5’10, with blonde hair and double D breasts, made her realize that she was always enough and had always been. Now, 6 years later, Beth is still confronted with her terminal diagnosis everyday but has found a strength and gratitude she never knew she had. In this time, Beth met her soulmate at a fundraising event for cancer and has become a leading voice for women with Metastatic Breast Cancer. “I have no control over my cancer, no control over what it’s gonna do to my body. But what I do have control over is how I live my life and what I do right now in this moment.” - Beth Fairchild in the latest episode of What’s Underneath. Follow Beth here: https://www.instagram.com/bethfairchild/ Big thanks to ThirdLove, making bras that cater to all sizes and shapes, for helping to bring this episode to life. https://www.thirdlo

We are thrilled to announce that The What’s Underneath Project is back! Our first episode kicks off with Ghanaian born Enam Asiama, a plus-size model who is paving the way for all fat bodies in an industry that has often only embraced a curvy, hour-glass shape. Despite being told throughout her life that she shouldn’t wear bright colors or patterns because of her size, she wears them all and with joyful confidence that says a big f* you to the world. Incessantly fat-shamed, sexualized and degraded, Enam’s weapon against it all is that she loves her body and is calling out to the fashion industry to address her hunger for the choices of clothing that smaller women enjoy. Don’t try to dim her light, for as Enam states, “I’m a divine energy coming to consume your space.” Thank you to Lunette, the convenient, ecological and economical menstrual cup, for making this episode possible! https://store.lunette.com/ #inclusivity #plussizemodel #empowering #bodyshaming#strongblackwomen#bodypositivity#identity#bodylove#

In collaboration with Bluebella Lingerie, we interviewed four diverse women, May Simon, Ali Tate Cutler, Alex Bruni and Riya Hamid about how they define sensuality and sexuality on their own terms. No matter each of their respective struggles with gender, size, age or cultural identity, by reclaiming their bodies from limited beauty standards, the male gaze and its objectifying, diminishing stronghold over our self-image, they have each stepped into their personal power. As an act of irrefutable defiance, Riya Hamid states, “ I feel the sexiest now that I have ever felt... this is a beauty that I want to share with the world and what the world does with it is not any of my business.” Founded in 2005 by Emily Bendell, Bluebella is a lingerie brand with strength and modernity at its heart; designed to redefine sensuality. Check out Bluebella’s full #loveyourself campaign at https://www.bluebella.com/ #stylelikeu#bodypositivity #selflove #selfacceptance #body #bodypositive#femininepower#shamefree If this st

Born in Mozambique and growing up in Maryland, where pretty was synonymous with white and skinny, curvy and brown-skinned Carmen spent most of her middle school days in the bathroom at school trying to “fix” herself in the mirror. Eventually, the homogeneity Carmen was surrounded by created so much self-hate that she turned to cutting herself in order to find relief from the alienation and sadness. It wasn’t until she came to New York City, where Carmen began to see her likeness, both on the streets and in other bigger sized role models in the media, that Carmen began to love her body. Recognizing that she felt the most insecure at her skinniest, today Carmen feels beautiful like a Renaissance painting, with her rolls, thick thighs, and overall “squishiness.” Feeling “not too fat for anything,” she is now smashing the status quo as a model herself and continuing the up and down journey of healing her wounds. #stylelikeu#gettingdressed#bodyimage #bodyacceptance#bodypositive#selfharmscars#relationships#model

Living in a Van without Succumbing To The Man. For Artist, Activist, and Community Event Producer, Corinne Loperfido, it was the combination of a dad with the motto, “if it’s free it’s for me,” a friend who said, “who needs a man when you have a van?” and a teacher who asked her, “what are you willing to risk?” to protect the environment, that led to a life-changing “aha” moment. Two years ago, Corinne radically changed her existence when she moved into a van and began living a zero-waste lifestyle, buying essentially nothing that couldn’t be returned to the earth (besides the fuel that she uses as efficiently as possible). By wholeheartedly committing to the future of our planet, Corinne stepped onto a path to her most awakened, humble, empowered and stylish self. #stylelikeu#gettingdressed #zerowaste#closets #selfacceptance #wastefree #vanlife #iamwhatsunderneath #theselfacceptancerevolution #selflove #grwm We’d like to extend a special thank you to sponsor, Mad Hippie, for supporting our movement and he

