Naked Beauty

"I find the body to be a very sacred place and I don’t think that you need to get attention by exposing your skin, I think you can get attention by dressing interesting." - my guest Negarin, on the modest fashion movement and her personal style Negarin has always been a go-getter. In the same year we met, I watched her launch her own fashion line, Negarin London , debut at London Fashion Week. She...

“I’m over complicated skin routines. I have this conversation with a lot of other editors. There are too many products that do the same thing. As someone who is supposed to promote these products for you, even I feel overwhelmed.” - my guest Janell shares some very honest thoughts on this episode of Naked Beauty Janell Hickman started her career at WWD, did PR at Victoria Secret and Essence but ul...

“When you’re in the hair salon, speak up. Be direct. Direct questions, get direct answers.” - my wise guest & talented hair artist Illeisha on claiming your voice and advocating for what you want when it comes to your hair ------------------- Illeisha has an artistically-based education but expresses her art through hair. She’s spent the last decade in the industry building an incredible caree...

Dejah Poole, 19-year-old dancer from the Alvin Ailey school, has been dancing since she was just 2 years old. I initially discovered Dejah from her stunning Instagram account: @dejahonpointe & from there learned about her passion for speaking out and claiming her space as a black woman in the world of dance. We talk about bias in ballet (when nude isn’t really nude), accepting your body, eatin...

“Everything in wellness has gone to an extreme” - Sabrina Diaz, my guest, and founder of Grass Roots Juicery, a Brooklyn-based cafe that promotes healthy living through organic cold press juicing, smoothies & healthy food. We talk about her experience growing up first-generation Dominican in the suburbs of NJ and how being the only hispanic person in her entire class made her ashamed of t...

One of the coolest girls I know - Grace Bukunmi is a Nigerian Photographer, Stylist, and Art Director working between LA & NYC. She’s worked with everyone: Alicia Keys, The Migos, A$AP Rocky & with the coolest publications: High Snobiety, Hypebeast, etc. We talk about her growing up in a religious household & how her spirituality has evolved and how religion is perceived in her LA crea...

Aala is a very special person who's been able to self-heal and overcome a lot. Only 26, she's deeply aware of her purpose and it's so inpspring - I got a little emotional during this one. She's Sudanese-American and grew up in between cultures. We talk about how Sudanese women approach beauty, her relationship with her hair and how it changed when she got sick. Women's health and chronic illness i...

“I’ve learned to love my body because I’ve accepted it as my home. This is where I live - where me - the person I love the most lives, I have to make the best of it.” - Tolly sharing gems on body acceptance on this episode that I love so much ------- Tolani Shoneye (known by her fans as Tolly) is the host of one of my favorite podcasts ‘The Receipts’. I was able to interview her while in London an...

Logo update (yay!), a quick word on overeating & Thanksgiving indulgence, and then Rachel and I discuss clearing your closet & our Moms :)  ---- Listen to the full episode with Rachel if you missed it: 'Is 29 The Perfect Age? Probably Not'  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/is-29-the-perfect-age-probably-not-ft-rachel-goldman/id1131628553?i=1000419118104&mt=2 Shoutout to th...

“It’s no accident I do what I do. I come from a long line of people making culture, considering how we live and responding either sonically or aesthetically to that.” - my inspiring guest, Lotte Anderson, who was described as ‘emblematic of the city of London’ Lotte, an artist living and working in London, creates work that explores the politics of taking up space, community, pleasure seeking and...

Annya Santana, who grew up in the Bronx and was born in the Dominican Republic, bought a one way ticket to Paris 4 years ago after heartbreak and started her clean beauty line Menos Mas (which means Less is More). Before finding herself in Paris, we talk about her experience growing up in NY and working in the early days of streetwear after finding herself in fashion PR. She explains that Paris is...

“Creativity and being around creative people has been my drive” — my amazing guest Saidah Blount, on her career journey and finding herself in music where she always wanted to be :)  Saidah tells me about moving to NYC in the 90s and making a career out of seeing bands. Originally from Kansas City, we talk about how she grew up and her early memories of visiting the Clinique counter for makeo...

“Sometimes therapy can be a lot…you’re unpacking things you didn’t even know were there. Therapy allowed me to realize how my anxieties were manifesting and also to realize that I have the authority and I’m worthy of not being in this space at all times. Sometimes when you’re an anxious person or you’re depressed you think….'this is how it ishis is always going to be how it is and I just have to w...

