This week’s traffic-stopping trendsetters bring the heat to the streets. Check out how these real women keep car horns blowing for more!
“I like to wear clothing that may seem outrageous to some. Mixing and matching styles is kind of punky. To sum it all up, I like to stand out. I hate to blend in,” says Apolonia, 21, who is a cashier from Mt. Vernon, New York.
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Get Funky
Apolonia is wearing Topman accessories and we are feelin’ her layered-necklace look that adds some character to her bold Antik blouse.
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Active Wear Style
“Comfortable, easy street wear pieces work for me,” shares Gloria, 23, who is a student.
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Naughty Neons
Bright neon anything is hot right now. Be bold and sport an eye-catching clutch like the one Gloria is carrying from H&M.
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Minimalist
“Less is more,” confirms Tolikana, 32, who is a student from Jamaica, New York.
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Pump It Up
Peep-toe pumps look great at the office, just make sure you have your pretty pointers polished.
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Effortless Style
“I’m very comfy and classy,” says Michelle, who works as an actress in New York City.
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Color On Everything
Keep your look pulled together with a short-sleeved blazer this summer. Michelle gives her all-white ensemble a summery pop of color with this H&M slim blazer.
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Tribal Instincts
“My style is ever-changing. I’m not limited because of my free spirit,” dishes Zewiditv, who is a student from Harlem, New York.
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Oldie But Goodie
Zewiditv keeps her look electric by pulling vintage finds from her mother and aunt’s closet and shopping at flea markets.
Did you know that there are more than 2.8 million women in the U.S. diagnosed with uterine fibroids? It’s true. While those may seem like big numbers, there are still many women out there who may not know they have them.
Let’s do a little wellness check right now. At the start of your period, a couple of heavy flow days are totally normal. But if you find yourself avoiding your favorite outfits or going through boxes of super tampons each month, you may have heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) due to uterine fibroids. It’s more common than you think. By age 50, as many as 80% of Black women have had fibroids.
What are fibroids? It’s good to educate yourself on this condition because larger fibroids can develop at a younger age for Black women—who are three times as likely to be negatively affected by them. According to the Mayo Clinic, uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. The most common symptoms are periods lasting longer than a week, HMB, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination, difficulty emptying your bladder, constipation, and backache or leg pains.
How do you know if you have fibroids? If you have HMB and suspect you may have fibroids, start tracking your cycle. Some menstrual cycles are only 21 days while others can last 35 days or more with periods that are two days or up to seven days. Write your days and your symptoms in a planner or use an app. Then, bring it with you to your next doctor visit. You will have all the info you need to talk about what’s best for your body—and ways you can feel better each month.
What are treatments? There are a lot of non-surgical options available. Common medicines like ibuprofen or aspirin can help reduce pain while possibly lightening your period at the same time. These medicines are sometimes called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). They can reduce the amount of prostaglandin—a hormone that causes pain and heavy bleeding—in your uterine lining.
There are also many prescription medications for uterine fibroids that target the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle, and treat symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pressure. While they may not eliminate fibroids, they may shrink them.
If uterine fibroids are causing excessive bleeding or other problems, it’s best to talk with your doctor about treatment. So, don’t be afraid to bring it up at your next visit.