This week’s installation of our new series, Getting Dressed: An Act of Self Love, brought to you by Mad Hippie, features WearYourHappy Fashion Designer and Sewing Tutor Karen Arthur. In her episode, Karen courageously shows us how a bout of depression, brought on by empty nest syndrome and menopause, gave birth to her most empowered, free self. At 57, Karen’s colorful hats, brogues and bespoke dresses and skirts, are a truly joyful reflection of her newfound understanding that only by confronting and embracing your whole self, shadows and all, can you lead a life that is “bonkers” good. We’d like to extend a special thank you to sponsor, Mad Hippie, for supporting our movement and helping to bring Karen’s episode to life. Cruelty-free and committed to reducing the world’s carbon imprint, Mad Hippie believes that high-quality ingredients should be affordable and that taking care of your skin should be protective, nourishing and restorative. Like StyleLikeU, Mad Hippie was born with a “buck the establishme

In this week’s 3rd installation of our new series, Getting Dressed: An Act of Self Love, brought to you by Mad Hippie, harpist, dancer, producer, singer and siren Elsz reveals the loss of self that they endured during an abusive relationship and how breaking free catalyzed a rebirth that has them reclaiming their body and resurrecting their spirit. Elsz’s transformation sparkles in the album they are releasing this year (which dives into their story of abuse and its cycles), their comfort in being alone, the relationships they’re now attracting that mirror the glory of their new-found self-worth, and in a self-expression through style that honors their Sri Lankan roots while taking back a once-shackling colonial clothing and making it their own. Elsz is raising money for their album on Kickstarter. To support them go to this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elsz/blue-scar-elsz-debut-album?ref=project_link We’d like to extend a special thank you to sponsor, Mad Hippie, for supporting our moveme

We are excited to bring you the second installation of our new series, Getting Dressed: An Act of Self Love, created with Schmidt’s in honor of Pride. Getting Dressed marries our hero series, The What’s Underneath Project, with our original Closet Series, as we take our subjects to a new edge of self-discovery. Beginning in their underwear and getting dressed into their fullest self-expression, through intimate interviews in the mirror about self-image and identity, we learn how each person's style has become an act of claiming and celebrating who they are. In our second episode, two months after top surgery, Ellen Ford is breathing a huge sigh of relief. The hero of their own story, Ellen takes us on a journey from having unrelenting tantrums as a six-year-old over having to wear frilly dresses and skimpy bikinis, to stepping into their most powerful energy today in suits and swimming trunks. Living outside of the gender binary, today Ellen is accepting the multifaceted layers of themselves and infectiously

We are excited to bring you the first installation of our new series, Getting Dressed: An Act of Self Love, created with Schmidt’s in honor of Pride. Getting Dressed marries our hero series, The What’s Underneath Project, with our original Closet Series, as we take our subjects to a new edge of self discovery. Beginning in their underwear and getting dressed into their fullest self-expression, through intimate interviews in the mirror about self image and identity, we learn how each person's style has become an act of claiming and celebrating who they are. In our first episode featuring Jamee Jones, they take us on their journey from struggling with identity as an effeminate kid to fearlessly owning their unique gender and sexuality expression with a full beard, glitter, eye-shadow and lipstick. We’d like to extend a special thank you to Schmidt’s Naturals for partnering with us to bring this episode to life. Certified vegan and cruelty free, Schmidt’s Naturals raises the bar for natural products by using

Style by fire, inspirational stylist, fashion consultant, author, magazine editor, and former co-host of What Not To Wear, Stacy London’s trademark “Morticia” gray streak grew in when she was eleven and she has been refusing to hide it ever since. But it isn’t until turning 50 that she is actually having a midlife Renaissance in her Princess dresses and finally feeling a deep comfort in her skin. She is coming into her own having done life her way; not married, without kids and never having had a conventional job. This after a lifetime of eating disorders under fashions unforgiving lens as a Fashion Editor at magazines like Vogue and as a superstar TV host of “What Not To Wear.” “Beauty is about love and contentment,” is Stacy’s new mantra. This episode is brought to you by Chantelle Lingerie. Our listeners can take advantage of free shipping by going to chantelle.com and using the coupon code STYLE. For Stacy’s full life and style story, listen to their episode of our podcast, What’s Underneath, on iTunes