29 probably isn't the perfect age but we explore...Rachel, my long-time friend a former Soul Cycle instructor, and I discuss things we've mastered by 29: feeding ourselves, prioritizing the morning, learning about fragrance, how to shave our legs, dressing for the occasion, what beauty treatments are worth splurging it, office makeup etc. And then there are the things we haven’t mastered: ironing...

“I feel like it is the root of my work to create opportunities for women who look different” — my amazing guest, A-Lan Holt A-lan is a filmmaker, writer, all around creator, mother and dear friend. You guys are in for a treat with this episode because A-lan is thinking through her experience as a woman and a creative on a higher level than most — but also doing so in a totally humble, down-to-eart...

I’m joined by Tam Watkins, founder of Loza Tam, where she’s been creating beautiful satin-lined turbans and headbands for the past two years. Before becoming the entrepreneur she is today, Tam was growing up in rural Florida or as she calls it ‘Trump Country’ and talks to me about that experience & growing up with a black Republican parent & Grandparent (rare indeed)! One of the things I l...

I’ve been spending time learning about Ayurvedic Beauty — an ancient Indian approach to wellness and beauty that I’ve really connected with. Everything in Ayurveda comes back to your specific dosha type. The three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha and they’re each associated with different energies which I go through in this episode.  I also share some knowledge on maintaining Ojas. In Ayurveda,...

Easily one of the most stylish women in NY — Crystal Anderson is a grounded, deep thinker but she also doesn’t believe in taking yourself too seriously which I LOVE. She has practical tips about mental health & truly expresses herself through her unique personal style. She’s currently Man Repeller’s COO (chief operations officer) and before joining MR, she launched Refinery 29’s insanely popul...

This goes out to the true beauty junkies! Siraad is a girl with a 10-step beauty routine, who lives for Korean skincare and travels with her own silk pillow-case. She’s currently a beauty editor at Essence and she has incredible product knowledge but what I find even more impressive — her general attitude and approach towards beauty. She’s really inspired me to try new things! We talk: - how she g...

“I’ve always known that I was a female. Folks always ask ‘how did you know?’ It just was. It just is.” — Angelica Torres, NYC-native, lover of bathtubs and glitter, speaking about her experience being assigned the wrong gender at birth. We cover SO much in this episode so I’ve provided topics and time-codes below. Angelica, so much love to you for sharing your story! Also thank you to everyone who...

Quick plug: join the #nakedbeautypodcast community on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nakedbeautyplanet/ @NAKEDBEAUTYPLANET ****** Ok so today’s leftover’s episode is from my talk with the amazing Kate Seward. In our full episode which you should definitely hear (https://apple.co/2LpWGKQ) we speak about her experience with addiction and substance abuse…which brought up this discussion around...

“I want to be the beacon of hope for every woman who wants to put an idea out in the world.” - my guest Jacquelyn De Jesu, the CEO, founder and creative director of Shhhowercap I left this conversation feeling so inspired! Jackie is just the best and I feel so lucky I was able to grab her for some time on the #nakedbeautypodcast. Before becoming the wildly successful entrepreneur she is today – Ja...

When do you reveal your true self when dating? Listen for some leftovers from my chat with Lindsey Metselaar where we discuss how to use positive reinforcement to get what you want while dating, sharing the less likable aspects of your personality early on, and how to handle double dates. EXCITING NEWS: I started an Instagram account just for this show. Join the community @NAKEDBEAUTYPLANET: https...

“I know that if I had kept drinking and doing drugs the way that I was, I would have died. There wasn’t really another option.” — Kate on her decision to get sober On this episode of the #nakedbeautypodcast I’m joined by Kate — writer and lover of all things wellness. We discuss this universal phenomenon of women constantly thinking about their hair…. what to do with it, to dye or not to dye, etc....

The four beauty lessons we can all learn from QueenB. From her vegan diet, to her flawless skin to her always-on point looks. Check out these amazing episodes breaking down Beyonce’s historical Coachella performance: NYTimes Still Processing: ‘We Talk Beychella’ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/still-processing/id1151436460?mt=2# The Read ‘Beychella”: https://soundcloud.com/theread/beychella TI...