

Mother's Day might have been yesterday (May 9) but we're still in awe of these celebratory posts courtesy of our favorite celebrity moms and their loved ones. Moms of all kinds—biological or not—are superhuman. These mamas below have inspired us with their resilience, beauty, and determined spirit this year, and sharing these messages is proof of that. Let us take their wisdom beyond a "Happy Mother's Day" post and as Tracee Ellis Ross put it "honor the mother within each of us."
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle wrote on Instagram:
"My journey to motherhood was long, arduous and at many times extremely painful. Mother's Day will always be a challenging day to celebrate for me. I know I'm not alone in this feeling. For many reasons, so many of us have a rough time today and to these good people, I send all my love, light and compassion. To all the Moms, Stepmoms, Bonus Mom's, Folks who Mother those that need it, Grandma's, House Mothers, I celebrate you today and everyday. Be good to yourselves."
The 45-year-old actress has been vocal via social media and in her 2017 book, We're Going to Need More Wine, about her struggles with infertility and failed IVF treatments. She had multiple miscarriages before having her daughter Kaavia via surrogate. Her honesty about Mother's Day being a "challenging day to celebrate" for not just her, but so many others is a sentiment not often expressed.
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama once the First Lady and mom of this country. She is beloved by many so much so she's earned the nickname "our forever FLOTUS." In true Obama fashion, Barack honored not just her this Mother's Day, but all versions of moms including his in a beautiful message that represents inclusivity. The former POTUS captioned a photo shared on Instagram:
"On this Mother's Day, I want to thank Michelle for being such an incredible mom to our girls. And I hope you'll take a moment to thank the women in your life who love you in that special way that mothers do: biological moms, adoptive moms, and foster moms; single moms, grandmoms and godmothers; aunts and mentors—all the people who come to mind when you think about Mother's Day. Or take a moment, like I will, to remember the moms who raised and sustained us, and who we miss every day—no matter how long it's been. All of these amazing people deserve our gratitude, today and every day."
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith captioned her Mother's Day post:
"That three generational #throwback for those sweet Mother's Day vibes❣️Check out our very special Mother's Day celebration at the Red Table."
Not only did this trio honor the holiday with a necessary Red Table Talk that honored coronavirus heroes, but Jada also shared this photo of their collective beauty that spans three generations. This throwback is a reminder of the legacy Black mothers build.
Vanessa Bryant
Vanessa Bryant wrote in a caption under a photo spending Mother's Day with her three daughters and remembering the daughter she lost:
"My babies~ Mother's Day❤️ Thank you for making me a mama @nataliabryant, Gianna, Bianka and Capri."
Vanessa lost her 13-year-old daughter Gianna last year as well as her husband Kobe Bryant. As matriarch to her family, she's led their other three girls through unbearable grief, and seeing them spend the day at Disneyland together, is hope to anyone who's ever experienced a loss that there will be better days.
Diana Ross
As a daughter to one of the greats and being a "great" in her own right, Tracee Ellis Ross reminds us all to honor the nurturing spirit within us courtesy of the mothers in our lives. She said about her mom, Diana Ross:
"MAMA ~ I love you beyond! @dianaross
Sending Happy Mother's Day wishes to all those who Mother, who nurture and teach us about mothering and what it is [to] be mothered. A special embrace to those who need extra love today. I see you and send love to you. May we honor the mother within each of us."
Chrissy Teigen
In a Mother's Day post, John Legend shared about his wife, Chrissy Teigen:
"Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful wife! It's been a year that tested you in so many ways but you've come through stronger, wiser, happier and a better mother than ever. I'm so fortunate to have you as my partner, my inspiration and my best friend. I love you forever."
The mom of two touched us all when she shared the loss of her and John Legend's son Jack, which she was still carrying. Her transparency during what we're sure was one of the most difficult times of her life is something that sparked a fire in other women to open up about similar experiences. The same way John is inspired, so are we.
Featured image via Giphy
Jazmine A. Ortiz is a creative born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn and currently living in Staten Island, NY. She started in the entertainment industry in 2012 and now works as a Lifestyle Editor where she explores everything from mental health to vegan foodie trends. For more on what she's doing in the digital space follow her on Instagram at @liddle_bitt.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Synthetic Braiding Hair & Chemicals: What To Know & What To Do Next
When I was younger, one of my favorite hairstyles was cornrows. I would get them long (as long as mom would allow me to get) with beads on the end. To get the length I wanted, I would add synthetic braiding hair.
Just like many other Black women I know, going to the hair store with my mom or other family members to grab a pack of kanekalon braiding hair was the norm. As I grew up and advanced, so did the hair industry.
Now, when you go to the hair store you are inundated with all kinds of hair textures, colors, and more. That’s why it was so upsetting to read the latest report about synthetic braiding hair.
Delmaine Donson/ Getty Images
A Feb 27 Consumer Reports article revealed that most popular synthetic hair brands that are used for braiding have dangerous chemicals such as carcinogens, lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The report stated that 10 of the brands were tested and all 10 had these chemicals. These brands included Shake-N-Go, Sassy Collection, and Sensationnel.
These chemicals include benzene, which is a carcinogen that has been linked to acute myeloid leukemia and unsafe levels of lead, which can cause kidney damage, brain damage, and cardiovascular problems in adults.
In children, it can cause brain and nervous system damage, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and even developmental delays.
James E. Rogers, PhD, director and head of product safety testing led the testing for synthetic braiding hair. “Our exposure and risk analysis found all nine products could expose a regular user of any of these products to a level of lead that could be concerning over time,” he said.
As shocking as this is, it also brought some clarity around why I’ve had issues with wearing braiding hair as of late.
Not only have I dealt with scalp irritation, I’ve even had breakouts on my back from the hair touching. Since then, I’ve started rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar, and haven’t had that many issues. However, the report stated that ACV isn’t a “cure-all” and can potentially release harmful chemicals when rinsing the hair.
@javonford16 Replying to @Julianna Rebundle vid: @Javon Ford Beauty #blackhairstyles #braidinghair #blackgirlhairstyles @Consumer Reports
While the report sparked some outrage, chemist Javon Ford has a different view. In a TikTok video, he shared that the report was tested for oral exposure and not dermal exposure.
He showed a screenshot of an email he allegedly sent Consumer Reports questioning their decision to test this way. The email said, “the best model to use, in our view, is the ingestion model for the reasons given in the article.”
“While I understand they went with that model, I don’t agree with it because you’re not intentionally ingesting braids,” Javon said. The chemist also said that the amount of chemicals found in the brands is “conservative” compared to other types of products.
So what does this mean for us braid-wearers? If you still want to wear braids, but have some concerns, you can limit how often you wear them. Another option is wearing non-toxic braiding hair or plant-based hair. The only downside is that it's pricier than synthetic hair.
The Consumer Report also suggested checking for recalls, reading labels carefully, and reporting adverse effects. Hair isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s best to do your research when making purchases.
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