Their own hero, Janaya’s all-black uniform can be packed in 7 minutes flat in case they are called to the front lines as an activist and organizer, where they have the responsibility of redirecting rage and rallying community around politically and socially charged moments. You will also find them wearing black in the boxing ring, where they have learned to punch without apology and where they have found refuge as a black, queer, non-binary person in an inclusive space. Janaya’s heroic qualities are also pronounced by their title of Futurist, which was given to them by members of the Black Lives Matter chapter in Toronto (which they co-created). Janaya speaks to communities around the world about the need to communicate and listen to one another despite the insidious Racism, Bigotry, Transphobia, and Islamophobia that runs rampant in our society. Without communication, they believe we will stay in the same cycles of separation and segregation. Despite a traumatic childhood, or perhaps because of it, living to

Jacob Tobia is the Marie Kondo of gender. #stylelikeu #iamwhatsunderneath #selfacceptance None of us are meant to be cookie cutter and Jacob Tobia wants to make sure you know it. The writer, producer, and author, has come to their glam meets cow-girl meets urban street style by way of growing up exploring their gender creativity in a binary world that wanted them conform. Giving themselves permission to cherry pick their gender-style preferences, like not shaving their body hair and wearing heels, has birthed the idea that at our essence we are each multifaceted selves and Jacob wants that brilliance to shine for everyone! “I'm the Marie Kondo of gender. I want to walk through everybody's metaphorical gender house and be like, ‘Hold all these different aspects of your identity to your chest, decide if they spark joy for you. If they spark joy, I'll teach you how to fold them and keep them, store them nicely, honor them and display them how you want. And if they don't spark joy, get rid of it.’” For Jacob’s

#stylelikeu #iamwhatsunderneath #selfacceptance Stepping into her queer colors. This week we look inside the Closet of this week’s podcast star, co-creator, writer and director of HBO’s High Maintenance, Katja Blichfeld. In her video, Katja busts binaries and revels in the freedom that claiming her queerness at 40 has brought her. No longer concerned with the male gaze, form fitting clothes, makeup or the dark colors that kept her in hiding, Katja is proving to herself and the world of television that being comfortable in your skin is what’s “pretty,” not conforming to fit into a made-up, patriarchal ideal of beauty. For Katja’s full life and style story, listen to her episode of our podcast, What’s Underneath, on iTunes (http://bit.ly/WUStyleA), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/2l894E9) or Stitcher (https://bit.ly/2HNthb1). If these stories are transformative on your own journey towards acceptance, please consider becoming a member of StyleLikeU on Patreon so that we can build a world where everyone feels comf

#iamwhatsunderneath #selfacceptance #stylelikeu Never too bold or too loud! In a world that is quick to judge and fear the other, Lebanese filmmaker Pam Nasr doesn’t want to overlook the many ways we can communicate and seek bonds without words, whether it be through the food we share or how we dress. When she walks down the street in bold colors or flaunting her strong legs, Pam’s style screams, “I love life” and “I want to connect.” Growing up in Dubai with a dad who gave her the space to push boundaries and wear mini-skirts in a country that is more conservative due to its tradition has given Pam the grit needed to take risks. “Growing up, it was always a question of what is too much skin or what is being too loud? What is attracting too much attention because that's something I constantly heard around me. But that's not something that I ever questioned because for me, too much skin wasn't problematic. It's about how you carry yourself in what you're wearing. I don’t allow room for someone to put me in a

Meme Guru Bunny Michael’s Hair Stands Out Like Their Spirit Shines Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Marieme Diop Freed Her Hair and Found Her Sovereignty In the third installation of our five-part series exploring self-image and identity through hair, made in collaboration with Bedhead, we feature the story of musician, artist, healer and meme-guru, Bunny Michael. Bunny has had a rainbow of hair colors as signifiers of the changes in their life, marking coming-out as teen, a series of new romances, break-ups, and the ups-and-downs of being an artist. A cotton-candy pink that you almost want to eat is where they are at now; a look that has followed Bunny’s empowering recognition that they can feel like a man on the inside and not look like one on the outside. Bunny’s magical hair color stands out like their spirit shines, mirroring their transformative vision that their success is not defined by recognition or money, but lies in serving something bigger than

Marieme Diop Freed Her Hair and Found Her Sovereignty Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Former Olympian Cuts Off Her Hair and Wins Her Identity: Casey Legler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ODw1n9zbYU&t=20s In the third installation of our five-part series exploring self-image and identity through hair, made in collaboration with Bedhead, we feature the story of musician, Marieme Diop. “My hair says that I am fierce, otherworldly and that I am not afraid to experiment or live life,” says Marieme, who experienced colorism and was bullied in high school for her dark skin after moving to the Bronx from Senegal, where everyone had looked like her. From feeling pressured in her adolescence to fit in by making her hair straight to now embracing a natural look and dying it blue to accentuate her skin tones, Marieme’s hair serves as a testament to her newfound pride in who she is: “I feel unfuckwithable at the moment.” Listen to Marieme's music here: https://linkt

Former Olympian Cuts Off Her Hair and Wins Her Identity: Casey Legler Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Survivor Emma Sulkowicz Reclaims Their Body and Steps into Their True Colors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvVpD9oHNIo&t=3s In the second installation of our five-part series exploring self-image and identity through hair, made in collaboration with Bedhead, we feature the story of Writer, Model and former Olympic Athlete, Casey Legler. From having long hair as a child, to shaving her head as an Olympic swimmer (something that only the male swimmers were allowed to do), to becoming a bleached blond with long flowing hair in her 20’s, to rocking her signature short, slicked-back look of today, the winding journey of Casey’s hair has articulated points of rebellion against society’s idea of what a woman should look like, compliance with that standard, and ultimately a growing comfort in who she is. More episodes of The What's Underneath Project coming so

Survivor Emma Sulkowicz Reclaims Their Body and Steps into Their True Colors Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Sneak Peek: What Does Your Hair Say About You? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy76wEZN-nk&t=7s In the first installation of a five-part series exploring self-image and identity through hair, made in collaboration with Bedhead, we feature the story of performance artist, Emma Sulkowicz. Emma began changing their hair color when they first went public about being a rape survivor. We have admired Emma for a long time, ever since we became aware of The Mattress Performance, Emma’s brave response to Columbia University’s failure to take action after Emma and a handful of other students reported cases of assault by the same Columbia classmate. In 2014-2015, Emma walked around campus every day of the school year carrying a mattress in order to "make sure that rape didn't happen anymore." In this video, Emma shares how changing the color of their hair has

Sneak Peek: What Does Your Hair Say About You? Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: At 73, Yvette Neliaz Chooses A Life Of Risk Over Security https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl27GSGlhzY&t=5s Earlier this year, we got to do what we love most -- meet some of our role models and dig into their empowering stories of style, self-image and identity -- only this time it’s in collaboration with Bedhead and through the lens of hair. In this teaser for our five-part series, meet Emma Sulkowicz, Casey Legler, Marieme Diop, Bunny Michael, Philip Downing, who courageously explore how their hair mirrors their own journeys towards learning to stand strong in who they are. Stay tuned for their full episodes, which will be airing weekly over the next five weeks! More episodes of The What's Underneath Project coming soon! FOLLOW STYLELIKEU: Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/9wJ_b Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylelikeu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylelikeu Fou

Falling and fighting for the love of her life - What's Underneath Podcast with Lorri Davis. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Sponsored by Castbox Listen on Castbox http://bit.ly/WhatsUCB, Apple http://bit.ly/WUStyleA, etc. Please rate us! Watch more: https://bit.ly/2JUwTxf Last week we spoke with Damien Echols who was incarcerated on death row for more than 18 years for murders that he did not commit. It became crystal clear during that interview that the heroism of his story was as much to do with him as it was his wife, Lorri, the heroine of this truly incredible love story. Lorri was a successful architect working in New York when she saw the first Paradise Lost film (which documented the circus of Damien’s first trial) at the Museum of Modern Art in 1996. She was so overcome with emotion after seeing it that she sat down and wrote what would become the first of over three thousand letters that Lorri and Damien exchanged throughout his time in prison, which included 10 years in solitary confinement. W

Choose Risk: Yvette Neliaz Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Liking Yourself Despite & For The Things That Don’t Fit In: Lary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPPfC5i5vnA&t=64s ---- “My big, big dream was to have a very intense life, not a boring life,” says 73-year-old nightlife photographer, Yvette Neliaz. Yvette is the toast of Paris and neither having been temporarily homeless nor living with bipolar disorder has muted her colorful self-expression. The secret to Yvette’s happiness has been to choose risk over security and find the humor in the challenges life hands you. Yvette sums up her life philosophy plainly: “If we didn’t have problems, we would be dead.” Follow Yvette on Twitter at https://twitter.com/damepipi or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/damepipitv/

From The Ashes of Fashion’s Dark Side, Jeanne de Kroon Found Herself Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Liking Yourself Despite & For The Things That Don’t Fit In: Lary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPPfC5i5vnA&t=9s _______ Born in a “long, blonde body,” Jeanne ditches society’s hypnotic lure of life as a lingerie model to take on exploitation within the fashion industry, a cause that she is willing to be judged for as a person of privilege. Jeanne has seen this exploitation from two angles: first through the objectification of her body as a model, and later at a factory worker protest in Nepal. This led to an “Aha” moment when she met an older Nepali woman while traveling, who told her, "your eyes look like a celebration, but your outfit says ‘No.’” At that moment, Jeanne traded in modeling, the Berlin party scene, and her all black wardrobe to create Zazi Vintage. Through her company, she is bringing the soul and stories of colorful, vintage, and handma

Liking Yourself Despite & For The Things That Don’t Fit In: Lary Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: A Male Feminist Undoes Patriarchy with Trust and Loyalty: Kornelius Werhahn-Mees https://youtu.be/NWKZzx0PGSE _______ "You're really pretty for a black girl,” was among some of the bullshit that musician Lary heard growing up in a small town in western Germany, where she stood out as one of the only people of color. It wasn’t until she went to the US (NYC, to be exact) for the first time, where “every second person was black,” that she grew into a new confidence in her skin. Today, comfy in her earthy layers, sport socks and all, Lary revels her new-found vulnerability, refusing to be covered up in her truth or objectified as an artist. Today, you can find Lary’s music at larysays.com, and read her musings on twitter and IG @larypoppins. ______ FOLLOW STYLELIKEU: Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/9wJ_b Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylelikeu/

A Male Feminist Undoes Patriarchy with Trust and Loyalty: Kornelius Werhahn-Mees Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Parents Should Thank Their Children: Agathe Rousselle https://youtu.be/UtRCpu4nfbU __________ Who needs credit cards or an engagement ring? Kornelius Werhahn-Mees forgoes both, transacting in trust and love instead. Status in the form of a Goldman Sachs business card was not the life for heavily tatted Kornelius, who had enough of the banking world after just a year in finance. From the plethora of pornographic images being passed around to the worship of luxury cars and expensive champagne, the dreams of his coworkers were not his. Instead, he opened a shop in Berlin called Soul Objects, where banks and their paraphernalia (i.e. credit cards) are not accepted and his clients can leave with an item and pay him later. In the 4 years he has been open, no one has reneged on their promise. Similarly, his marriage is bound by a deep love and desire

Parents Should Thank Their Children: Agathe Rousselle Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Self-Acceptance as the Work of Life: Sebastien Vion https://youtu.be/6YgbujHzCoc ________ “Parents should thank their children and not the other way around.” Agathe knows this after having been the daughter of a mother who has wreaked havoc on her sense of self with a lifetime of conditional love. As fundamental to Agathe as her tomboy layers is brutal honesty around her struggles. From the destabilizing fear of abandonment to dressing to avoid the invasion of the male gaze, Agathe’s journey from darkness to truth has grounded her in healthy communication with her partner, who committed to sobriety when she found it in herself to give him an ultimatum. Agathe may know pain, but her refusal to be ashamed of it has given way to a fuller self with no tolerance for being a model and wearing someone else’s style, or for love that is selfish. ________ FOLLOW STYLELIKEU:

Self-Acceptance as The Work of Life, Drag Performer Sebastian Vion Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Force of Nature Fannie Sosa Refuses the Colonial Gaze youtube.com/watch?v=VEpeGhL-obM Thank you, Sunday Riley, for supporting the self-acceptance revolution by sponsoring this episode. Check out Sunday Riley here: http://bit.ly/2piI0m5 ______ Self-acceptance is the work of life, says Sebastien, who has been transforming himself into Corrine for 22 years as a performance artist, and self-dubbed clown. After being mesmerized by the circus as a gay kid in a conservative family and rural town, he found that life can be magic if you want it to by making a career out of being the alter-ego of his dreams, in Paris. “A clown is a character that you can have all of your life. When I am Corrine, I can do all that I want,” says Sebastien. Corrine is the edge to Sebastien’s gentle man, the latter of whom often cries while removing his inner femme fatale after a show fr

Force of Nature Fannie Sosa Refuses the Colonial Gaze Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Coming Out Everyday, Gender and Sexuality Without Limits: Mic Oala https://bit.ly/2GrSoEu ______ “What was beauty before mirrors?” Fannie’s approach to healing is getting to the source of our problems, leaving no stone unturned. Instead of ‘numbing’ our pain, acknowledge it. Fannie herself is unstoppable in her own healing process with her no holds barred honesty about the pain she has endured being an afro-diasporic woman in the face of the white colonial gaze. Her acute awareness has given her the rare wisdom to understand that she feels the most beautiful, not because of how toned she is in a selfie, her job or who she is sitting next to, but because of the intrinsic value of being herself. This and more truths that need exposing for the injustices that they are: scruffy-chic style and the time and vehicles for healing are privileges of the white, skinny and wealthy

Coming Out Everyday, Gender and Sexuality Without Limits: Mic Oala Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Blowing the Cover Off of Fashion and TV: French Journalist Lauren Bastide https://bit.ly/2GkrM8r ---------- It’s never too late to become your most true and free self, according to Mic, who feels we learn and unlearn our whole lives. A single mom at 20, it has taken Mic 25 years to come fully into their genderqueer and pansexual identity. Today, luxuriating in their newly shaved head, Mic doesn't want to be confined by any gender box. “For me, it's rather like one day I feel a bit more dudish, another day I feel more girly, and I don't want to limit myself or be limited when it comes to these so-called gender expressions.” This and many more cathartic truths, like discovering the vulnerability and the strength of being 45 and facing your own fragility and mortality in Mic’s full episode. ----------- FOLLOW STYLELIKEU: Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/9wJ_b

Blowing the Cover Off of Fashion and TV: French Journalist Lauren Bastide Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx | Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: The What’s Underneath Project Paris & Berlin | Trailer https://bit.ly/2GbT7pa --- Our quest to take The What’s Underneath Project global continues with our new series of global style warriors. Shot in Paris and Berlin. First, we have Lauren Bastide. Blonde and stereotypically pretty, Lauren was constantly told she should be a model growing up: “society’s ultimate power position for a woman.” Instead, she became a journalist and landed her dream job at Elle magazine. Over the decade she spent there, Lauren witnessed the industry she once idolized morph beyond recognition: advertising’s perverse influence over journalism was staggering. The final straw was when a furry Fendi keychain advertorial took editorial precedence over her feature on a case of police brutality. “At some point you have to listen to your guts, I guess, and my guts told me to ge

The What’s Underneath Project goes to Paris and Berlin, watch the trailer! Season premiere March 26. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2pOUenx Get the book: http://amzn.to/2FlBqaw WATCH NEXT: Christina Perri’s letter to the universe https://youtube.com/watch?v=2otbX4alC6Y&list=PL_jxFaykzU8CSjCdSJamAv6Yh_S48prrm Our quest to take The What’s Underneath Project global continues with our new series of global style warriors. Shot in Paris and Berlin, these stories will nourish your soul with their honesty, courage and piercing perspectives on aging, motherhood, gender and sexual identity, masculinity, race, patriarchy and more. Over and over we are reminded when interviewing our subjects that understanding and honoring our differences is what brings us together and is the beauty of it all! ____________________________________________________________________ FOLLOW STYLELIKEU: Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/9wJ_b Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylelikeu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylelikeu Twitter